Regulator question

[Eaglebait Ranch]

I forgot to ask, in my last message......... How long can I not be using the torch before I need to shut off the regulators? I know they are to be turned off otherwise they will get ruined. But, if I want to run and get a drink of water, do I turn them off? Can they sit there for a couple of hours?

I am perfectly fine turning them off if I leave the area. I am just curious what the "outer limits" might be.

[Sberry]

Likey years but its good habit in case you are distracted. Lots of lost gas from small leaks, forgetting them is easy.

[Eaglebait Ranch]

Thanks! I learned something with that question:)

[hankj]

Who told you that not turning off the tanks will ruin your regulators?

You might make it a point not to listen to anything else that person tells you.

As Cary said, the only down side is a leak. I always shut down the tank valves when I'm done for the day, but for a brewski time out, I may even just set the lighted torch on the stand! Oh, by the way I suck 'em down pretty quick.

Hnak

[Wyoming]

Oh, by the way I suck 'em down pretty quick.

Hnak

Honest Hank, I didn't tell nobody...

[TEK]

Honest Hank, I didn't tell nobody...

That wasnt hank---it was his altered ego, hnak....

[MAC702]

You can shut 'em off?

[PJinNJ]

You can leave them on if you're coming back.

[Rocky D]

If I understand the question, he's not talking about turning off the tanks, but backing out the regulator "T" handle...which regulator mfgr's always tell you to do...however nobody does it. The "T" handles on my regs have been the same for years.

[Fat Fab]

I have two point to make.

1. I never walk past a cylinder with out reaching out to turn off the main valve. When I put out the flame I turn off the the mains on the cylinder. I have had too many emptied cylinders and one too many accidents of collected flammable gas in a confined space, that took out one man and severely burned another. I shut them off when ever I see no flame. This has carried over to inert gas cylinders as well.

2. Every time I turn on my cylinders be they O/A or inert for the welders I fiddle with the flow control. Be it a "T" handle or a twist knob, I always check flow levels. I started this after never adjusting a regulator "T" handle for two years or more and found it to be vary stiff to turn. I proceeded to turn it all the way out and found the diaphragm frozen, $60.00 lesson.


The real danger is that the gasses we work with are vary dangerous.
O/A is heavy and will collect in the bottom of a confined area, like a cardboard box that looked like a safe soft place to lay the torch down. As it got stepped over by several people we don't know who kicked the touch valves open, this flash bang was impressive, and no one was injured save for some ringing in the ears.

Co2, Argon also are heavy and can cause asphyxiation.


My rule is if you are walking away turn them off. as for the "T" handle turn them often.

[Eaglebait Ranch]

Thanks guys........ I enjoyed reading all the posts. And, I learnt a thang or too, two!

I am going to go with Fat Boy's arguement and at least close off the regulator valve at the end of the day (or when through for the day).

I had to substitute teach today, and will be busy in town tomorrow, but Friday I am going to finish welding on the bucket hooks on my FEL. I now know how it feels to get this close to having that first project in the bank.

Maybe, with what has been in the news lately, "bank" wasn't a good choice of words.:eek:

[MichaelP]

I may even just set the lighted torch on the stand! You put a lighted torch aside and have a short break? H-mmm. Do you have a photo of your torch stand, Hank?

[Rocky D]

I think he could be talking about this gas saver.

http://store.weldingdepot.com/html/images/items/gassaver.jpg

[MichaelP]

Thanks, Rocky, but then the torch won't be lighted any longer. :)

P.S. Hank's prolonged silence in conjunction with a mental image of a lighted torch resting on a stand make me worry...:D

[Rocky D]

Hhmmm...maybe he's busy puttin the fire out. :eek:

[Sberry]

I am with Fat, I dont walk away from them turned on and I do routinely play with the pressures and wiggle the knobs. If I take a set apart I back the regs off, never know how long something might be stored.
There are a hundred things in this biz I and others do in sequence for lack of better words. When I take a piece of equipment apart it comes in the right order, If I am taking a reg off a bottle I back the adjustment out a couple turns or till I know the pressure is off. Especially single stage stuff, but somehow it seems safer when I am reinstalling and opening a new high pressure bottle which,make a big habit of opening slowly.
I turn a mix bottle off before I shut the machine off and I unplug the trailer lites before I put the jack down or unhook the coupler. A regular routine helps.

[Eaglebait Ranch]

Thanks again for what you are writing........... I am reading it all and taking it in. I, too, end to lean on the side of caution and turn everything off. It is too easy for me, if I don't reset the valves each time, to forget the settings and then could find myself up a creek:mad: