Oxygen/Thermic lance

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Anyone done this? My dad watched it being done at the steel mill.  If I understand it right you connect a valve to an oxy bottle (no regulator) then a hose,then a piece of 1/2" pipe.  Heat the pipe and crack the oxeygen.  Is this right?  The pipe is consumed.  How much oxy do you use?  The heat generated by the oxidizing iron is something like a thousand degrees hotter then the melting point of anything on earth. so you can use it to cut boulders in two.DAG NABIT, I left my tape on the saw.Wild Fire Welding
Reply:This sounds like the arc-air slice.  Then there's one that uses gasoline and oxygen or something I heard of that can cut stone or anything in its path.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I found this The Thermic Lance and thisWhat is a Thermic Lance?The Thermic Lance is a consumable steel tube, packed with low carbon steel wires. They are usually supplied in three metre lengths with varying diameters. The lance is attached to a ‘lance holder ‘, which is connected to a suitable oxygen hose fitted to a high-pressure oxygen supply.Thermic lancing is the process of cutting and removing stubborn materials by thermo-chemical reaction. When ignited the lance will burn at intense temperatures and is capable of cutting or boring through almost any material.Thermic lance boring is a method of boring and severing concrete, steel, cast iron and hard to clean materials without noise or vibration in a fraction of the time taken by conventional methods. It is ideal for demolition work, where noise and vibration are unacceptable, or where speed is essential particularly on reinforced concrete. The equipment is extremely simple and easy to operate, and the capital cost in comparison to drills etc. is negligible. A list of applications is available by clicking on the ‘applications’ button at the top of this page.The process was developed in France following the Second World War, as a means of assisting the break-up of gun emplacements, submarine pens, and other large concrete structures. Thermic lancing depends on the fact that red-hot steel will oxidize very rapidly in an atmosphere of pure oxygen. When the steel is at red heat, it has reached ignition (oxidation) temperature. A stream of pure oxygen directed at the red-hot area will immediately form a film of iron oxide. The melting point of iron oxide (approx. 800-900 degrees C.) is well below the melting point of steel(1,400 - 1,500 degrees C.) The velocity of the high-pressure oxygen blows the oxide film away and another film of oxide is instantly formed and blown away. This reaction is exothermic (gives off self generated heat) and will continue as long as red heat and the oxygen stream are present. The intense heat generated at the end of the thermic lance, when applied to a material will quickly burn through it and will also consume the lance. The burning action can be stopped anytime by turning off the oxygen supply.
Reply:Look up Slice torch under thermaldyne.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:ive done a lot of lancing and its pretty dang hot! cant remember the exact psi on the oxygen and the lance rods are packed with magnesium rods if i remember correctly. really takes care of business though.only thing worse than an ugly woman is an ugly weld
Reply:You can stuff a brake line with steel wool and get a similar effect.  Depending on what I am cutting, I set the Oxygen to 40 to 70 psi.David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I never really knew the correct name for it, but that accurately describes something I've used at work to "bore" thru stuck pins in heavy equipment. The setup we have uses a 12v battery to start the rod and you feather the gas to keep it lit. It goes thru a pin about as fast as you can push the rod in, and if you can handle the violence, it is very precise.
Reply:I have seen a friend use it with a long about 5 to 6 foot lance coupled to an oxygen tank and started with oxy-acetylene torch to burn a hole thru high rated safes to test their vulverbility, this is exactly the same size commercially used in steel industry.Very cumbersome and he had to suit up in a reflective suit.Lockmasters(http://www.lockmasters.com) does have a smaller version, under $1000.00 with lances about 2 feet long and 1/8 in diameter, and you keep replacing lances till you have burned thru the hardplate to the desired profile.Never used it.
