using oxygen

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My brother in law has been a welder for yrs working for himself has own business. I talked with him about getting an oxygen bottle to use with brazing or cutting i plan on using propane instead of acetylene.He told me which ever i use to always turn the oxygen wide open & leave wide open for brazing,cutting & adjust flame with with which ever gas i use.I would just like to know if this is correct about turning oxygen wide open & leaving wide open.   Thanks for your help
Reply:the valve on an oxygen tank(argon, nitrogen,etc) must be fully open or it can leak through the packing.only an acetylene tank  valve should be 3/4 turn open.
Reply:he was talking about the cyl valve, not the torch valves....
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadthe valve on an oxygen tank(argon, nitrogen,etc) must be fully open or it can leak through the packing.only an acetylene tank  valve should be 3/4 turn open.
Reply:Familurize your self with the fire triangle befor you start handling O2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_triangleHe probably recomended that you use it in that manner because O2 will increas flamability on a strieght line so its helpfull to work with that as a constent.
Reply:Opening the tank valve all the way is fine until a gob of hot slag burns a hole in the oxy hose. Then you're gonna feel like it takes at least 15 minutes to close that tank valve while that oxy hose burns!!                                                                     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:Originally Posted by TEKhe was talking about the cyl valve, not the torch valves....
Reply:Oxygen and acetylene tanks should both be opened all the way. The valves have packings at the top and bottom and often leak around the valve stem until the valve seats against the packing. The exception would be acetylene tanks with a "T" key, they should only be opened about 1/2 a turn an leave the key in whle you are using the torch. I haven't seen an acetylene bottle with a key in a long time though.
Reply:Oxygen and acetylene tanks should both be opened all the way.
Reply:yeah, its dudes like that that scare the **** out of me. Every first week ironworker apprentice knows that OSHA reg, and why you do that.Weldanpower 225 G7Ironworkers Local #24
Reply:Originally Posted by mla2ofusOpening the tank valve all the way is fine until a gob of hot slag burns a hole in the oxy hose. Then you're gonna feel like it takes at least 15 minutes to close that tank valve while that oxy hose burns!!                                                                     Mike
Reply:I plead insanity. Spring fever?  I know that acetylene valves are supposed to be opened no more than 1 1/2 turns.I thought our acetylene supplier switched from packed stem valves to double seated valves.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmallWrong (and dangerous if you need to rapidly shut it off!) answer for the acetylene valve.For welding, OSHA specifies not more than 1-1/2 turns, and 3/4 is usually sufficient.
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-man3/4 turn on the fuel cylinder because if there is a problem you can shut it off quickly.
Reply:Originally Posted by dr. Strangeporkoxygen and acetylene tanks should both be opened all the way. the valves have packings at the top and bottom and often leak around the valve stem until the valve seats against the packing. The exception would be acetylene tanks with a "t" key, they should only be opened about 1/2 a turn an leave the key in whle you are using the torch. I haven't seen an acetylene bottle with a key in a long time though.