3/16 vs 1/4" oxy acetylene hose?

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I just picked a spring loaded oxy acetylene hose reel, with 50' of 1/4" hose.  The whip hose to connect the reel to the gauges is too short, so I will have to make my own.  Problem is, the only extra hose I have is all 3/16"...is there any measurable difference in flow rates between 3/16 & 1/4"?
Reply:

Originally Posted by Jason280

I just picked a spring loaded oxy acetylene hose reel, with 50' of 1/4" hose.  The whip hose to connect the reel to the gauges is too short, so I will have to make my own.  Problem is, the only extra hose I have is all 3/16"...is there any measurable difference in flow rates between 3/16 & 1/4"?
Reply:Yeah, I'm a little concerned about leaks...but I'll never leave the valves open (when not in actual use).
Reply:

Originally Posted by Jason280

Yeah, I'm a little concerned about leaks...but I'll never leave the valves open (when not in actual use).
Reply:

Originally Posted by mla2ofus

Don't never say never. We all forget to shut the tanks off at times.
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Originally Posted by 52 Ford

Shoot - I left the shop with the MIG machine still running. Came back the next day and had to figure out where the fan noise was coming from.
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Originally Posted by SweetMK

I did that several years ago,, when I came back to the shop on Monday,, the barn cat had welded the scraps from under the bandsaw into a dog wrangling robot!!  

I never left the welder on,, after that!!  

(I really think some of the feral cats in the neighborhood came over and helped,,,)


Reply:

Originally Posted by SweetMK

I did that several years ago,, when I came back to the shop on Monday,, the barn cat had welded the scraps from under the bandsaw into a dog wrangling robot!!  

I never left the welder on,, after that!!  

(I really think some of the feral cats in the neighborhood came over and helped,,,)


Reply:Teenage sons in the garage can be interesting too. My oldest once helped one  of his friends fix a quad with the torch, and left the gas on. A week later I load up my WeldanPower 150 AC, and my O/A tanks to cut the chains of the driveway entrances, and fix a swing gate to a dump. I go to cut off the chains, and realize there's no oxygen left.    https://www.weldingweb.com/images/smilies/angryfire.gifLuckily I had lots of 6011 with me, and was able to burn most of the big stuff off, and finish with the grinder. This was before cutting disc's were readily available for grinders.Another time I came home and found he had beaded a 12"x12" plate completely..... with 316L !!!! At least he left a few rods in the can  

  There are also rumors of a large black garbage bag being filled with O/A ......Luckily I don't live in town anymore...Maybe the cats talked him into it....   They're always trying to be cool.   

OOPs, off track again. I think if you're cutting less than 1/2" thick steel, you should be fine. If you do bigger stuff like 1", maybe. I can't say its ever been a problem I've noticed anywhere, but I rarely cut much over 1" thick. If you already have the fittings, and hose, I would make the hose.  I you have just the hose, but no fittings, I would build or buy the 1/4".  I try to use some of the stuff I save from other jobs, and use it later. It doesn't always work as planned. Let us know how it works out for you.RegardsAirco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60D
Reply:I was thinking it "might" be an issue with a big rosebud, but when you think about it, the orifices in any torch handle are going to be a lot smaller than any hose, so probably not...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
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Originally Posted by whtbaron

I was thinking it "might" be an issue with a big rosebud, but when you think about it, the orifices in any torch handle are going to be a lot smaller than any hose, so probably not...
Reply:There's certainly gonna be a difference in flow... if you notice it or not depends on your torch tip. 3/16" hose is going to have about 60% of the crosssection of a 1/4" hose (right?). If you find out you need a bigger hose, swap it then. Otherwise, I'd run it with the 3/16". I can't seem to math right now. It'd be about 56%, right?Last edited by 52 Ford; 1 Day Ago at 10:10 PM.
Reply:

Originally Posted by whtbaron

I was thinking it "might" be an issue with a big rosebud, but when you think about it, the orifices in any torch handle are going to be a lot smaller than any hose, so probably not...
Reply:You should be fine. I have about 20' of 3/16" hose feeding 100' of 1/4" hose. I've never had any issues, even with a rosebud.Zach