Which size heating tip?

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My question is what size heating tip that I should buy.  My guess is that I should buy a size 6 or a size 8 heating tip (rosebud).  (As I read the catalog, 6 and 8 are what is available for my torch).  Since the rosebuds are $80 each, I don't want to buy the wrong size.  For me, rosebuds will mostly be for bending 1/4 inch thick plate or flat bar.  I was bending some 1/8 inch flat bar 12 inches wide, and finding that I was not close to having enough heat to get the bar red hot all the way across.My torch handle is a Victor 100FC.   I want more heat than I can get out of my number 2 cutting head, which I often use as a rosebud.  My acetylene tank is approximately 26 inches high, without the valve, and 7 inches diameter, which I believe to be a size 1 tank, 75 cubic feet.  If I use the rule that I should not withdraw faster than 1/7 th of the tank capacity per hour, then I am already using the largest cutting tip that I should be using with that tank.  So that suggests that I should switch to propane for heating, where I can use much higher withdrawal rates.   Propane puts out more BTUs per cubic foot than acetylene, and is cheaper than acetylene, so that is good also.  My local welding store said that I should bring in my torch, etc., and they would fix me up with a propane rosebud and whatever else I need.  I already have an adjustable pressure propane regulator, 0 to 15 psi, as well as a propane tank.My number 2 cutting tip uses 10 to 20 SCFH of Oxygen, and 8 to 18 SCFH of Acetylene.  For an acetylene heating head, the MFA rosebud size 4 uses 7 to 22 SCFH of Oxygen, and 6 to 20 SCFH of acetylene, comparable to the number 2 cutting tip.    An MFA size 6 uses 15 to 44 SCFH of Oxygen, and 14 to 40 SCFH of acetylene.  An MFN-1 rosebud size 6 uses 20 to 80 SCFH of Oxygen, and 5 to 20 SCFH of propane.  An MFN-1 size 8 uses 80 to 320 SCFH of oxygen, and 20 to 80 SCFH of propane.  Note that propane has 2500 BTUs per cubic foot vs. 1500 BTUs for acetylene.Do I need to go to a bigger hose at the same time?  I have 1/4 inch type T hose.So what size rosebud should I buy?  I am inclined to go with the size 8, to make sure that I have enough heat for the larger projects.RichardSculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Originally Posted by raferguson  My local welding store said that I should bring in my torch, etc., and they would fix me up with a propane rosebud and whatever else I need.  I already have an adjustable pressure propane regulator, 0 to 15 psi, as well as a propane tank.Richard
Reply:Propane is always the best for heating. Less primary BTU but a lot more secondary BTU's. JGSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:I would go with the smaller of the two heating tips, unless you have very large tanks.  That bigger one is going to use up a whole lotta oxygen very quickly.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Ditto all the above, and you are likely going to use more than 15psi with propane and multiflame rosebuds.Matt
Reply:The other answers are somewhat correct, however if I only had the money to buy one tip I would go with the larger one. You can throttle back the tip a little for thinner metal but at least you will have the additional capacity for thicker plate in the future.What is it that "Tim the Toolman" always said?More power!!!ScottFab ManagerWelders360New guy.