Finally got an Oxy/Acetylene setup.

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So I finally got my first Oxy/Acetylene setup, I didn't want to lease tanks and I couldn't find anyone on CL looking to sell any so I broke down and bought brand new tanks from Airgas for $155 for the 75 Cu. Ft. Acetylene and $200 for the 125 Cu. Ft. Oxy. I've been practicing with cutting some 1/8 inch pipe I had in my backyard but when I cut, the metal pools together during the cut. I've got the Acetylene at 5 PSI and Oxy at 20-25 PSI, i'm using a Victor 1 tip and  Victor 510 and 540 regulators. Am I cutting too fast, too slow or not using enough Oxygen?Last edited by Jeromy_E; 11-07-2012 at 04:38 PM."Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's Liberty, Teeth, and Keystone under Independence." - George Washington
Reply:Cool!  I got an AO rig recently too...but rececently enough that I cannot really help you with your problem, other than to suggest trying YouTube for oxy cutting advice (but about half of those don't really know what they are talking about).My OA setup (I did find a decent set on CL)...My first couple of welds...Kev.Kevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:I found the answer to my problem, I looked up the chart for Victor tips and it requires Oxygen at 30-35 PSI and once I tried it out it worked perfectly."Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's Liberty, Teeth, and Keystone under Independence." - George Washington
Reply:1/8 " steel will melt together easily, you have to move pretty fast, but at a steady pace to avoid this.  Try cutting some thicker steel such as 1/4" to 3/8" plate that you can cut slower and get a better idea of what you are doing.Remember, the idea is for the oxygen to "burn" the steel, you are not trying to melt the steel out of the cut.  You have to pause and get it red hot to start the cut, once the cut is started the oxygen takes over and the preheat is not as important.  A just right speed is critical, too fast and you will lose the cut, too slow and your preheat will melt the top of the plate and plug up the cut.Watch the sparks coming out the bottom of the cut when it is cutting properly and try to maintain that.  Look at the drag lines in the kerf, they should be distinct and neartly straight from top to bottom.  When you get it just right there will be very little slag in the kerf or on the bottom of the cut and the top of the plate will not be melted beside the kerf.good luck, now that you have a torch, you will wonder how you managed without one till now.Last edited by norite; 11-07-2012 at 07:56 PM."The reason we are here is that we are not all there"SA 200Idealarc TM 300 300MM 200MM 25130a SpoolgunPrecision Tig 375Invertec V350 ProSC-32 CS 12 Wire FeederOxweld/Purox O/AArcAirHypertherm Powermax 85LN25
Reply:good luck, now that you have a torch, you will wonder how you managed without one till now.
Reply:That tip is way to big for 1/8 any thing. You should be using a 2/0 or even a 3/0. I use a 3/0 for any thing up to 1/2.Try going as fast as you can when you cut. Expect to lose your cut some but it will give you an idea of how fast you can cut.Of course, a clean tip is a must and clean it often.Keep your little flames right on the metal when you cut althugh it will cut farther away, just not as clean.
Reply:X2 on the clean tip!! If the oxy hole gets one tiny little gob of slag on the edge of it cut quality just goes downhill. The tip cleaner is your best friend.                                 MikeOl' Stonebreaker  "Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes"Hobart G-213 portableMiller 175 migMiller thunderbolt ac/dc stick Victor O/A setupMakita chop saw
Reply:Irish did several very good videos that may help you out, and there is a lot of good info on OA cutting in his thread.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=63275.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 BobThat tip is way to big for 1/8 any thing. You should be using a 2/0 or even a 3/0. I use a 3/0 for any thing up to 1/2.Try going as fast as you can when you cut. Expect to lose your cut some but it will give you an idea of how fast you can cut.Of course, a clean tip is a must and clean it often.Keep your little flames right on the metal when you cut althugh it will cut farther away, just not as clean.