Anyone use Natural gas for torch cutting?

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I am looking for real world insight from anyone experienced in using residential natural gas for torch cutting. I currently use both oxy/ acetylene and oxy/ propane and am happy with both...but still curious about natural gas. I have already read all the articles I need to read about gas consumption rates, inner and outer flame btus, and preheat speed. Time for real user feedback.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Large fab shops use it all the time, especially for their burning tables and oxy/fuel cutting machines. For hand cutting it's not used a lot and you would need a pressure booster to use it. On a machine with precise speed control and when using large amounts gas is where natural gas can be cost effective.
Reply:I don't think natural gas will burn hot enough for torch cutting in a small workshop I'd sooner pull a couple of bottles around the workshop than a cooker, mind you might come in handy for breakfast on the go In the UK large companies us Propane gas which is stored in large tanks on site
Reply:that's not correct at all.  that's all we use around here in the steel mills, you can use it fine on a hand torch..the big thing is it burns colder then acetylene which means your preheat takes a bit longer and you end up consuming more oxygen ( I think I read almost double some where) so when you go buy the special tips for your torch ( you need to use nat gas tips ) there recessed about 1/8 at the tip... and factor in the extra oxygen which aint cheap. I cant see it being economical at home at all... personally I don't like the nat gas because of the slow preheat. the only thing I might use it at home for would be a tiger torch type thing(weed burner, preheater) where you don't need oxygen.
Reply:We use natural gas for torching cutting at the structural steel fab shop where I work.   As rambin has said it's way slower on the pre-heat.   If you're use to cutting with acetylene you'll most likely find that really annoying at first (I know I did).   Another thing about that recessed two piece tip you have to use with natural gas(besides being more expensive than a C2H2 tip) is that they're almost impossible to clean up once you get any slag blown back on them.  In stead of holes for the preheat flames they've got a series of fine slots around the edge of the inner piece that there's just no practical way to clean out once they get clogged.
Reply:Needing a pressure booster is the deal breaker I suppose, delivery pressures less than 1psi make natural gas less appealing. Propane and natural gas cutting tips are the same and I already have them, so that isn't a big deal to me.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:I believe using natural gas for manual torch cutting would only make economical sense in your larger shop enviroments.   Besides the economics I also think there's a safety issue involved that makes using natural gas more attractive.   There's a lot less potential for an explosive disaster with having natural gas piped around a shop than there is with having large numbers of acetylene cylinders sitting around out on the shop floor.
Reply:I worked in a shop that used a 1000 gallon propane tank piped throughout the shop. They also had a bulk liquid oxygen tank.
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveI worked in a shop that used a 1000 gallon propane tank piped throughout the shop. They also had a bulk liquid oxygen tank.
Reply:Originally Posted by wnywelderNeeding a pressure booster is the deal breaker I suppose, delivery pressures less than 1psi make natural gas less appealing. Propane and natural gas cutting tips are the same and I already have them, so that isn't a big deal to me.
Reply:I use an Oxweld W-17/ CW-23 combo set up with the propane/ natural gas injector, but I am not sure if it works down to the 1/4 psi that residential natural gas is. Not looking to buy a new torch.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Works just fine we cut 17 inch thick. We run a Gentec boosters due to preheating which needs 30 psi .Cutting with natural can be done with 4 oz with a injector torch.
Reply:Tips last forever we have them 20 years old. Take them apart and brush them out. We run all Harris equipment a Lincoln Electric Clmpany!