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I am 60 years old and deceided its time I had a cutting tourch.I have no expreirence with using it but have some projects. In my early days I was in construction mostly as a carpenter. I have always done my own auto mechanics. So I am familiar with how things work but I know nothing about Oxygen/Acetylene.I figured I could figure it out with sites like this. So I jumped in with out looking and purchased a Victor Cutskill with tanks for portability. Started checking around to get the tanks filled and am told that I will have trouble getting (my tanks) filled. I guess most people just exchange. I want to keep my tanks, is there any way to get (my) tanks filled. I am in Silver City NM and could drive to Las Cruces or El Paso TX.Thanks, Joe
Reply:there arent too many places to get gas, most of them force you into renting their tanks..and  if you plan  on cutting , remember the 1/7 rule when you buy tanks...
Reply:I would think that woud be possibe, but you will probably have to wait for them. Most, if not all places send acetylene out to be filled. The O2 can be filled on site. Maybe think about going to propane. Safer and always available."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:Unfortunately that is a very difficult ptoposition.  You will have to find  a dealer who fills on site and be prepared to wait.  It is besy if you get the small tanks filled and rent a set of tanks from them too.  That way you will have some exchange bottles and you can keep your for thzt rainy day when you run out on a sunday and need to finish a quick little job.  I have run out on a weekend too many times and it is not fun, so I bought a couple of tanks from Tractor Supply and keep them for just that.  They have saved my bacon a time or three since I did that.  TSC is not well loved, but just make sure to hang on to your reciept and you should not have any issues.  Hope This Helps, and welcome.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:Thanks Guys, could I use propane with the Victor Cutskill gauges and torch? Are there any draw backs in using propane? Will the regular propane place fill these little tanks. What is the 1/7 rule? Thanks, Joe
Reply:Acetylene is unstable by itself at higher pressures. To store it in a cylinder, it's disolved in acetone in a pourous lining in the cylinder. Only the top portion is a gas. The 1/7th rule is that you don't withdraw more than 1/7th the volume of the cylinder in 1 hour. This allows the actylene to "boil" out and become a gas and keep you from drawing out the acetone. For example if you have a 70 cf cyl, you would not want to use any tip that would require a flow rate of more than 10 cf/hr (SCFH). You can over draw the cylinder for very short periods with larger cylinders ( say a quick heat with a rose bud), but in general it's usually not a good idea to make a habit of this. Most cutting tips and medium to large welding tips as well as all rosebuds, exceed the 1/7th rule for cylinders 75cf and smaller. You can find the flow rates in your manual or on charts like this.http://www.hoopersupply.com/tipchart.htmlPropane will break down standard hoses. You need to get hoses that are rated for propane usually. Propane is great for heating and cutting, but you can't weld with it. You can solder/braze with propane however. Keep in mind while you can refill the propane, you would still have to get the O2 filled or you would need to exchange it..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Victor makes different tips that are designed for propane.  You might get away with using the tips for acetylene, but they probably won't work as well.  The propane tips are less than $10.  Not a big expense since they last a while if you don't beat them up.  Two sizes will probably cover everything you need.I haven't done a whole lot of cutting with propane.  Seems like it takes longer to heat up to cutting temps.  Could be I'm not running enough preheat.Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Originally Posted by joejhiggsWill the regular propane place fill these little tanks.
Reply:What fitting is on your acetylene regulator?  If it's a CGA510 just use a 20lbs propane tank like you'd use on your grill.  If it's a fitting for the smaller bottles (I can't remember the CGA numbers) then you'll need another regulator or adapter.Your owners manual will probably tell you only to use a regulator on the gas it's specified for. The lawyers have had a hand in this.  I've seen acetylene regs run on propane for years without problems.  If you're paranoid you can check that your acetylene regulator uses the same internal parts as the one for propane, or just buy a dedicated propane regulator.  The dedicated propane regulator is nice since it'll put out a lot more pressure and it's good for homebuilt deep fryers/boilers (although 15psi will also make a hell of a fire).Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:Thaks GuysAndyA, the regulator conection is CGA 200. I am guessing about 3/8ths to 1/2". Do they make a tank like my kit has that I can get for propane? Where is the best place to get tank and hoses for Propane. Most of what I have planned is cutting some sheet metal roofing and light duty stuff around the house. Sounds like the propane route may be best for me. Should have done my research first! Thanks,Joe
Reply:Joe, a word of caution about cutting galvanized sheet metal roofing, or anything else galvanized, with a cutting torch. The zinc coating will give off toxic fumes that will make you very sick if you breath much of it.
Reply:That reg fitting will not work with propane. IIRC you will need to get a CGA-540 or an adapter to convert what you have. Your local supplier should have the propane stuff or be able to order it.As far as a propane cylinder, a bit of scrounging on trash day will usually net you a 20 lb propane cylinder when someone tosses a grill. I don't think I've ever bought one new and have at least 8 now. Old junky ones I'll usually exchange at Depot or Lowes for a nicer one with a fill. After that I just take them to get refilled local.Note you usually use more O2 when cutting than fuel gas.  I use like 3-4 times the O2 compared to acet. Not sure the exact ratio with propane. If you have the small 20cf or 40 cf O2 cylinders, don't expect to cut much before you are out of O2. A 20 lb cyl of propane goes a lot farther than a 75 cf of acetylene. I use almost 300 cf of O2 to a 75 cf cyl of acet. For heating it's closer to 1 to 1 on fuel / oxy..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWAs far as a propane cylinder, a bit of scrounging on trash day will usually net you a 20 lb propane cylinder when someone tosses a grill. I don't think I've ever bought one new and have at least 8 now. Old junky ones I'll usually exchange at Depot or Lowes for a nicer one with a fill. After that I just take them to get refilled local.