What am I doing wrong?

[GSSFC]

I picked up a used O/A set the other day. I have never owned one, but have used one many times. In the past I helped a friend of mine at a junkyard "hack stuff up" We lit the torch, and cut til we were bored, the torch cut like butter.

I have a Victor set with big tanks. It had a #0 cutting tip and I bought a #1 today thinking that one might be plugged up. I have the A set at about 4-5 psi and the O set at 25 psi. I've been able to acquire a good flame, but the O does seem to pulse the pressure up and down a little bit. When I preheat the metal (about 1/4" thick steel) it heats up rather slowly, and when I hit the cutting trigger, it just sort of melts the top layer away and doesn't even come close to cutting through the steel.

So, what I am doing wrong, or what do I need to fix?

Thanks, Tim

[boykjo]

try your o2 to 35psi and see if it helps. at 1/2 inch steel I would go to 45

[Sberry]

The gauge might not be accurate. Turn it up a bit and see what happens. I would turn the gas up a pinch with a number one, 5-7 but thats not the issue with the cut.

[GSSFC]

The gauge might not be accurate. Turn it up a bit and see what happens.

Which one...or both?

Tim

[moya034]

Definitely not enough pressure on the O2. Try turning it up and see what happens. #1 tip should use between 30-40PSI.

Being used, it is possible the oxygen regulator is having an issue... being that you mentioned "pulsing". It is also possible something could be clogging your hose a little bit. Take the hose off the torch and blow it clear. If you have any of that canned air (don't use compressed air as it has oil)squirt out the torch connections to blow out any dirt.

Finally, you mentioned this is a Victor cutting torch... it's possible the built in flashback arrestor or check valve may be having an issue, however when they go, they tend to block all flow, from what I've heard. I've never had one fail on me personally.

[GSSFC]

Here is a pic of the setup.

And the second pic is of a piece of 1/8" plate. It doesn't even cut, it just sort of slags material off. This is with a #1 tip. Clean flame, but leaves a ton of black "soot" on the work material.

[Hotfoot]

Be sure your "good flame" is a "good" flame. Go through the steps to roll the acetylene 'back' from where it just starts smoking, then introduce the O2, pulling it back to where it stays just about the same when you pull the cutting trigger, then release it.

Your pressures are important...too much, and you are just wasting $$$ gas!:)

[boykjo]

I think it may be a back flow preventer or safety on the oxygen tank. We had them on our tanks at my old job. They had a tendancy to stick. I would look there. Are you familiar with what your flame should look like out of the tip and what it should look like when you press the oxygen lever?

Now that I looked at it again it looks like your regulator....
You may be on the verge of running out of oxygen

[GSSFC]

I think it may be a back flow preventer or safety on the oxygen tank. We had them on our tanks at my old job. They had a tendancy to stick. I would look there. Are you familiar with what your flame should look like out of the tip and what it should look like when you press the oxygen lever?

Now that I looked at it again it looks like your regulator....
You may be on the verge of running out of oxygen

What should I be looking for on the back flow preventer or safety?

No I don't really know how to find the right flame. It's been a long time since I used a torch, and I can't find a really good pic or tutorial online. I never had a problem in the past, so I "think" I know what I am doing, but certainly am doing something wrong, or something isn't working right.

The tanks are completely full, just picked them up yesterday.

[moya034]

Light acetylene till flame stops smoking.

Slowly add oxygen to flame. While you are doing this, you will see that the flame has 3 sections. An inner cone, an outer cone, and the surrounding flame.

When the outer cone just disappears into the inner cone, you have a neutral flame.

Press the oxygen lever and observe the flame. You should be able to see a nice clean stream of oxygen going through the flame, and it shouldn't have any rough edges to it.

[moya034]

Also, don't forget your shade 5 eye protection!