Reply:Same here like Daddy.Great tool, the hardest part on smaller pins (under 1" dia ) especially with a cross hole is going off track and out thru the side. Vertical pin are the hardest as gravity is not working for you but it can be done. Around 70 psi is what I use give or take a bit.Like a fella at work said, it'll either make you a hero or an a**hole :-)......Mike
Reply:I did a quick check of one patent site and found lots of recent variations on this idea; the earliest one I found was only 1969 or so. These variations include multiple spiral wires inside a larger tube, straight rods of hi-C steel, etc.An old copy of Modern Welding Practice by Althouse and Turnquist  (C. 1951, 1958) shows a Linde Air Products photo of a lance being used to cut huge castings in what looks like a scrap yard, using a standard cutting torch for preheat. The text says the "apparatus...is patented" and uses a "one eighth or one quarter inch pipe",  for the earlier plain version.That's the patent I wanted to find, but didn't. Probable belonged to Linde.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RYou can stuff a brake line with steel wool and get a similar effect.  Depending on what I am cutting, I set the Oxygen to 40 to 70 psi.David
Reply:Originally Posted by hotrodderYou can make 'em out of all sorts of things (provided suficient quantities of alcohol are available )...
Reply:Originally Posted by SkippiiAs far as connecting the lance to the oxygen without using any regulators, check valves, or flashback arrestors---that sounds more dangerous than the lance. Is it?
Reply:I know this is an old thread, but I am kind of surprised at the lack of responses to this thread...
Reply:Why are you surprised?  A slice torch is no fun to run.  I've used one to cut through 8" thick concrete before.  If you've never used one, trust me, you aren't missing a thing.  It's not glamorous like they make it appear in the movies.  It's dangerous, and the material you're cutting is blowing right back on you.  Full leather gear is a must.  I have scars from one of these, and I WAS wearing full gear.
Reply:Originally Posted by tbone550Why are you surprised?  A slice torch is no fun to run.  I've used one to cut through 8" thick concrete before.  If you've never used one, trust me, you aren't missing a thing.  It's not glamorous like they make it appear in the movies.  It's dangerous, and the material you're cutting is blowing right back on you.  Full leather gear is a must.  I have scars from one of these, and I WAS wearing full gear.
Reply:Originally Posted by Liquid_PyroI know this is an old thread, but I am kind of surprised at the lack of responses to this thread...
Reply:Originally Posted by Liquid_PyroI know this is an old thread, but I am kind of surprised at the lack of responses to this thread...
Reply:I understand its a very specialized tool...They are used probably on an hourly basis where I work. At the time of my post I was searching through the internet and came across many conflicting information, so I was a little frustrated. I am unable to find any other posts on this topic...Since I was a little vague with my last post, to be more specific, I would like to know more about the safety involved..flash arrestors, # shade lens recommendedWhat can go wrong while using these things?Techniques to minimize any blow back of molten steel?I believe someone mentioned cutting through cement, can any type of lance cut through cement and what applications would it be used for...
Reply:There is plenty of info on the net.  Broco, Oxylance, etc have websites that should cover your questions.Check the .pdfs:http://www.oxylance.com/Small lances are used for burning out pins, large ones for scrapping.  In the site below are pics of using them to cut out heavy hydropower parts.http://www.frenchriverland.com/previous_pictures_3.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by Liquid_PyroI believe someone mentioned cutting through cement, can any type of lance cut through cement and what applications would it be used for...
