Need help cutting with my O/A torch!

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I just bought a Lincoln Portable O/A torch and I'm planning to use it for some cutting jobs.  I'm trying to cut some metal that is 1/8" thick.  The instructions that came with the torch are VERY vague.  They suck actually.  Anyways, I've been messing with different pressures and what not but when I cut, the metal melts back together.  I'm obviously doing something wrong.  I light the torch using the acetylene.  After that, I'm lost.  What should the flame look like without the oxygen lever depressed?  Should it be green?  What I need to know, is how do I adjust thing so it's ready to cut?  I'm lost!  Help!Matt in OKCLincoln 175HD
Reply:Take a look at:http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=7835Practice, practice, practice, Good Luck
Reply:Right rear O2 knob all the way open.  Light with Acet, turn up until the flame stops smoking or leaves the tip.  Turn the acet down a little.  Turn front 02 knob until you have a good flame.   regulators should be set at around 5 to 10 and Oxygen 20 to 40 depending on what you are cutting and tip size.You might want to clean the tip.  I usually do before every job.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I use about 5 PSI Acetylene and 25 PSI Oxygen.  The Flame will look th esame whether the Oxygen for cutting is off or on.  The size of your cutting tip also needs be be correct.
Reply:I dont know what the instructions say- maybe you are going to slow if it melts back together?? or preheating to much???Look up netural flame and set torch for a netural flame. 5 psi. acetylene & 25 psi oxygen is what i use also.might angle torch into the cut a little helps on thin stuffshould cut the 1/8 in. pointing straight down
Reply:The tip is probably too large, people often make the mistake of using too large of a cutting tip.  For 1/4 inch and under, you should be using the smallest tip available.  Gas pressures depend on the tip, but acetylene is almost 5-7 psi.  For smaller tips, oxygen is 25-35 psi, for larger tips it can be upwards of 60 psi.  When you depress the cutting lever on the torch, you should see a clear jet in the middle of the flame.  This jet should not get wider as it getse further from the tip, if it does the tip needs to be cleaned.To set the torch properly, light it and then open the acetylene valve until the flame stops making soot.  If the flame moves away from the tip, you've gone too far.  Then, bring it to neutral with the oxygen.  If you use this method, you'll have the proper gas flow rates.  You have the proper travel speed when the sparks exit the underside of the piece at 45 degrees.
Reply:It's hard to beat a nice clean cut. CLEAN the tip! This is not for the old timers here but for the guys new to the trade. First the tanks, open the oxy. valve all the way (there is a safety valve that closes if the top is knocked off. Only works if the valve is all the way open) then the acy. valve is to be opened 1/4 turn so it can turned off quickly. And be sure to use flash back valves. I am sure that everyone on this site probably uses different pressures. I like 7-10 on the acy and up to 20 on the oxy but most of the time bout 15. Lite the torch and then set to a natural flame so that the blue cones just come to a sharp point, no further, then hold the oxy lever down and readjust the oxy until the blue cones again become sharp with out going past that point. When everything is adjusted perfectly when you push the lever down it sounds like someone ripping a newspaper. For me it happens about twice a year.I always tried to work with the oldest hand on the job to gain knowlege but now I can't find any.
Reply:When setting the torch I get a netural flame then depress the lever and re set to netural while holding the lever.Is this right?????
Reply:once you set the netural flame..... depress the lever and fine tune the flame again..... Cutting thin material clean with a toch can be tricky._________________Chris
Reply:No...You should have a fairly hot flame to start with..And when you squeeze the "trigger" it should burn 3 times faster......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Did'nt mean to "step" on ya Chris.. ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:One thing I would like to add is travel speed... sound like with the tip you have you will need to be moving pretty fast cutting 1/8". Are you cutting strait lines or curves? I cheat...Whenever possable I run the torch on a fence and dragg it along, Like this. With curves and such it's a little different."If you live in Sacramento you have seen my work."
Reply:Good pics!!Nice work!!  ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:im thinken travel speed as well....that tends to be my biggest problem with the 1/8 inch is i go to slow and let it melt back togather...you have to move the torch pretty quick to get a nice clean cut with 1/8 inch
Reply:Originally Posted by Jonnie Fraz   I cheat...Whenever possable I run the torch on a fence and dragg it along, Like this.