oxy/acet torch not cutting

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A few weeks ago I bought a new torch set and hooked them up to my bottles.  I have the Victor torch set.  My tip is the 03-00 I think.  ANYWAY....  Last week I was cutting 1/4 inch steel like there was no tomorrow.  The last two day I cannot get it to cut.  I have the same bottles, same regulators set at the same pressures (20-ox and 5 acet) and all I get is black soot on the metal and the cut fills itself back in.  I still have 400# in the oxygen bottle and about 100# in the acetylene bottle.  I turn up the fuel until the black smoke stops and then a tad more, then cut in the oxygen until I get a ring of nice sharp little inner cones.  I preheat like normal and the steel starts to melt.  When I apply the cutting oxygen I go through the metal but as soon as I start to move it closes in right behind me.  I try going faster, then slower, but it's all the same.Very frustrating.  I know I am missing something simple and I'm a bonehead.  Please tell me what I'm doing wrong...Thanks.Last edited by garythenuke; 04-24-2009 at 08:57 PM.
Reply:Turn your OX up to at least 40. make sure the tip is not partially plugged, especially the center hole.If it's a combo torch make sure the oxygen is opened up all the way on the torch body and do your adjustments with the valve on the cutting attachment.If you have check valves/flame arrestors make sure they are not partially plugged by temporarily removing them and then tryng it....Mike
Reply:Yah. Open the torch handle o2 all the way. Make o2 adjustments on the cutting head. Use gas pressures recommended by the manufacturer. Little book that came with should have all the settings. With all due respect to mikey, 40 sounds high. I use about 20 - 25. Lincoln PowerMig 180cVictor O/ABandaids and aspirinI don't know what I don't know!?
Reply:Buy a tip cleaner and learn to use it. The hole in the center of the tip does the cutting and needs to remain clean and open to do it's job. Acetylene @ 7lbs, Oxy @40. Never failed me for 35 + years. Learning to use the tip cleaner correctly will save you $$ in the short run, not the long one. Cutting tips are expensive. We're paying $14.+ here now for the commonly used ones.I have the Journeyman sized torch with the small tip(0-3-101), a J100 with the small tip (0-3-101) and a Journeyman with the big tip (0-1-101). All of the tips I listed are commonly called "aughts." What you seem to be using is a "double aught" and should be adequate for 1/4' plate, but unless your doing real fine cutting a larger tip, 0 or 1 is usually used. All my torches are Victor, I very seldom cut anything heavier than 1/2" and I don't use the large torch unless I do. The 100J is what I use for virtually everything as it is so easy to handle. I can and have cut up to 1 1/2" with it, but  use a larger tip then an aught.  Last edited by gizzardgutz; 04-24-2009 at 09:38 PM.Reason: addOnly when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:Originally Posted by gizzardgutzBuy a tip cleaner and learn to use it. The hole in the center of the tip does the cutting and needs to remain clean and open to do it's job. Acetylene @ 7lbs, Oxy @40. Never failed me for 35 + years. Learning to use the tip cleaner correctly will save you $$ in the short run, not the long one. Cutting tips are expensive. We're paying $14.+ here now for the commonly used ones.I have the Journeyman sized torch with the small tip(0-3-101), a J100 with the small tip (0-3-101) and a Journeyman with the big tip (0-1-101). All of the tips I listed are commonly called "aughts." What you seem to be using is a "double aught" and should be adequate for 1/4' plate, but unless your doing real fine cutting a larger tip, 0 or 1 is usually used. All my torches are Victor, I very seldom cut anything heavier than 1/2" and I don't use the large torch unless I do. The 100J is what I use for virtually everything as it is so easy to handle. I can and have cut up to 1 1/2" with it, but  use a larger tip then an aught.
Reply:Thanks fellas.  I was using the settings called for in the book, but I'll bump up to 25 and seven and see what happens.  I do have a cleaning kit and I did work with it a bit, but I was honestly a bit frustrated at the time.  I'll go out in a bit after things (and me) have cooled off and re-clean and try new settings and see what happens.THANK YOU
Reply:Same thing happened to me 2 days ago.  I was cutting only 1/8" angle, it was filling back in.  When I squeeze the trigger, there was little change.  Then all the sudden, half way through another cut, it blasted and started acting normal.  The handle is an older Victor, but it was a new torch attachment and a new tip (first time using it).  I think the handle may be clogged.  I will take it in and have it checked out.
Reply:Originally Posted by garythenuke I preheat like normal and the steel starts to melt.
Reply:That actually makes a little more sense.  I just tried it again with the 25/7 and I got through the steel.  However, it is not any where near "cut".  Rather it is just melted.  The cut boundary is a mass of gray globules and it looks like CRAP.  I tried starting a little sooner but I just got flames along the surface of the steel rather than cutting through the steel.  I'm done for the night.  I'll give it another crack tomorrow.THanks again.
Reply:Originally Posted by skywestMr. Gutz: I'm a relative rookie compared to you so keep that in mind. My Victor papers suggest ace 5-7 and o2 20-25 for 1/4" thick material. Why do you use such high pressure?
Reply:I actually think I may have it solved.  To make a very long 14 year old story short, I think we had the oxygen component of the torch set up backwards.  I re-read the Victor set up manual and we had the oxygen on the torch body just cut open and the pre-heat oxygen all the way open.  Victor says to do it the other way around and it makes sense.  When #1 son and I learned a few weeks ago I let him have all the glory with my buddy who was teaching us.  We cut with the torch set up the way my buddy showed my son that day.  When we got home #1 son swore up and down that the torch should be set up the way we've been trying it.  I thought it was backwards but gave him the nod of confidence.  I could not see that in this particular case anything REALLY bad could happen one way or another.     This is part of my "give him enough slack to learn and take responsibility and try to gain confidence and develop some maturity without blowing anything up" thing...  Apparently he/we still have a ways to go...  It's really  interesting to try and learn something new WITH your kids...    I have enough gas in the tanks to give it another couple quick tries tomorrow and then we'll have to call it quits until next Friday.Thanks again.
Reply:Edit - Never mind, reply #11 solved it while I was posting.I'll leave this up anyway, for next time.Since you had it "going-on" previously, I can't help but wonder if you're now trying to cut something other than carbon steel plate.Good LuckLast edited by denrep; 04-25-2009 at 12:38 AM.
Reply:UPDATE!!!Hey Gang,  I am a steel cutting MACHINE!!!It worked perfectly just like I knew it should.  Thank you everyone for your support and patience.And, yes, it is getting expensive.  I'm toying with the idea of getting a second set of tanks so that when I run out on a weekend (which Murphy probably prefers) I can keep going....Also, I noticed that the cutting orifice looks a little out of round.  Did I get too close to the material?  How "out of whack" can I let it get before I have to replace it?Thanks again.Gary
Reply:It is a good tip , until  it can't cut good anymore. some last minutes, some last YEARS . It depends on how it's used &cared for.[SIZE="5"Yardbird"
Reply:Thats also a really small tip, but 20/25 is what is recommended by victor.  If you cut anything I would look into getting at least a 1-2 tip.  They will cut anything smaller than what they are recommended too but in case you ever need something ticker cut then you know you are capable of doing it.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Before I digress,"might want to angle the torch in the direction of cutting a bit to preheat metal", but you should consider going to propane, the cost is nominal and will allow more time for them to practice?Is cheaper, more available.Give it some consideration.Wish my father would have helped me when I was that young.Their are also some other alternative fuels, but propane can be refilled on a saturday at a local gas station, as for oxygen just keep and eye on it if you are teaching them on weekends refill it during the week.Also teach them to balance those torches, one reason is if their is a leak in one of the lines, your not pouring fuel out needlessly,and you are then always using the proper brazing torch for the task.I always shut the valves off immediately after use.
Reply:try to keep o -a ratio around 6 to 1
Reply:Originally Posted by Roy HodgesIt is a good tip , until  it can't cut good anymore. some last minutes, some last YEARS . It depends on how it's used &cared for.
Reply:For the guide, I like to use angle clamped to the work piece. It's cheap and reuseable and perfect for straight cuts. I simply "rub" the tip lightly down the angle as I travel.Lincoln PowerMig 180cVictor O/ABandaids and aspirinI don't know what I don't know!?
Reply:That's pretty much what I was thinking.  Staying "light" keeps you from wearing out the tip too...Thanks
Reply:The current regulators are ok, you may need an adapter block for one of the tanks but you always need one, and probably have the right one.Propane or oxyacetylene both have left hand tank threads.Your tip will have to be replaced.Propane takes a little longer to preheat, but the tradeoff in cost in this case I think would be worth it.