oxy/propane outfit?

[ewoss3]

<font color="red"> Are you baking your line on before you start cutting?
</font>
ok Franz i'll bite, what is baking the line?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

1, Draw pretty picture with soapstone on steel
2, Run torch over line on steel to bake line on
3, Begin cutting.
This process helps keep the line on the steel during the cutting operation.
When you just chalk the line on and immediately cut, you will often blow the soapstone line off ahead of the cut.

 

[bgott]

Nope, never heard of it.

 

[htiek126]

I have a propane/oxygen setup for cutting steel, and my skills continue to improve, however, I still have some trouble with my cuts. Do the directions for setting up the acetylene flame apply to setting up the propane flame? I have never seen anyone else use propane and I have never found directions specific to using propane. With propane, it seems like it takes longer to heat the metal to start the cut.

 

[djradz]

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif The folks at two different welding gas shops have told me NO. The diaphram in the regulator and the hose (unless specifically identified for propane) will over time decay due to the slight amount of oil in propane. They said specifically that is why regulators and hose for propane say so. I have noticed this also. Not sure if the hose and regulators designed for propane could be used for acetelene. I think the pressure for one or the other is quite different,

 

[Hoeman00]

Dad has used propane for over 30 yrs. and has only
replaced hoses a couple times and original regs.
Propane does take longer to preheat before cutting.
We had a line from 500 gal. propane tank to supply
gas to shop for torch so didn't have to get the tanked
filled very often.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well, this'll add a little more confusion, or take some away.
Oxygen-Propane only gets to around 4600 degrees whereas Oxy-Acetylene gets to 5500-6300 degrees. Oxy-Propane is OK for brazing and soldering but not for welding. This explains why it takes longer to preheat.
Additionally, Acetelene regulators are only designed to deliver around 10# max output pressure, whereas Propane regulators will generally deliver 40 to 50#. Many Propane torches, such as "Turbotorch" (air/propane) operate at 35 to 40psi.
Most hoses I've seen have a Neoprene inner layer, and propane will not have a derogetory effect on Neoprene.
I can't honestly recall ever using an Acetelene regulator on Propane myself, but I do know it can be done. Many of the prepackaged torch sets being marketed today are sold to operate either way.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

What kind of tip do you use for brazing with propane. I have a cutting tip for propane, but not sure about the brazing tip.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Only thing I've ever brazed with propane was tubing, and I use the Turbotorch for that.

 

[Hoeman00]

I just braze w/ cutting torch.