Very portable propane cutting.

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I already use medical oxy cylinders for portability (one is enough to cut a truck cab in half)but the BBQ propane jug is a bit large for when I just need to make a couple of cuts away from home, such as clipping rear axle U-bolts.Western Enterprises has the 1/4" NPT elbow and CGA-510 to 1/4" NPT adapter, while the hardware store provided the propane fitting.The Victor regulator is kinda large, but I don't have anything smaller at the moment.It'll have to be kept vertical so I'll hose clamp it to my medical cylinder cart, shown below with BBQ jug.I'll cut with it next week to get an idea of how long the portable cylinder will last, but a few feet of cut would be plenty. I need the mobility and the less I carry with a bad back the better. Attached Images
Reply:thats small enough you could carry it in a back pack and cut off parking metersDo not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
Reply:thats small enough you could carry it in a back pack and cut off parking meters
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallI saw what happened to Paul Newman in "Cool Hand Luke".
Reply:Hi farmall, I would really like to know how long you can cut with that. Please note tip size, metal thickness, etc.I think an easier way to have accomplished that would have been to purchase a "steak saver" propane adapter. Without checking, just thinking about it, I think it would do the same thing. It is designed to hook the hose from your propane grill to a small cylinder like that. My steak saver is just a chunk of round aluminum, drilled on each side to make both ends female, threaded to fit the hose and small cylinder, and a small hole drilled all the way thru the center to allow gas flow. I can try it and take pics tomorrow if you would like."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:I wanted the 90-degree because of how I'm securing the cylinder next to the oxy cylinder. I'm thinking about a regulator support bracket and will post when I get it worked out.A Steak Saver, versions with or without the hose, would work too. Ensure any Steak Saver is straight-through like yours with no restriction.I also replaced the brass tube which depresses the valve in the propane cylinder with a bored-out steel version made in a lathe (because I wrung off the delicate brass original!) No hole in the end, cross-drilled instead. Dimpled the bolt shank with a centering drill, then drilled it using a milling machine since it was available.Enlarging the END hole would disable the system because a hole would drop over the pin in the cylinder Schrader valve. Found THAT out the hard way too. Doh.I'll get better pics of the modded tube since my machinist friend is making more of them. We figure the substantial ID increase will speed refilling small cylinders with our refill adapters. We used a 1/4" fine thread bolt with the shank turned down to fit. A nut shaved to half-thickness holds down the washer and gasket. We were experimenting or I'd have found a thinner nut in the first place, but the lathe made short work of that. Locked two nuts together on a bolt and shaved the outboard nut.It would have been better to put a tiny TIG tack on the nut and use that to screw in the fitting.Steak Saver pic shown for comparison. Attached ImagesLast edited by farmall; 06-11-2011 at 09:06 AM.
Reply:Just remember to take the cord from the person's nose before you jack their O2
Reply:Originally Posted by BuckFeverJust remember to take the cord from the person's nose before you jack their O2
Reply:Just remember to take the cord from the person's nose before you jack their O2
Reply:Here is my steak saver. And the brass one is an adapter to refill those small cylinders from a bigger one like a bbq 20#'er. After looking at the brass nipple on the steak saver, I think I would have to drill the hole larger if I wanted to use it for a torch. Don't forget to let us know how long it lasts."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:This one's time proven:Plenty of portable cutting capacity, I've burned about 4" pins with it.No fuel regulator, per se. Any questions?Last edited by denrep; 06-12-2011 at 01:49 AM.
Reply:Any questions?
Reply:What's your percentage of fill when you cross fill like that compared to an off the shelf bottle?"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallThanks for posting! Interesting that it doesn't care about a regulator. Is the end of the propane tube going into the cylinder standard? . . .
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyWhat's your percentage of fill when you cross fill like that compared to an off the shelf bottle?
Reply:Plenty of folks cross-fill, lots of info on da web, use uncommon sense (sense ain't common), and BTW I store all my cylinders small or large outdoors. Gasoline cans too for that matter (tan military cans disappear nicely). Might be overkill, but if the cylinders under my open metal shop area go, they won't take out my ISO containers or garage or house. Just like munitions, "separation distance". Unregulated little cylinder supply pressure is about 150 psi on my almost-empty sample, so if running without a regulator I would use good hose properly crimped and no one else should ever do it at all. Small regulators are cheap. The Denrep-style adapter is much lighter. Mine will get a check valve prior to use:EDIT:Set preheat on a #3 Victor GPN tip (about 1/3 turn on the torch) with feed pressure of 9 psi off a nearly-dead (scientific term "barely discernible slosh remaining") cylinder. Shut off torch, then opened fuel valve same amount and waited. Maintained 9 psi for three minutes then petered out.It's 94 out today and watching gas bleed is boring so I'll pass on dumping a full one, but I can see one of these bottles going about a half-hour running a #3 tip (which will cut 2") so this is certainly worth it for me. I'll just carry a two-pack and leave the spare on the truck. Now the BBQ jug can stay at the house. Attached ImagesLast edited by farmall; 06-12-2011 at 02:01 PM.
