propane over acetylene

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A friend of mine unintentionlly started Toyota junk yard and has been using propane for his cutting torch. He said that it's cheaper then acetylene. I asked him what pressure do you set the fuel and ox at for cutting? He was not sure, so I said I would find out for him. If it is a lot cheaper to use propane - Then what's involved in switching over from acetylene to propane?  Can you use the same regulator? and just get a propane torch? Out here in Hawaii I know that they convert gas stoves to propane by rejeting.
Reply:Propane cutting is best done with a 2 piece "injector" type tip. For cutting many just use the acetylene regulator (get the pressure chart for these tips and use it!), for heating though fuel pressures can go way above what the acetylene regulator is designed for.Matt
Reply:I have several friends that own large salvage & junk yards and they use both oxy/acy and plasma cutters. They tried the oxy and propane combo for awhile but it didn't burn as hot as the oxy/acy combo and in turn took more time to perform the required jobs! In the long run it cost them more in labor and materials, They now use Hypertherm 1250's & 1650 Plasma Cutters in addition to their oxy/acy combo's. The plasma cutters do a better job faster! Part of their salvage ops are working with speciality metals for resale and the plasma cutters do not change the temper & various other factors.I use all three types on my farm & heavy equipment shop. I use a Hyperthem PowerMax 45Last edited by specter; 08-11-2010 at 09:04 AM.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.