Reply:Safety- COVER UP ALL FLESH WITH LEATHER/NOMEXCapability- IF IT MELTS OR VAPORIZES, YOU CAN SEVERE/PEIRCE ITThe thermic lancing operation is specialized method of cutting, beveling, gouging, severing, peircing and boring stubborn, hard to cut, locked, seized and stuck dirty materials, both ferrous and non ferrous, very very quickly and reliably. The thermic lance will melt almost any material known and in use today by thermo-chemical reaction. Due to its simplicity in use and basic equipment requirements it makes the thermic lance a very versatile and cost effective tool. Its main uses today are for severing and piercing reinforced concrete and steel, parts salvage machinery demolition, pin lacing, and repair and maintenance in heavy industries.. This portable service eliminates the need for transporting equipment and excessive teardown or removal of machinery from the job site. The thermic lance is a consumable steel tube, packed with low carbon steel wires. They are usually supplied in three metre lengths with varying diameters. The thermic lance is attached to a 'lance holder ', which is connected to a suitable oxygen hose fitted to a high-pressure oxygen supply. Thermic lancing is the process of cutting and removing stubborn materials by thermo-chemical reaction. When ignited the lance will burn at intense temperatures exceeding 8000 degrees and is capable of cutting or boring through almost any material. Thermic Lance boring is a method of boring and severing concrete, steel, cast iron and hard to clean materials without noise or vibration in a fraction of the time taken by conventional methods. It is ideal for demolition work, where noise and vibration are unacceptable, or where speed is essential particularly on reinforced concrete. The equipment is extremely simple and easy to operate, and the capital cost in comparison to magnetic drills, portable boring equipment, etc is negligible. The process was developed in France following the Second World War, as a means of assisting the break up of gun emplacements, submarine pens, and other large concrete structures. Thermic Lancing depends on the fact that red-hot steel will oxidize very rapidly in an atmosphere of pure oxygen.  When the steel is at red heat, it has reached ignition  kindling (oxidation) temperature. A stream of pure oxygen directed at the red-hot area will immediately form a film of iron oxide. The melting point of iron oxide (approx 800-900 degrees C) is well below the melting of steel (1,400 - 1,500 degrees C.). The velocity of the high pressure oxygen blows the oxide film away and another film of oxide is instantly formed and blown away.  The reaction is exothermic (gives off self generated heat) and will continue as long as red heat and the oxygen stream are present.  The intense heat generated at the end of the thermic lance, when applied to a material will quicky burn through it and also consume the lance. The burning action can be stopped anytime by turning off the oxygen supply. The Thermic Lance is a versatile tool for cutting and piercing stubborn materials and has many diverse applications. Within ferrous and non-ferrous foundries, cement plants, aggregate plants, heavy equipment industries, smelters and mills, mines and quarry’s they are ideal for, opening tap holes, removing aluminium hard sports, ingot case cutting, ladle and tundish nozzle cleaning, slag and refractory material cutting, burning/flushing solidified steel plugs in bores, clearing solidified spillages, lacing out shafts, boring out stuck pins, lacing off old wear plates, lacing off welds, cutting difficult material and within other industries with general scrap handling and salvage, cutting and severing reinforced concrete, cutting steel piles, cutting and boring quarried stone, demolition and decommissioning work. The advantages of using the Thermic Lance as opposed to conventional cutting methods and techniques, is mainly due to the speed at which it works.  The equipment is simple and easy to operate, and the capital costs are negligible in comparison to other options etc. Another key factor that makes the Thermic Lance a far more desirable tool for cutting is the lack of noise and vibration created. Attached Images
Reply:Weldor's info is true.  I've run a Slice Torch (brand name), and the rods were only 24" or 36" long as I recall.  I believe I used the Shade 5 torch setting on my welding helmet.  And yes, we were cutting through concrete.  Blowback was horrendous.  I don't know about flashback arrestors - ask the company who makes the product.  The best way I know of to minimize blowback on you is to hand the torch to someone else.  As far as what can go wrong... ha ha, where to start?  Watch where you're pointing the thing, and make sure your oxygen cyl is chained to something solid, not standing upright on its own.  The only time I've not chained a cylinder up, and therefore also the only time I've ever had a cylinder fall was when I was first demo-ing the Slice Torch and we just rolled out a 2nd oxygen cylinder beside the torch cart and hooked the slice torch to it.  (we didn't have a splitter to run the Slice and regular torch  off of one cyl)  Once I got it lit, I stuck it in the concrete, and it commenced to sending burning concrete all over the place, including me.  I jumped back, torch in hand, and you guessed it, the Slice Torch hose pulled the free-standing oxygen cylinder over.  That was a bad day in several ways.  I could have shot myself for being so retarded.  The Good Lord smiled on me though, and I'm here to tell about it.