Reply:I've cross filled before too and probably will again, but, just didn't seem to get a good fill. I realize I could bleed but don't want to exceed the 80% by much."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Turns out Uniweld makes an adapter to fit MC regs. This one's on Ebay (not mine): Attached Images
Reply:If anyone has the little "round" or conventional style Uniweld Patriot style regulators found on tote outfits, this confirms they work with LP:"please be advised that yes the Patriot regulator is compatible with LP fuel gas. In fact Uniweld offers a FV600 Fuel Gas Adaptor for use with disposable fuel gas cylinders that have a CGA600 connection, see attached brochure.If you have additional questions please contact me at your convenience. Thanks again for your interest in Uniweld products…”Quality Tools That Go To Work With You!”.Best Regards, David Foster Managing Director
Reply:I've done the propane refilling for years, never really a problem.You do put the cylinder to be filled in the freezer for about half an hour before, using the adapter, you mate up the two tanks and then flip the BBQ tank upside down and open the valve on the big tank. Let her sit a bit. Then remove and test, Should get a decent fill close to new.The older metal type propane cylinders could be problems. Their fill valve thingee might leak, you always bubble check that and their relief. Solution was put on the clicker control and use it right away. Throw that puppy away.The newer fiber type non-metallic  tanks seem  a lot better, never had a problem with any of them. I never store one of them in the house after filling.Interesting about using the oxgyen with propane. What is a good source to get it? Don't know if I'm that brave, wonder how far you can throw one of them if it goes wrong????  Might be nice addition if I ever need more heat.
Reply:I get oxygen from my local welding supply. I fill the small cylinders off my large ones (many precautions required, follow ALL safety rules flawlessly and do it outdoors) but you can exchange them normally.If you have friends who fill medical cylinders, these adapters work fine. Since many homefill medical oxygen outfits are coming on the used market, you could produce your own O2 and fill medical cylinders that way. Adapter is chrome fitting on the right. Tote reg is a Uniweld (twenty bucks new off Ebay) since I wanted something smaller than my Victors. Attached ImagesLast edited by farmall; 10-13-2011 at 01:49 PM.
Reply:I've been trying to figure out the oxy/propane setup for awhile now and this thread answers allot of my questions, awesome!!Farmall, I was going to post about using one of those homefill medical oxygen units, I've seen some for sale on CL & the net, you can get transfill whips made for them to fit just about any valve style from medical to welding cylinders.  I think the initial outlay in cost of buying one and setting it up would offset the both the price and hassle of running to have o2 cylinders exchanged fairly quickly, and being able to get propane filled easily would also be less expensive and time consuming for a low volume and/or hobby user....Thanks for the info & ideas!!
Reply:farmall- this is a cool little setup, I bet quite handy as well in a pinch. I do wonder though, is it/NOT necessary to have check valves and flashback arrestors with oxy-propane? I see alot of torches, burners, forges and other heating devices with out these devices. Im curious to know..
Reply:Even stoves are now connected with flash-arresting check valves. Hardware stores have them if you need one.BTW the pic of the setup without valves/arrestors isn't current. I protect both ends of all my hoses except when using a torch fitted with integral suppression. Most of my torches are older so that means keeping the valves with the hoses. If you don't have to hunt them you are more likely to use them.I haven't had any incidents nor do I wish to. I used to be a little slacker about my personal setup, but pulled my head out of my posterior and now do at home as at work.  I always wear welding gloves when cutting so if a leak ignites near a torch or cylinder valve I can shut it off.  I keep water handy as well as a dry chem extinguisher. I drench the ground with a hose before I cut.Safety gear is a tiny cost compared to overall equipment cost even for hobby/home welding.This guy has an O2 concentrator setup and covers tip sizes. Even has pics of the flame and a brazing bend test:http://www.chaski.com/homemachinist/...p?f=12&t=87931As far as keeping my med cylinders legal to swap, I exchange them at my LWS if the dates are getting close.A concentrator would be nice if you score one cheap. Oxygen isn't expensive so I've not bought a concentrator yet and won't until a deal falls into my lap. If you do light OA welding, the concentrator as shown in the link above can keep up since it has proven to handle propane.Last edited by farmall; 10-15-2011 at 03:56 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallThis guy has an O2 concentrator setup and covers tip sizes. Even has pics of the flame and a brazing bend test:http://www.chaski.com/homemachinist/...p?f=12&t=87931As far as keeping my med cylinders legal to swap, I exchange them at my LWS if the dates are getting close.A concentrator would be nice if you score one cheap. Oxygen isn't expensive so I've not bought a concentrator yet and won't until a deal falls into my lap. If you do light OA welding, the concentrator as shown in the link above can keep up since it has proven to handle propane.I have seen.  a bernz cylinder come out thru a wall during a house fire.It made aloud bang.I t left a smoke trail and went out of sight.A fire man lost a leg when a fork lift cylinder came thru a wall during a fire.Was my job to disconnect propane cylinders and roll them away from burning houses.I tend to stay far away from propane barbeques.I use charcoal and hardwood scraps.
Reply:I wonder how well that concentrator would work if paired up with another identical one..... should be able to get plenty of O2 that way. I had always been under the assumption that O2 out of a concentrator like that wasn't pure enough to use for cutting or welding, guess I was wrong about that.