Soot

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Is it OK to have a bit of soot on the Nozzle intake and at the Torch handle outlet? I'm using a Victor WH-360C torch with a 3 1/4" long No. 0 welding tip.My shut down procedure is to turn off Oxygen first then the Acetylene as per Victor Manual.Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by JayLIs it OK to have a bit of soot on the Nozzle intake and at the Torch handle outlet? I'm using a Victor WH-360C torch with a 3 1/4" long No. 0 welding tip.My shut down procedure is to turn off Oxygen first then the Acetylene as per Victor Manual.Thanks
Reply:I checked the nozzle seat ( middle part ) and compared to my other tip it looks like its a bit on the rough side. Will filling the seat improve the seal or it's ok to use it like this and just tighten the nozzle a bit more when installing in the torch.The nozzle on the left is the one with the soot problem. The picture might not be very clear but notice that the seat is not as smooth as the one on the right side. Both are UM-350 model.Is the middle part the oxygen tube?Thanks.
Reply:The o-rings do the sealing with that tip design. The center hole you see with the twisted copper swirl generator is Oxygen, the fuel comes in the small holes drilled around the outside of the mixing chamber. Is this a new torch or an old one?
Reply:It's new old stock . Victor Firepower 350. WH-360C torch handle.So no need to retouch the seat for the oxygen since the O rings do the sealing.Will tightening the nozzle to the torch handle a bit more than normal seal it better?The recommended tip for this torch is 4 1/2" long while the number 0 I am using is 3 1/4" long which is actually for a WH-260C series. Do you think that's causing the soot problem?tksLast edited by JayL; 03-04-2010 at 09:43 AM.
Reply:No need to use anything but hand tight on those tips. Tip length shouldnt affect anything. Also consider lowering your regulator pressures. High pressures aggrevate a marginal sealing valve on the torch. Shouldnt need more then a couple pounds of each for a 0 size. To test the valves, do them one at a time as follows. Close both torch valves as you normally would ( light finger pressure ), back out the regulator screws, open the cylinder you want to test, set the pressure to about 10 psi, dip the tip (just the end of the tip ) in a glass of clean water for a minute and look for bubbles. If all is ok close the cylinder valve and relieve the system, then repeat for the other gas. If a valve is leaking, have the torch handle serviced. Even new ones have been found bad, it doesnt take much damage. Wrenching a valve to make it seal just makes the problem worse.Good luck.Last edited by makoman1860; 03-04-2010 at 11:30 AM.
Reply:I performed the test and got negative results. The torch valves are sealing properly.I again welded for around 15 minutes using the number 0 tip and still the soot problem ( it is accumulating somewhere near the torch acet orifices. I cleaned the soot from the nozzle and the torch. I then swapped the nozzles ( i.e. tip 0 to nozzle of tip 2) . Interestingly the soot disappeared but I could not explain how as neither swapped nozzle/tip combination did develop any soot anymore.During welding the neutral flame should just barely touch the puddle right? How hot could the tip get? ThanksLast edited by JayL; 03-06-2010 at 03:21 AM.
Reply:Does the presence of soot means that there's combustion in the Mixer chamber or or probably at the Torch body while welding? I'm a bit worried because I don't have flashback arrestors in the torch side. Only on the regulator side.Oxy Pressure = 10 psiAce Pressure = 5 psiVictor Tip 0Thanks again.Last edited by JayL; 03-06-2010 at 07:00 AM.