[boykjo]

turn your acetylene off at the tank. open your o2 at the bottom of the torch and press the 02 lever with the regulator at 35 psi. you should have a constant flow of o2 out of the tip. this should verify the 02 regulator is working

[GSSFC]

turn your acetylene off at the tank. open your o2 at the bottom of the torch and press the 02 lever with the regulator at 35 psi. you should have a constant flow of o2

When I do that, I have a flow of O and the gauge stays steady at 35psi on the regulator.

[boykjo]

When I do that, I have a flow of O and the gauge stays steady at 35psi on the regulator.

Thats good

[GSSFC]

Thats good

Ha! So why won't this thing cut? Am I wrong in thinking a #1 cutting tip should VERY easily cut through a piece of 1/8" steel?

[boykjo]

turn the acetylene back on. regulators set at 7 acetylene and o2 at 35. slightly crack open the acetalene nob on the bottom of the torch and ignite the acetalene and turn it up until it stops suting and you have a flame and then add your o2 slowly until your blue flame becomes a flat and round at the end. when you press the o2 lever you should see a tube of air shoot through the blue flame.

[GSSFC]

Light acetylene till flame stops smoking.

Slowly add oxygen to flame. While you are doing this, you will see that the flame has 3 sections. An inner cone, an outer cone, and the surrounding flame.

When the outer cone just disappears into the inner cone, you have a neutral flame.

Press the oxygen lever and observe the flame. You should be able to see a nice clean stream of oxygen going through the flame, and it shouldn't have any rough edges to it.

I believe that is what I am doing, although the definition you describe about the cones is not as obvious in my flame.

What happens to the preheat flame if you add too much oxygen?

[GSSFC]

turn the acetylene back on. regulators set at 7 acetylene and o2 at 35. slightly crack open the acetalene nob on the bottom of the torch and ignite the acetalene and turn it up until it stops suting and you have a flame and then add your o2 slowly until your blue flame becomes a flat and round at the end. when you press the o2 lever you should see a tube of air shoot through the blue flame.

I'm gonna walk back out the shop and try your method. I'll be back shortly to report my results!

Thanks.

[boykjo]

What happens to the preheat flame if you add too much oxygen?

Your torch will go out

[moya034]

Ha! So why won't this thing cut? Am I wrong in thinking a #1 cutting tip should VERY easily cut through a piece of 1/8" steel?

Are you sure you are trying to cut STEEL?

If you have a flame, and 35PSI of oxygen coming out, the only thing I can think of is you are trying to cut something that can't be cut with oxygen.

Maybe you aren't being patient enough with your preheat.

[GSSFC]

Well I was able to "barely" cut. It is def. steel, and I tried a couple of different pieces (angle, plate, tube) all about 1/8" thick.

It just doesn't seem to have the ummph to push through the material and blow the slag out of the way. Even trying to piece the material, I can't really open up a hole, the material just seems to bubble up and solidify.

I have a friend who has been running this stuff for years, I think I am gonna stop by and see him tomorrow and have him show me what I am doing wrong.

I just remember hacking car bodies and frames like nothing.

[GSSFC]

Are you sure you are trying to cut STEEL?

If you have a flame, and 35PSI of oxygen coming out, the only thing I can think of is you are trying to cut something that can't be cut with oxygen.

Maybe you aren't being patient enough with your preheat.

I have never been known to be terribly patient, but I am holding the torch over the material until it is red hot before hitting the trigger and trying to cut.

[moya034]

Technically, you want more of a yellow heat, which is hotter then red. Usually, sparks will start to fly off the steel once it gets to kindling temperature.

Feel the oxygen stream with your finger. It should feel forceful, and be strong enough to dimple your skin.

Perhaps something is inside of your torch that does not belong there.

[moya034]

If your buddy has cylinders, bring your regulators/hose/torch along with you, and have him test it.

[boykjo]

I have a friend who has been running this stuff for years, I think I am gonna stop by and see him tomorrow and have him show me what I am doing wrong.

