First impressions - Oxy-Propane cutting...

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So I finally switched the end on my fuel regulator over to CGA 510 and put the torches together last night.  The setup is: Victor SR250 series oxy/fuel regulators, 50' of 1/4" Grade T hose, and a Smith WH200/SC209 cutting head with SC40-1 tip.  All but the tip and hoses are used.  I also switched from a med duty Victor torch to the Smith at the same time.  I hooked it up to a 20-lb BBQ tank to try it out.  Manchester tank is shipping me their # 14734 60-lb screw-on cap cylinder also, but it's about a week out yet.The torch is obviously different to light, but easy enough.  I haven't figured out what the "proper" amount of flame looks like (neutral is easy to find, though), but once I got it lit I just had to cut something.  Anyone who says propane cutting is for the junkyard has either been running a badly adjusted or dirty torch, or just doesn't know how to run a torch in the first place.  My first cut, which I didn't even put torch goggles on for (I know...), was just as neat and clean as any oxy-acetylene cut I've ever made.  This was on 1/4" rusty steel that was already on the workbench.  I couldn't tell much if any of a difference in preheat time either.  There was almost no slag, but honestly a properly run oxy-acetylene torch won't leave hardly any if any slag either.On a side note, I really like the Smith torch as well.  This was another switchover that I'm glad I made.  I think I'll find a med duty Smith as well, which will fit in tight places a little better than this big one.  Maybe I'll keep it in a rod tube on the truck for whenever I need it.I'm tickled to death.  This switchover is highly recommended.  I was planning to keep a bottle of acetylene in the shop and leave my old torch set for oxy-acetylene cutting, but I can see now that Airgas is going to have one less acetylene bottle out for lease - once my big tank arrives I'll probably order another for the shop, and I might even use out of the BBQ tank for awhile to see how long it lasts.
Reply:tbone, glad to hear everything went as planned. i had a feeling you would be impressed. i cant figure out why people say bad things bout prop. either, with the right equip. you can cut or heat anything acet. would. but i did say the RITE EQUIPMENT. Smith is by far the way to go with propane, thats why ive sold all my other torch brands. good luck kw.MM 251MM 135Lincoln Pro cut 55Bobcat 250Miller Thunderbolt ac/dcolder ac forneyJackson nexgen 3n13-Smith OP setups97 Dodge dieselMakita chopsawJet swivel head bandsawlincoln tig 300/30030a spoolgunpuma port. gas air comp.
Reply:Maybe I'll keep it in a rod tube on the truck for whenever I need it.
Reply:speaking of chinease knockoffs, ive yet to see a Smith knockoff. only thing close was at our Orscheln farm store , it said Hobart on it, but took Smith consum. all in all looked like a Smith. from what ive noticed round these parts, a fellar can pick up a good working Smith used for round $50 just because everyone bleeds Victor, anyway they can have them. just my .02  kwMM 251MM 135Lincoln Pro cut 55Bobcat 250Miller Thunderbolt ac/dcolder ac forneyJackson nexgen 3n13-Smith OP setups97 Dodge dieselMakita chopsawJet swivel head bandsawlincoln tig 300/30030a spoolgunpuma port. gas air comp.
Reply:Hey Tbone, glad your happy. I switched over quite awhile ago. I still have one BIG acet cyl I am going to finish off and then return. I will keep my 75cu ft acet cyl for when I give gas welding a try. I have a 100# in the shop cabinet and I just have a bunch of bbq 20#'ers for road use. They fit in the cab nice when it's cold and you want to put some heat on them. Also, if you run out you can exchange them everywhere. You get screwed on price, but in a pinch......  I use the Smith straight cutting torches and the SC-50 series tips. I have never had any problems, good quality stuff there and made in USA!!!One trick for the lighting is to get the fuel lit, hold it real close to a piece of steel then add the oxy. I don't know if that is what the textbook says to do but a wrecker buddy taught me that and that's how I've been doing it. Post some pics. Everybody likes pics."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:stick, ive found that when it comes to liting the smith on prop. i just kindof guess my two valves, like where they would be if it were set perfectly when cutting. takes some practice, but try it once you get it figured out , you can lite that baby in a damn tornado. set the two valves where you think they should be and strike, youll quickly find out if you hav not enuf oxy or prop. or vice versa, works gr8 for me. i cant say the same bout my part time helpers lol kwMM 251MM 135Lincoln Pro cut 55Bobcat 250Miller Thunderbolt ac/dcolder ac forneyJackson nexgen 3n13-Smith OP setups97 Dodge dieselMakita chopsawJet swivel head bandsawlincoln tig 300/30030a spoolgunpuma port. gas air comp.
Reply:Torch cutting with propane is slightly different. Whereas on an acetylene tip you hold the tip close to the workpiece, right at the tip of the preheat flames, with propane you lift the tip up about half to three quarters of an inch. Trust me, it works.
Reply:I haven't done much with pictures, but here are some:Picture one is the cut, taken from the slag side.  The only thing I made this cut for was to determine how the setup ran.  There was no attempt to make a particularly straight cut.Picture two is the torch with SC40 series tip installed.Picture three is the ton of tips I've bought on ebay in both SC and MC sizes (large and small).  All are new, average price has been around $6/ea including shipping.I will make another post for the other 3 pics I have. Attached Images
Reply:So here is a view or two of the cylinder locations on my truck, and a view of the location in my shop.  That's all of the pictures I can think of relating to this subject.  Hope you enjoy.The way the BBQ cylinder sits in the truck's old acetylene brackets leaves a little to be desired, so when the big tank gets here I'll be re-radiusing those brackets.  I'm thinking of using screen-plant (from a quarry) buck rubbers over the 1/4" brackets to cushion the tank better.  A couple of feet of it would be all I'd need. Attached ImagesLast edited by tbone550; 02-25-2011 at 01:44 PM.Reason: Dang! Forgot the pics!
Reply:hey, tbone, ive got that same pair of '' steel toed'' boots ! lol kwMM 251MM 135Lincoln Pro cut 55Bobcat 250Miller Thunderbolt ac/dcolder ac forneyJackson nexgen 3n13-Smith OP setups97 Dodge dieselMakita chopsawJet swivel head bandsawlincoln tig 300/30030a spoolgunpuma port. gas air comp.
Reply:Originally Posted by ksweldermanhey, tbone, ive got that same pair of '' steel toed'' boots ! lol kw
Reply:yup, same damn situation here got plenty of work to do when its a little nicer out , and a lot of my own stuff. but i figured id stay in house where its warm. i dont ever go on vacation, anywhere nice that is . my '' vacations'' are waiting on someone to either call or stop by to pay me, or just waiting for work in general. so i dont feel too bad being a bum sometimes in the winter here where 75-80 % of my work is for farmers who dont necessarily get too excited bout working outside building repairing corrals feedlots equipment, etc. so looks like ill keep rambling on here today ! kwMM 251MM 135Lincoln Pro cut 55Bobcat 250Miller Thunderbolt ac/dcolder ac forneyJackson nexgen 3n13-Smith OP setups97 Dodge dieselMakita chopsawJet swivel head bandsawlincoln tig 300/30030a spoolgunpuma port. gas air comp.
Reply:What's that insulation material on the walls in your shop?
Reply:It's a really thin (maybe 1/2" thick) foil-covered type.  Will try to get you more details when I'm back in there on Monday.  I'm headed to MD for the weekend to see the wife's folks.