What good are the gauges anyway....

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Ok I buy a new acet and oxygen torch (my first one)..and startbrazing with it.....The gauges so far to me are pointless, aside fromtelling me when the fuel is gone....and I mean I can tellwhen the torch will not light...and that would be enoughfor me to go and get another tank.....the dealer says the gauges shouldhelp me conserve fuel....yet I still see them as pointless.....
Reply:The LP guages are important.  On the acetylene side, it prevents you from setting the pressure above the point at which acetylene becomes unstable.  On the O2 side, the LP gauge is very important for cutting.  Cutting torches are run wide open and the pressure is what determines how much gas flow you get.  When brazing, you set everything on the handle so the actual pressures, as long as they are reasonable, don't really matter.
Reply:Before you do yourself and possibly someone else significant harm, buy yourself a book and read about what you're doing.  Better yet, talk to someone who can show you how your equipment works and the hazards involved.
Reply:If you bought this new there should be a booklet with it that has pressure setting for various tips sizes etc..._________________Chris
Reply:If the dealer knew how they worked and why, he'd be welding instead of dealing.Last edited by MAC702; 05-17-2007 at 06:24 PM.
Reply:if you have the fuel pressure set too low the combustion can actually be occuring inside the mixing tube.  this can melt through, i've seen it happen with rosebuds, they require much higher pressures than welding tips or cutting attachments.
Reply:I agree that you should do some learning about your O/A setup. The gauges/regulators play an important part in what you are doing.Patriot Performance AutoLincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln AC-225 StickVictor Journeyman O/AQuincy QT-5 Compressor
Reply:Acetylene becomes unstable at pressures above 15 psi. Do yourself and anyone else in the immediate vicinity a favour, learn about it.
Reply:Victor use to offer an awesome book with their new torch set ups. Best info money can buy as far as proper pressure settings for oxy/acetylene. The book tells you what size tip, oxy/acetylene guage settings, ect. for the thickness material you're cutting or brazing.I'm gonna have to find that book now!
Reply:What everybody else said is correct. Get a book, take a class and practice. The low pressure gauges are citically important to proper O/A welding since they tell you that your pressure is set correctly. The high pressure gauges will tell you generally the amount of gas left in the tanks. It's fairly straightforward. Both gauges are important. Learn to use them safely.Miller Millermatic 252Miller Syncrowave 200Liincoln AC-DC 225Victor O-A Set
Reply:Originally Posted by mlmonteVictor use to offer an awesome book with their new torch set ups. Best info money can buy as far as proper pressure settings for oxy/acetylene. The book tells you what size tip, oxy/acetylene guage settings, ect. for the thickness material you're cutting or brazing.I'm gonna have to find that book now!