small portable oxy multi fuel torch cart

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I long ago reached the limit of propane/mapp and air torch.last year I started collecting regulators, gas cylinders, hand trucks and a small dry chem fire extinguisher. I have full ready to go small oxy, acetylene cylinders, Now all I need is torches and hoses.Originally I was just going to set up a small plumbers/HVAC oxy acetylene torch, like everyone else.After seeing how expensive acetylene is and how well propane/oxy works I think I want to use mainly propane gas and keep acetylene handy (on the cart ready to go) for when its really needed. I think the best way to do it would be to have a torch and hose set for each fuel.Acetylene will have flash back arrestors at the torch and reg.But I do not know if propane needs flash back arrestors,  the scrap yard here runs oxy propane and they do not have flash back arrestors at the regulator, I believe the torches they use could have them built in. They also run propane through what appears to be red acetylene hose.I believe propane uses a different type of hose that is usually orange.Need to set it up for heating now, cutting later on since I have my plasma.Also whats the biggest tip I can run on a small acetylene bottle? I think mine is 2.2cu.ftI read you should only use something like 1/8th or 1/7th of the bottles' volume per hour. I'm thinking thats not much. I have never used a acetylene tank this small.The acetylene bottle was free so I dont mind swaping it out for a larger one if nessary to eventually run a cutting torch.Propane I dont see why you cant run it till it gets cold and drops pressure off.As far as oxy fuel torching goes I have only used the big full size bottles of oxygen and acetylene exclusively for cutting, rose bud heating and welding and the set didnt belong to me.I want to build a safe small moveable cheaper to run version of the immobile to barely mobile standard full size version oxy acetylene torch.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Added a hose set and an old smith torch handle with a welding end that can weld 1/8inch steel and a 509 cutting torch end to my torch parts pile.That deal didnt include flash back arrestors had to buy those, not expecting them to be $60. I still would like one on the torch handle too.Still only got about $150 in it so far, including the arrestors.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Opps 2x.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Here's a chart that shows cf per hour usage for various tip sizes.http://dennisalbert.com/Welding/WeldingTipGuide.htmYou will notice even the smallest weld/braze tip size can be run at more than the recommended flow rate for a small MC size acetylene cylinder. Cutting tips are worse. You can get around that some what by just using the torch for very short periods. However those cylinders are really way too small to do much of anything except solder pipes, weld jewelery and maybe cutting or heating a small bolt or two. To really heat anything you must get a bigger cylinder. Next size up is a "B" size ( 40 cf vs 10 cf for the MC) Even that size is minimal when you look at the tip chart. Still it's a much better choice than an MC for stuff. The next size is a 75 cf cylinder and that's typically the minimum I'd recommend if you want to cut and heat. However it's still way too small if you look at the flow rates for things like rosebuds. Again you have to keep usage short with those, go to a bigger cylinder, or go to propane.Now the next wrinkle. Each size cylinder mentioned uses a different CGA cylinder fitting. With Acetylene there are 4 common sized. One for MC cylinders, one for B size cylinders and 2 different ones for "full size" cylinders. ( I'm not going to dig up the numbers tonight.) Propane uses the same CGA fitting that some of the bigger acetylene cylinders use. However around me, most 75 cf acetylene cylinders come with the other  fitting vs the matching one for propane. that means when you want to start changing cylinder sizes, you either need different regs, or you need adapters.I have a couple of the adapters as well as an assortment of regs, depending on what size cylinders I use. I have a small reg set up for my MC cylinder for soldering pipes ( air acetylene) I have a reg set up for B size cylinders ( air acetylene) plus an adapter that will let me use my B cylinders on my "standard" acetylene regs. I have 3 sets of regs set up for one of the "standard" sizes of larger acetylene cylinders, plus an adapter that lets me convert one of them over to propane or the other standard acetylene valve if need be. I seldom bother with my MC cylinder. I picked it up dirt cheap with the soldering rig, otherwise I wouldn't bother with it. I got it mostly for the parts of the soldering rig that matches my B size set up. My B size I use just to solder copper and occasionally heat small things ( thawed a frozen hose bib with it last week) One of these days I wouldn't mind getting a small jewelers OA torch to use with it. I kick myself years ago for not grabbing one when I had the chance, not that I have any real use for it on average. For metal working I use my bigger 75 cf cylinders and I'm in the process of rigging up one set to run oxy propane for the rosebud..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I have already talked to the local welding shop about swapping up to a larger cylinder. About $50, which is fine for me since I originally got the MC cylinder for free.Just going to keep the acetylene for occasional light welding, melting bolt heads or nuts off, melting soft metals for casting when I get the itch to do so.I think I am going to try most of my cutting and rose bud heating with propane.I should be all set on regulators, the torch came with a regulator that was used on a large 75cf tank, and I have one that fits the MC. The cylinder I would like to run is a B size, my guess was it held about half the acetylene of a big tank.Last edited by mad welder 4; 02-22-2014 at 11:45 AM.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder