Oxy-Propane Cutting ?

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Thought I'd throw a little question to you pro's. out there:I've got a tank of propane sitting here, full, and not being usedfor anything.   Would it be worth it to get an extrabottle of o2, and another torch outfit...and set it up strictlyfor cutting ?   I'm wondering about the savings because I read ina book that some workers do this 'cause propane is cheaper than acetylene.   My way of thinking is o2 is the biggest cost when cutting,  and I get my 75 cf. acetylene bottle exchanged forabout $20 bucks....which doesn't seem unreasonable.I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:I read that you'll use 3 times as much o2 using propane than with acetylene.  The cose of propane is about 1/50th that of acetylene but the heat differences are pretty far apart with propane at  2300 and acetylene at 2870.  I don't think you can weld with propane and cutting isn't pretty. I guess people mostly use it for heat treating.[url=]Brainfarth[/url]Common sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:You can probably get just a tip and regulator adaptor for your torch and cut with Propane.  OP is superior if you're cutting rusty crap or multiple layers, and you can carve away at Cast & Stainless with OP.  Your oxygen consumption will be higher. All in all, it ain't much to write home about unless you have the requirement, like demolition.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Thanks Franz....I know my outfit will work with just a changein tip, (and the adaptor).   I was thinking more along the lines that I wouldn't have to disconnect from the acetylene bottlewhenever I wanted to cut.   Guess I'll just leave it alone....Acetylene cut's just fine,  and I'll use the propane to heat the shop ! I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Markopolo: Here's another option form the propane. Smith Equipment makes a propane torch for hearting/brazing that requires no Oxygen bottle. Uses atmospheric oxygen. Could be handy just for heating things up. Just a thought. [email protected] provided by Miller Bobcat, Flames by Smith EquipmentMember, Secret Society of Carbon Arc Torch enthusiasts
Reply:Ahhh Franz, I knew you'd rain on my parade eventually.  I just got 00 and 0 2-piece propane tips to start cutting.  I figured I had the small propane bottle, and all I would have to do is buy the Oxy.  I wanted to learn O/A welding, but just can't afford all that right now.  I hope the OP cutting works better than what I read in this thread, I heard it was pretty good and saved money in the long run.  Darn.Originally posted by Franz You can probably get just a tip and regulator adaptor for your torch and cut with Propane.  OP is superior if you're cutting rusty crap or multiple layers, and you can carve away at Cast & Stainless with OP.  Your oxygen consumption will be higher. All in all, it ain't much to write home about unless you have the requirement, like demolition.
Reply:Sorry about that, but I call em the way I see em.  I've got a buddy who cuts junk with propane and loves it, every time I ever tried it I hated it.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Brainfarth is right  - you will use approx. 3 x as much O2.You can braze but not weld.Propane is inexpensive -  and so great when cutting heavy steel or junk, etc.  It takes a little longer in the preheat.  It's great for heating steel - with only a little 02 you don't have to worry about melting any metal.I like it,  but you have to determine what you will be doing.Here in the Great White NorthMosquitoes can't fly at 40 below
Reply:propane rocks!...smoother cuts,hey oxygen is cheap and so is lp.don't listen to them other guys.don't needa change out a thing if you got victor but except the tip!.hey now that rocks! try it bud cuz you won't deny it.i used it for many years nowcut a few times with propane and you'll see how nice it cuts!
Reply:Propane is ok for heating,but a pain in the a$$ for cutting.The company I work for is forcing everybody to use propane and in a few months there there will be no acetylene left I sure will miss it when its gone but the penny pinching managers think they know more about welding and cutting than anybody in the crafts.
Reply:Trackwelder, on the presumption a lot of your cuts are repeditive, do a little time study while you still have acet.  About a month into the brilliant propane cost saving, time the same cuts, and point out to managment how many extra man hours that cost saving is costing.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:One nice thing about cutting with propane is the ruggedness and simplicity of the torch tip. About 30 yrs ago the guy that sold me the propane tip said that you could clean the tip with a jacknife and I found that to be pretty much true. The acetylene tips are so much harder to keep in good shape. I have a Victor model 100 torch and all I had to get new was the tip.Welder- Miller Thunderbolt AC 225-DC 150 Plasma cutter, Miller Spectrum 300O/P torch- Victor 100
Reply:Franz,its funny how the management always tries to save money on materials and in the long run it costs more than if they just left things alone.My job consists of track maintence and with the switch over to propane we will consume more oxygen than if we were cutting with acetylene.In our case the savings with propane will be very small once you figure in the additional oxygen costs and the labor involved switching tanks more often.I believe propane has its place in the welding world,but its not the revenue saver its all  made out to be.