Nothin like seein it live. I think you have a technic problem or however you spell it

[GSSFC]

Technically, you want more of a yellow heat, which is hotter then red. Usually, sparks will start to fly off the steel once it gets to kindling temperature.

Feel the oxygen stream with your finger. It should feel forceful, and be strong enough to dimple your skin.

Perhaps something is inside of your torch that does not belong there.

Should I need to preheat the entire area to be cut, or just the area I am starting in?

I guess bottom line is I can't get it to cut, I must have a problem. I'll bring the whole setup over to my friends shop tomorrow and see what the malfunction is.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

[Roger]

I had to blow steel ball that just fit through fitting and hose as obstruction test. Point exhaust end in safe direction. That was 5400 ft of hose.

[GSSFC]

I just watched a couple of cutting videos on youtube. As soon as they started cutting a large stream of sparks was evident through the material. When I hit the cutting trigger the flame just kinda softens up and fans out over the top of the work material, this is what I think is causing the black soot all over my work piece.

[moya034]

Sounds like a torch malfunction to me at this point. If the torch has a problem, don't despair, they can get refurnished fairly cheaply.

[Rocky D]

Sounds like you're out of oxygen.

Bad oxy regulator.?

Oxy valve on mixer should be full open, adjust flame with oxy valve on cutting head.

Part not steel?

[jcirafic]

I remember having to preheat until you can see the steel turn molten, then cut in the oxygen. Don't preheat the whole piece of steel, just the area you want to start the cut. ps hey Rocky how you doing?

[Sberry]

The valve on the torch handle all the way open? With the torch off can you hear O2 coming out when you depress the cut lever?

[GSSFC]

turn the acetylene back on. regulators set at 7 acetylene and o2 at 35. slightly crack open the acetalene nob on the bottom of the torch and ignite the acetalene and turn it up until it stops suting and you have a flame and then add your o2 slowly until your blue flame becomes a flat and round at the end. when you press the o2 lever you should see a tube of air shoot through the blue flame.

I still can't get this thing to work right. I called about having it repaired or rebuilt, but no one seems to do it around here.

When I hit the o2 lever the flame turns white, there is no stream of air going through the blue flame as you suggest.

I should have mentioned. The torch handle is a WH26FC. I guess made by Victor for Radnor. The cutting head is a CA25.
Tim

[Rocky D]

The valve on the torch handle all the way open? With the torch off can you hear O2 coming out when you depress the cut lever?
That is my guess, too...torch handle valve not open al the way....with it open all the way, then you adjust the flame with the knob on the torch head.
I have had this happen, too, but I don't remember what I do, to correct it, because it is so automatic, with me. It's one of those things you just do out of instinct...with us old timers, anyway. :confused:

[real man welder]

hey in my class we set the O at about 40 and the A at 8-10. your pressure may be too low to cut effectively. good luck

[GSSFC]

That is my guess, too...torch handle valve not open al the way....with it open all the way, then you adjust the flame with the knob on the torch head.
I have had this happen, too, but I don't remember what I do, to correct it, because it is so automatic, with me. It's one of those things you just do out of instinct...with us old timers, anyway. :confused:

Hmm, I think I understand this to be, that the valve at the base (where the fuel and oxygen valves) should be wide open. And the top valve is how you add oxygen to adjust the flame. That isn't how I have done it. I had the top valve all the way open, and the lower valve opened just enough to get a neutral flame.

I'm gonna go try it right now.

Tim

Tim

[GSSFC]

Well, I guess I never learned how to light a torch correctly.

It works perfect, cut right through like nothing, except that I stink at cutting!

Amazing difference, I was about to buy a new torch I was getting fed up with this.

Thanks again!

[boykjo]

The valve on the torch handle all the way open? With the torch off can you hear O2 coming out when you depress the cut lever?

Good catch sberry......... Another satisfied customer :D Whats your fee?????