O/A Welding

[Robert F.]

Does anybody still weld with gas? If not, what are the reasons for not gas welding?
Thanks, Bob.

 

[MFRED]

Do you mean the old school "torch welding". I always figured it as a last resort for a field fix. I haven't done that in years since I got a welder/generator. It's getting to be a lost art I think. Closest I've done is brazing.

 

[20 20]

I did up until about 7-8yrs ago. Now I've got a stick welder, much easier to use and I can get a better weld.

 

[Reg]

I still use it because I still have it.
It is also often very useful for spot heating where I don't want any weld material deposited.
Propane would work in many cases, but to get a lot of heat in quickly and not have it conducted away Oxy/Acet is a lot better.

I guess if you are out at the end of the utility company's line a HEAVY stick or MIG welder might cause some voltage droop and surge recovery that could affect electronics.

 

[gwdixon]

Slow
Hot
Expensive
Difficult on vertical and overhead
Lack of penetration
Poor weld quality unless an expert
Alternatives far more effective and efficient

That's all for now.

 

[yomax4]

Only the Amish still Torch Weld in my area. ( No Electricity ) Most people have givin it up for all the reasons listed above. There are a Lot of Cool torch rods out there for Copper, Cast, Stainless, Moly etc. Its fun but Mig,Tig and Stick are affordable and easy. I still mess with it because I am a Victor Torch Rep.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

 

[Cami]

I have a bias towards acetylene welding, as I did a fair bit in my apprenticeship, but I usually use it when I don't feel like starting up the generator or have fine work to do(don't own a TIG!) but gwdixon is right on the money; especially with regard to the cost and heat input.

Reg has a good point about the degree of control: heat application and metal deposition are independently controlled.

I use the torches for pre/post heating if needed and also for brazing. I've heard that the saw filers in some local mills still use torches for welding up bandsaw blades, but that it has more to do with stubborn old men than the superiority of the process.

Funny thought: Here in British Columbia there is still a prequalified welding procedure on the books for acetylene welded pressure vessels(PWP 5, I think), but can't imagine it being done anywhere in industry today.... If I had more time and money, I might do it for a laugh and to have it in my log book for bragging rights.

I've heard guys claim that breathing oxygen is a good hangover remedy..is that reason enough to keep the torches around? For hangovers, I preach prevention

 

[PILOON]

I use it to free rusted bolts and to bend metals to desired shapes.
Have one of those porta-packs with small exchange-a-tanks.

Biggest problem is that the valves on the small OX tanks leak.
I think they shut them with an impact tool of some kind making them a b--ch to open and I can never re close them properly and consequently they leak out all the gas within a short time frame. Very frustrating.

99% of my welding is stick welding and I keep 3 sizes of rods on hand and have used cutting rods with good success as well.

 

[DanD78]

A/O is great for silver solder and brazing. For fusion welding I use a TIG torch. I do use a rose bud and cutting torch for heavy stuff and burn propane for those applications.

Dan

 

[IXLR8]

I do O/A welding as that is what I have. When my dads company folded in the early 70's, he gave me the setup. Twenty years ago I had the tanks tested and filled... still running on that fill. Don't use it much and they are large tanks. I haven't been able to justify the cost of getting a MIG or TIG setup for the amount of welding I do.

 

[Danno1]

.......I've heard guys claim that breathing oxygen is a good hangover remedy.....

This is what your doctor does bef he operates on you first thing in the morn!!!


.

 

[Reg]

I have a bias towards acetylene welding, as I did a fair bit in my apprenticeship, but I usually use it when I don't feel like starting up the generator or have fine work to do(don't own a TIG!) but gwdixon is right on the money; especially with regard to the cost and heat input.

Reg has a good point about the degree of control: heat application and metal deposition are independently controlled.

I use the torches for pre/post heating if needed and also for brazing. I've heard that the saw filers in some local mills still use torches for welding up bandsaw blades, but that it has more to do with stubborn old men than the superiority of the process.

Funny thought: Here in British Columbia there is still a prequalified welding procedure on the books for acetylene welded pressure vessels(PWP 5, I think), but can't imagine it being done anywhere in industry today.... If I had more time and money, I might do it for a laugh and to have it in my log book for bragging rights.

I've heard guys claim that breathing oxygen is a good hangover remedy..is that reason enough to keep the torches around? For hangovers, I preach prevention

Coupla things;
MANY weld instructors will tell you that learning to do O/A and learning to do it WELL is the best path to TIG.
You learn CONTROL.
You don't learn control or penetration with the "Hot melt glue gun".

OK, so much for manual welding.
One of my sons is in weld QA and "manual welding" isn't done in pharma and semi-conductor process lines.
It is ALL automated and the control is all in the set-up, SOME skill is required to fit the joints, but after that it is a push button operation.

O2 and hangovers: - I have heard divers claim that nitrox (oxygen enriched air) can help clear up a hang-over.
I don't dive with a hang over and I don't dive with hung over people, so maybe they just suck down a tank in the back room of the dive shop ?
At least I would HOPE that is how they do it (-:

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have a Victor and a Henrob 2000 OA torch setup. I like to use the Henrob for welding aluminum and cutting thin metal since it uses a good deal less gas. I don't use the Victor much. The Henrob is much easier to handle.

I would have to agree with gwdixon's appraisal of OA welding. I am not sure if the welds are poorer quality since you get a greater pre and postheat, but it is very inefficient and slow. I also have a Millermatic 211 (mig) welder that I use mostly for welding now.

I generally use nitrox when diving. I used it when we diving a week ago on Saba. Usually the blend is 32% oxygen. I don't drink much and probably haven't had a hang over for 30 plus years, but people say that it also makes you less tired after doing multiple dives on the same day. I don't buy that. Anyway my wife and I are headed to the Philippines to dive 3 weeks from today for a couple of weeks of diving with nitrox.

 

[Cami]

On leaks: Remember that the valves on high pressure cylinders, like for oxygen, have that extra packing and are supposed to be opened up all the way when being used; the stems will leak if the valve is only opened half way.

@Danno1: I thought that if a doctor was going to operate on you first thing in the morning, he'd take a little insulin to sober up!

 

[ampa]

Count me in as well....I prefer brazing in new body panels...yes as mentioned it's still a duel purpose way of brazing/heating and cutting off those stubborn bolts....I guess the plasma will do this cheaper better and quicker for a price.... with that said..... I could fill enough tanks to last me for a longgggg time ....yes I have the exchange cylinders with a little bit of acc/ox.... left in both tanks that I purchased more than 3 years ago....and it's not that I don't use the set enough...last summer I used it quite a bit....now I'm gonna' try my luck with this small 110 volt DC Lincoln mig I just bought and see if I can change my habits...not likely unless I can attach a panel without burnin' through and destroying it.....maybe if everyone switches over to tig/mig or stick...I hope I have them in the correct order....maybe the suppliers will give us a break....an drop the price...... for refilling both tanks in the future.....just my 2 cents.......Ampa

 

[Pops15]

MANY weld instructors will tell you that learning to do O/A and learning to do it WELL is the best path to TIG.
You learn CONTROL.

That's exactly what my instructor said back in '76.

 

[mjncad]

I've been thinking of getting a torch for the following uses: heating, brazing, and cutting in that order. I'm not even thinking of using it for welding.