Propane or acetelyne?

[chris88]

I want to get a cutting set up but should i run propane or acetelyne? I have a propane bottle set up already with a regulator for my blacksmithing forge and i have an oxy regulator. I have heard that you can't weld with propane. Is there a reason? Is there anyway you can weld? Im not sure ill need to weld anything with the setup but it cant hurt. I really need a cutting setup though. Can i run propane with just a 20lb bottle?
Chris

[Miller Rules]

I think you need a serton type of nozzel to use propane ather tha that theres not really much differance.

[chris88]

Where did you learn how to spell lol

I know i need a bigger tip than for acy because propane burns at about half the speed of the acy. I think i will end up going with the propane because to fill it i can walk about 800 feet to a garden center right by my house.
Chris

[Miller Rules]

Yeh I know im not a realy good speller but you can still understand what im talking about .I think you may be able to weld with it I dont see why not . Just try cant hurt.

[chris88]

I guess im gonna be using propane. So much cheaper to run and it will last a lot longer than acy. I'll have to go get my oxy bottle checked and filled. That bottle has'nt been filled in so long that i have no idea if they will fill it or not. I hope so. I might fill the acy bottle too just to have it full in case i need it. It cant hurt to have both full. I have no idea what size they are. The oxy bottle is about 5 and a half feet. The acy bottle is like 3 or 4 feet. I dont know what CF they are.
Chris

[chris88]

Im not much for spelling either so dont feel bad. I get by on the computer but put a piece of paper in front of me and you wont be able to read it.

(I'm not a junior member now. Im a real member )

Chris

[david_r]

Where did you learn how to spell lol

Good question.

I want to get a cutting set up but should i run propane or acetelyne? I have a propane bottle set up already with a regulator for my blacksmithing forge and i have an oxy regulator. I have heard that you can't weld with propane. Is there a reason? Is there anyway you can weld? Im not sure ill need to weld anything with the setup but it cant hurt. I really need a cutting setup though. Can i run propane with just a 20lb bottle?
Chris

You can weld with propane. Throw your parts in the forge, get them to welding temp, flux and hammer weld them

Is your regulator for your forge an actual welding regulator? If it's one of the super barbeque ones, I think you'll be better served getting a proper regulator for your torch. You'll actually need a different tip for your cutting torch to run propane; a two piece one. The standard tips simply won't allow the flame to propagate at anything near what you need to cut. Good news is if you need to weld, just get an acetylene cylinder and a tip and you are set. You'll run fine off of a 20 lb cylinder. I cut up to 1" steel with mine, no problem.

[SupraMan]

I'm going to be running propane and oxy.. gonna go get a setup tomorrow

[legend]

Propane-Thats what I use,I would suggest it over acetylene anyday.It's cheaper,cuts smoother and better,lasts longer,and also it is easier to lift a bbq pit sized tank(5 gallon) on the back of your truck rather than a heavy ol bulky acetylene cylinder.If only it was hotter.If it was I think it would take over acetylene for good.Although who really gas welds anymore? I seldom braze and solder but i hardly ever gas weld because gas welding doesn't provide any protective coverage from the atmosphere.I use to weld mufflers with the gas welding process but not no more since i bought me a new mig and c25 tank.Now the only problem I have with mig is you really can't weld in the wind without blowing off your gas coverage and flux core wire is too expensive to buy in bigger rolls and stick welding can't really be used on lighter metals unless i unplug my lincoln and run my ac/dc T-Bolt although stick is what I use for anything structural and critical like for example if im building a gooseneck trailer or a tandem that i built that i got in my photo collection.Until i buy me a new mm251 in a couple of weeks I will just use stick but I really need to get down to the supply shop and get me one so I can mig welder thick weldments.There's so many suppliers in my area that I'm only halfway through the phone book to find the best deal on the 251.I found some competitive prices but i think i can find better

[abooker]

If you're looking for propane tips check out J & R Welding under their Victor gas torch section. They have a large selection.

[lamar pye]

The guy I worked for at one time had an oxy-propane setup for cutting heavy steel plate. I found it took so much longer to do the job while using a lot more oxygen in the process. The acetylene burns much hotter than propane and gets things heated up much faster.

[Goat]

Propane is cheaper yes, you have to keep in mind and the oxy/acet ratio is 1:1 with propane it's 2.1:1. So you save on the cost of propane but you have to buy twice the amount of oxygen.

[Mike W]

You can cut with propane but you can not weld with it. I know why, just don't remember why at this point in time.

[NorthernLights]

All this talk got me interested so I did some research and found a great site to spell out the details of using different gases. (Oxyfuel cutting - process and fuel gases)

"Propane has a greater stoichiometric oxygen requirement than acetylene; for the maximum flame temperature in oxygen, the ratio of the volume of oxygen to fuel gas are 1.2 to 1 for acetylene and 4.3 to 1 for propane." So you'd use ~3.58 times (4.3 / 1.2) as much oxygen with propane vs. acetylene.

Another site (Linde Gas) states a 1.1 to 1 mix for acetylene and 3.7 to 1 mix for propane. This would be ~3.36 times (3.7 / 1.1) more oxygen needed with propane.

Another good read: http://www.torchcutter.com/fuelprop.htm

Now I just will have to try figure out if there would be any overall savings using propane which is cheaper, but using 3.5 times as much oxygen in the process.

[NorthernLights]

You can cut with propane but you can not weld with it. I know why, just don't remember why at this point in time.

"Among the commercially available fuel gases, acetylene most closely meets all these requirements. Other gases, fuel such as MAPP gas, propylene, propane, natural gas, and proprietary gases based on these, have sufficiently high flame temperatures but exhibit low flame propagation rates. These gas flames are excessively oxidizing at oxygen-to-fuel gas ratios high enough to produce usable heat transfer rates. Flame holding devices, such as counterbores on the tips, are necessary for stable operation and good heat transfer, even at the higher ratios. These gases, however, are used for oxygen cutting. They are also used for torch brazing, soldering, and many other operations where the demands upon the flame characteristics and heat transfer rates are not the same as those for welding." Quote from http://the-land-rover.com/WeldShop/M...elder/Ch11.htm