Acetylene vs LP?

[ohekk]

Have any of you heard of using LP instead of acetylene in your torch set?

Does this require a different regulator or tip?

advantages/disadvantages?

[cobrashoch]

A few years back I seen a guy using a natural gas welding/cutting set up to. I always wondered about that, and even asked around for info. about that setup to no avail. I'm curious too.
cobrashoch

[Fast Farmer]

The only places I have seen LP or Propane torches used were automotive junkyards where the goal was a quick and sloppy burn through cut, or to heat up rusted fasteners.

The main advantage is the cheaper price of the gas. The disadvantage is that it is a less focused flame better suited to destruction rather than construction. I would think that the torch tip and torch set would be different, but I haven't really studied a LP torch set-up.

On the farm we use both the oxy-acetylene torch and an electric welder. The electric stick welder is used for serious welding of thick metals where deep penetration is needed to insure a permanent bond stronger than using nuts and bolts. We use the oxy-acetylene torch for cutting and modifying metal and heating rusted fasteners to ease their removal. We also use this set-up for mild welding and filling in cracks or holes by melting in metal from welding rod, or if you are good, baling wire.

If you are wanting to weld structural frame components, roll bars, headers, etc..., go electric. A good chop saw can do a lot of your cutting instead of a torch set. We use a lot of WD-40 to loosen up rusted fasteners.

Keep in mind that an oxy-acetylene set up requires a tank lease that runs around $100 for a year or $300 or more for a lifetime lease if they will sell you one. I have heard stories about guys with multi-year leases not using up their tanks quick enough so that the inspection/certification of their tanks expired before they traded them in for refilled ones. Then the welding gas co. tries to charge the customer for recertification testing or for new tanks.

It would be nice to have a MIG wire feed welder, but we very seldom have a legitimate need for one.

I know of a Shell Valley Cobra locally that had a 110v tiny MIG wire feed welder used to weld major components. This car was built in a rented public storage space. Every time he tripped the breaker for the whole building while welding, he had to wait for someone else to complain so he wouldn't get busted. When he was sanding and prepping the body, I know he fogged everyone elses stuff due to the wire mesh ceilings and non divided shared rafter areas. I've never ridden in the car, but he is afraid of the power of his mild 351C engine and never ventures out beyond city streets.

I realize I went beyond answering your questions, but thought our farm welding applications might prove interesting or informative.

SpecialK would be another good source of information.

Fast Farmer

[A Snake]

On the two gasses, Acetylene is a much hotter flame than LP. That covers two of the things talked about. #1, yes it is cheaper, but not suitable for anything but junkyard work. Takes a huge tip to get the heat of a much smaller acetylene torch.

BTW You can also buy small oxegen and acetylene bottles and not pay the demurage. Yes, they do have to be inspected regularly and certified, but no monthly charge. You simply turn them in for filled bottles and pay for the filling. For folks other than the home user or hobbyist, the bottles a little small. I forget the cubic feet of gas in each, but my bottles are about 3 1/2' high on the oxy and 3' high on the acetylene. I don't cut much structural material with it so they last quite a while. I'm very partial to Victor gauges and torches as I used them for work for nearly 18 years. I've tried the other brands and frankly, they just don't stack up. If you want to do good work and not fight the tool, buy good equipment.

FYI ALL: don't cinch down on the valves of your acetylene torch! You'll ruin the valve seats and cause them to leak......very dangerous! Use two fingers to open and close lightly. If they are leaking now with out cinching them down, take the torch in and have it rebuilt. Also, DON'T leave pressure on the regulators after you turn off the tanks. Back 'em off with both torch valves open to bleed off the pressure. (All three valves if it's a cutting torch.) Leaving them under pressure, will damage the regulators over time.

Set Acetylene pressure at NO MORE than 5-7#!!! The red on the gauge is there for a reason. It's explosive at higher pressures. Set oxy where you like it for a good clean cut. For torch welding, I'd recommend 10 -12# oxy pressure. More doesn't help, it just makes the torch harder to set.

A lot said here, hope it sheds some light.

[cobrashoch]

I use Miller stuff, for my mig, tig, and stick welding. I both swear on them and at them at times. For oxy/acetylene I use a henrob set of torches. Been welding for years but as I stated above I saw a setup once were a guy used natural gas and air from a compressor. (Not to be confused with a plasma cutter) He was using his settup in a small body shop. At the time I wasn't much interested but down through the years the idea sort of grew on me. I know the gas company here in Indy mixes acetylene into our natural gas supplys though. I have a capped natural gas line in my garage. Ohekks question is a good one in my eyes and not one easily dismissed by conventional welding wisdom. I know special torches would be required for example. Its also assumed that LP is different from natural gas too.
cobrashock

[flipper35]

Either torch works good for blowing up baloons.

[A Snake]

Not a good idea on the balloons. Just don't make the mistake of using anything but the oxy for the balloons and even that's darned dangerous if anything makes a spark. Someone touches an oxy filled balloon with a lit cigarette just for fun and there'll be a helluva fireball!!

Use your air compressor.

[flipper35]

It was a joke, play on words kinda thing. More than just a fireball, if you're inside you lose all your windows. Time to Armor All my whole tire...

[cobrashoch]

Don't forget the bottoms of your tires. Let us know if the law suit works out.
cobrashock

[flipper35]

I had to start the car and put it in gear, walk alongside and spray the tires as the car rolled. Danged if I didn't use the whole bottle and they are still dirty. Now What?

Seriously though, if you rreally need a torch, acetylene is more useful.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

I have been using LP for about 7 or 8 years now....Bought a new torch set with the multi-fuel tips.....Only reason is I have an abundance of LP bottles and can get them filled two minutes from the house,did not want to have to buy an acetylene bottle for $200.00 plus fill-up and drive 30 miles to refill when empty....Granted acetylene works a lot better as it is a lot hotter,but for my usual shop work (mostly heating rusted bolts and cutting up junk),LP does the job for me when I need it....

David

[hobo]

I have used both acetylene and Lp gas for my torches
you dont need special regulators or hoses but you do need special tip,
i have both victor and Harris torch sets i use propane with harris because all you need from one to other is different tip but dealer told me i would have to buy new handle for victor to be able to use propane

[1blackbb66]

Having sold this stuff for over 30 years now I can tell you that propane is a good choice for all around home shop use. It will take a little longer as the flame temp of oxy/propane is about 1000* cooler that of oxy/acetylene but the safety and cost advantages are well worth it. It does take a different cutting tip to get the best performance and you should buy a new set of hoses as most all outfits come with grade R fuel hose which will deteriorate if used for propane. You need to ask for grade T hose which is good for all gases.

Ray Francisco
Senior Account Representative
Pacific Welding Supplies
Tacoma WA.