Oxy-Propane?

[Flexibel_kampfe]

I was wondering of Oxy-propane burns hot enough for welding and brazing?

I want to take up Oxy-Acetylene welding, soon, after I get experience.. and the trust of my parents that I wont burn down the house, by just soldering the small stuff...(I wont be doing a cart for a while..).. but acetylene is so darn expensive...

I read about OP, but I am not sure if its as good. Propane is much cheaper.. for a decent cylinder..

Can it be hooked up to a regular acetylene outfit? Something like: http://www.harborfreight.com/oxygen-and-acetylene-welding-kit-98958.html add a cylinder?

Thanks..

 

[DirtTrackRacer_07]

I use it in the shop and i like the way it burns. You could weld with it if you had to.

The price is the only reason i use it. It burns just as hot as acetylene.

I am not sure what the acetylene does but if i turn the torch up a little ways i can melt thick stuff easy.

The guy that i help says that the propane setup burns hotter than there acetylene.

 

[Flexibel_kampfe]

It actually burns cooler...
Maximum neutral flame temperature of acetelyne in oxygen is about 5720*F.
Maximum neutral flame tempature of propane in oxygen is about 5112*F.

 

[DirtTrackRacer_07]

o... He said it gets stuff hotter quicker and is almost to hot.

It could be different torch heads through?

 

[porsche930dude]

most scrap yards use it because of the price. thats what i use too. i have a bottle of acetelyne to use when my propane tank runs out so i wont know the difference till then

 

[Rustydog2010]

Thats what we use as well, used it to weld up my exhaust and it works good for cutting up crap as well. Its much cheaper and there haven't been any noticeable differences. Plus the threads are both left hand.

Jeremy.

 

[The Mechtician]

Oxy-Propane is great for cutting and brazing, and really does make faster and cleaner cuts than acetylene, but it's no good for welding. There are two reasons; First, the propane feather is simply not as hot as an acetylene one, which makes puddling the metal difficult. The second is that burning propane releases a lot of hydrogen, which embrittles steel and will lead to cracking. You can compensate for this a little bit by using different filler metals, but it's a problem that will never go away.

You can use an acetylene regulator on a standard bbq propane tank, it will screw right in. However, you won't be happy with the torch's performance unless you switch to a propane tip. Propane cutting tips have larger preheat jets, and propane brazing tips will also have larger orifices and usually come as 2 piece kits (injector style). The procedure for balancing the torch is different, and as a result you may find propane more finicky. The one piece of advice I have for tuning oxy-propane flames is this; light the torch, then turn the torch fuel valve up until the base of the flame detaches from the tip. Then turn it back down until the flame re-attaches to the tip. Then add your oxygen to get a neutral flame. Good luck!