Using propane instead of acetylene

[Ken45101]

Is a regulator for Oxy different than that for Propane? I have a new victor set and I thought it said good for both oxy and propane....

Oxygen regulators cannot be used with any fuel. Acetylene regulators can be used with propane, but keep the oxygen regulator on the oxygen. (That's probably what you meant to ask.)

 

[bandaidmd]

While working at a scrap yard I used torches set up with liquid propane to cut with. I believe since propane in the liquid state is in fact larger than vapor it may supply a hotter flame but I'm not sure myself!!

We had a hot piece of metal cut fall and cut one of the lines of the liquid propane. It caught fire!! There were either two oxygen tanks and one LP tank or two LP tanks and one oxygen tank. For the routing to supply two torch heads I would probably never do it AGAIN!! Liquid propane seems too dangerous to me. We had three cables to shut off as the line was on FIRE! Also we over worked a liquid propane tank and the relief valve released!! I checked it with my thermometer gun and it was colder than -70F !! LP boils at -50F or something like that.

For most work vapor propane and oxygen is very useable and safe. Much more stable than acylene for sure!

Vapor propane is what powers gas grills, heaters, and camping equipment in a normal residential bottle. Liquid propane normally powers forklifts and other engines but has to be preheated by the engines coolant heat to the converted to a vapor

I think you need to do some more research on that. Theres been tons of lpg conversions to all sizes of engines over the last 50 years and they run on vapor not liquid. Not 100% positive of how a forklift is set up but putting heat to the tank to prevent a pressure drop seems reasonable. My standby generator is fed off of the same tank that supplies my home for heat and hot water.

 

[aczlan]

[/COLOR]I think you need to do some more research on that. Theres been tons of lpg conversions to all sizes of engines over the last 50 years and they run on vapor not liquid. Not 100% positive of how a forklift is set up but putting heat to the tank to prevent a pressure drop seems reasonable. My standby generator is fed off of the same tank that supplies my home for heat and hot water.

The difference is where it is vaporized. In a forklift and many other "Liquid Propane" powered vehicles, it pulls liquid out of the tank and vaporizes it at or near the intake with a heated regulator so that they can get more propane out without freezing up the regulator.
In a grill, etc, it is liquid in the tank, but it then vaporizes in the tank and high demand can freeze up the regulator.

Aaron Z

 

[Furu]

As the OP of the thread I realized I did not state that I thought the kerf was a bit larger/wider for a given tip size than with acetylene even if a bit cleaner.
For the experienced propane cutters is this true or have you noticed it to be the case.

 

[Shield Arc]

As the OP of the thread I realized I did not state that I thought the kerf was a bit larger/wider for a given tip size than with acetylene even if a bit cleaner.
For the experienced propane cutters is this true or have you noticed it to be the case.

I had to think about this question for a few minutes. At first I seem to remember thinking propane did have a little bit bigger kerf. Then I remember last spring when I lengthened a front end loader bucket for a friend, and I was cutting 3/16-inch steel I remember what a small kerf it had.:confused2::laughing:

When either using propane or acetylene I like to adjust the flame to where I get the cutting cone out from the torch as far as possible.