Reply:Trackwelder, if you come up my way you can see CSX prove how smart their MBA diplomated management is every day.In the last 2 weeks, 3 trains have gone on the ground from lack of maintainence.  The absolute best though, they killed an old couple because the Conductor failed to Stop & Protect at a crossing where CSX knew the gates weren't working properly.  Needless to say, CSX can get their articulate well dressed spokesman in front of the cameras in under an hour, but they can't repair a crossing for weeks.Those MBA fellows are real smart, they just got too much education packed into too small of a brain area.The only way you beat them is by documenting everything, otherwise their stupid decision is your fault.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Franz,I couldn't have said it any better.I work for csx and know  first hand how smart the management is when it comes to maintenance.I heard about that couple a few weeks ago getting hit at that crossing and wish people would realize the danger of rail crossings.I can't tell you how many times while waiting to get track time,and see people drive around the gates only to get half way through the crossing and get surprised when theres another train coming at them.I worked out in your neck of the woods a few years ago around christmas time when there was like eight feet of snow in less than a week,I'll never make that mistake again.
Reply:Speaking of the railroad.....my cousin is an engineer...(NO, not a structural engineer...he "drives" the choo-choo).He finally got his first "victim" 2 weeks ago.Some ******** pulled onto the tracks in front of him todo the suicide thing.   Cuz. said he slammed the brakeson "emergency" and hung on the the whistle.....but theprick just sat there and waved.   I don't feel sorry for the dead man, but I feel REAL bad for my cousin....The company already said it wasn't his fault, but it sure is hanging heavy on him I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:If you think CSX is bad, you don't remember NewYork Central.We almost had CN in here right after ConRail closed down, till some smart ******* from Chessie figured out if he ripped out a couple hundred miles of new rail (Falls Road) CSX could run a monopoly.Like a fellow I met from CSX told me, the only change on the railroad in 100 years is today we run diesel, we used to run steam.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:It was a long time ago when I started my learning curve, and sometimes we do our work knowing how to do it while we may have forgot all the fine Physics and scientific reasons as to why.  No doubt someone will correct me but......If I recall, once the metal has been has reached its preheat temperature and you apply the cutting oxygen thus begins the super heat reaction withe the oxygen combustion etc. and metal melts and you continue cutting thru a chain reaction effect (so to speak).So in effect the Acetylene and propane are only to preheat the metal and the oxygen is the factor in cutting.  Which means that only real additional consumption factor is in the metal preheat and during cutting the oxygen consumption rate should actually be about the same.  It only seems like you're using more Oxygen because propane tanks last 3X longer.Here in the Great White NorthMosquitoes can't fly at 40 below
Reply:Lets try it this way~ once you have molten steel, and add oxygen the molten steel in the cut path actually becomes a fuel.  This applys in flame cutting and also Oxygen Laser cutting.O/P -v- O/A cutting torches~ O/P uses more oxygen because a cubic foot of propane has less BTU value than a cubic foot of Acetelene.  You have to burn more CF of Propane to get to the point where you can burn the steel.  You also have to burn more CF of Propane to sustain the cut.  Therefore, O/P cutting requires more oxygen than O/A cutting.Contrary to AlGore's brilliance, the laws of physics cannot be repealed.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Originally posted by Franz Lets try it this way~ once you have molten steel, and add oxygen the molten steel in the cut path actually becomes a fuel.  This applys in flame cutting and also Oxygen Laser cutting.O/P -v- O/A cutting torches~ O/P uses more oxygen because a cubic foot of propane has less BTU value than a cubic foot of Acetelene.  You have to burn more CF of Propane to get to the point where you can burn the steel.  You also have to burn more CF of Propane to sustain the cut.  Therefore, O/P cutting requires more oxygen than O/A cutting.Contrary to AlGore's brilliance, the laws of physics cannot be repealed.
Reply:Another advantage to acetylene is the ability to gas weld.If you have no need for gas welding and plenty of time for slower preheats propane will more than likely suit your needs well.Most of my welding work takes place outdoors in all types of weather,and when its raining the ability to gas weld a rail end or switch point under an umbrella can save valuable time.When they finally force me to swap my tanks I'll have no choice but to sit in the truck and wait the rain out,this welder won't electric weld in the rain.This usually happens on the time and one half rate