Since I work in my attached garage I think the Ocy/ace would be too dangerous plus insurance issues. I can just detach the propane and move it outside.
Plus the welding gas business in my area is a racket. Only one vendor and have to sign a contract for anything big, just not worth it.
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So I finally got my Oxy/Pro setup going and just picked up AW205 and AW207 tip as I just had a AW203 with my Acet. setup. Just getting situated with reading the flame was a little frustrating. The flame isnāt so defined so knowing when itās neutral or oxidizing still has me scratching my head. Iām running equal pressures 5/5psi? Any hints or tips? I canāt believe how loud this is now. Itās like a small jet turbine.
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Iām using a Smith aw1(a?) with Paige tips, tm tech lightweight hoses and low pressure regs. Iām using a tank for both oxy and propane. Iāve kept an eye out for a concentrator but they donāt come up often in NZ.
I went for oxy/propane because I rent my garage and accetyln wasnāt easily available, which seems like a common reason. I had to get some adaptors to match the US hoses and flashbacks to aus/NZ regs.
Overall it seems pretty good but tbh Iād probably go accetyln if I was to start again. Mainly because thereās more exact information and videos regarding flame type, pressure and brazing techniques.
Those that are using it for bronze fillet brazing, how far away from the joint/puddle do you have the flame? Iāve read that some people treat it the same as oxy accetyln and get in real close, yet most of the information out there states that the higher concentration of BTUs are in the secondary cone? I think that clarification of this (for fillet brazing) would be really helpful.
Also, if thereās a chance someone can film a video through a Didymium lens of their technique, that would be amazing!
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I managed to snap up a oxy concentrator off trademe for $72, it was listed in the wrong category as a āoxygen compressorā. Win!
Maybe keep an eye in -health and beauty>medical supplies>other- thats where it was listed.
Will hopefully have some pocket money come in soon so I can get a LPG regulator, I have an ancient NZIG torch that I can try, not sure if it will be any good or not.
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Wow, what a score! Will definitely keep an eye out for one on trademe. Will also let you know if I spot any propane regs/hoses etc.
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Anyone use this torch? Much cheaper than the Victor j-28. Wondering if it is any good.
SĆAĀ® - Ligth Duty Welding/Brazing Torch Handle Compatible with Victor Series"J" https://a.co/d/18QjsWK
My acetylen ran out and getting it filled is difficult so I was thinking of switching to propane. If i get regulators and hoses for propane should that be fine? above i read about tips and torch bodies for propane but the ones I used for acetylene should work too right?
Yes. If you stick with propane you could experiment with adding the counterbore to the end of the tip that reduces flame detachment. I can provide photos.
Victor doesnāt make propane specific tips for the small sizes (1 and smaller) so I use acetylene tips in those sizes. The mixer is also the same for propane and acetylene.
Check with a regulator service shop, but most acetylene regulators can be used with propane too.
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I think you are right about regulators, however my acetylene regulator does not just screw onto a propane tank i think, so might be worth just getting a new regulator rather than fussing about with connector bits, if you have less parts you also have a lower part of connections leaking.
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Yes, that makes a lot of sense. I started with an acetylene regulator that used the same fitting as US BBQ propane tanks.
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another quick question, For propane I see a lot of regulators with just one gauge, is this okay or do you really need one with gauges for tank pressure and hose pressure?
One is probably okay. Propane is liquid under pressure so the high pressure needle doesnāt move until the tank is almost empty (like co2). You could always add the second gauge later if you need it.
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Been playing around with my new Propane setup and it took some getting used to with reading the flame. Not to mention counter boring my tip. I couldnāt get a good flame with not counter boring it. Mind you I just did this with a cordless drill so my flame is a littleā¦offset but now itās actually usable. I picked up a #5 and #7 smith tip as Iām still currently using a #3. Just wasnāt actually sure what size drill these out to.
I also switched my line pressure gauge on my oxygen to a Acetylene gauge to read my pressure easier. Reading the notches from everything below 40psi with my bad eyes was a PITA. Not sure Iāll stick with Pro2000(LPG with their own special sauce to get close to Acetylene temps) my local shop when it needs refilling and just refill it with normal LPG.
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Harris makes some really good torches and a smaller torch that is comparable to the Smith and Victor torches a lot of framebuilders like, but I think you meant Victor J 28.
Holy smokes 3 bar(roughly 45 psi) on both gases?
This is the propane regulator I use ā it screws directly into a standard 20lb propane tank. https://nationaltorch.com/?page_id=79#!/2300-510/p/37727818/category=9758330 When I bought it years ago the price was around $65, but it looks like now itās $88.
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Another question more specific to using an oxygen concentrator. Is it necessary or useful to use an oxy regulator when using an oxygen concentrator? I have one of the the Phillips ones you see a lot that has a built in flow meter, & the torch i bought used came with an oxygen regulator. Are there any advantages to incorporating the oxy regulator or should I just skip it?
I always ask a simple question concerning propane. Someone please show me a killer fillet made with propaneā¦I may have just seen my first propane fillet unicorn a short time ago but I cannot confirm. Acetylene is superior to propane when it comes to fillets, at least everything I have seen. Now, large section brazing of crowns/BBās etc, I think propane may be an advantage and I want to explore that someday.
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Haha brutal!
Define killer fillet. Fat and smooth? Double pass? Dime stack? Tiny and precise? Single pass in-and-out?
Oxy-acetylene burns hotter*, nothing magic about it from what I understand. But my mind is open. Interested to hear your thoughts on why propane would suit large section brazing? For me this is where propane struggles, when there is lots of mass to heat up.
Iād class myself as beginner-intermediate. Iāve used both setups, and apart from slight alterations in process, I believe my resultant fillets are the same. Now, they not be ākillerā though! XD
For me, once adjusted for process quirks, in-line gas fluxer vs flux paste is a bigger difference.
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The composition of the acetylene flame is different than the propane flame in that 2/3rds of the energy is in the primary cone of the acetylene flame whereas that is the exact opposite for the propane flame. With 2/3rds of the energy being in the outer envelope of the propane flame it is generally thought that propane is better for large section heating. Reā¦ you have to heat up a large aluminum casting so that you can weld it, most would go for propane heating in that instance. Again. I want to see pictures! There are styles, sure but I am still of the opinion, until I see physical evidence that no matter the style acetylene works better for fillets than propane. I know that will piss off the Propane MAFIA but prove me wrongā¦Anyone?
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