types of flame

[BrokenBiker]

can anyone show me a few pics of the type of flames I should be using for:

1. cutting
2. brazing
3. heating (also which is best, cutting or brazing tip?)

when using oxy propane.

i have had a bit of a play today with it but am not sure if im using the right flame as cutting 3mm steel took a lot longer to get started than i was expecting.

also any tips on cutting with propane would be much appreciated

 

[pedrobedro]

We used to cut heads and risers off castings with oxy-propane and worked with metal up to a foot thick. If you are struggling to cut 3mm you are using the wrong size tip. For heating you might look at pepperpot nozzles.

 

[hotrodder]

1. http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=39274&highlight=flame covers cutting in general
2. Neutral flame, harder to see with propane than acetylene i.e. pics don't work so well but it's shown here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oan0rnXiUg
3. Either will work as would a proper heating tip... depends what you're heating, if it's something small then the bigger flame that a heating tip provides makes less of a difference than it does when trying to heat something large

 

[BrokenBiker]

i have just been looking on the weld equip site and i have a 5/64 tip, which is for 4 inch thick!!

also not sure if i had enough oxy when i was trying to cut. i saw a video on YT that said it should sound like the oxy is coming out too fast to get it right.

i have seen the pepperpot tips and might order one to see how well it works for heating

 

[rtbcomp]

Can you cut satisfactorily with an ordinary torch or must you use a cutting torch to get the extra blast of oxygen?

 

[BrokenBiker]

ive only ever tried cutting with a cutting torch and only ever oxy/acet before, and have always used the oxy lever for the blast.

its hammering down at the moment and my shed is far too small and far too flammable to go out and have a go with a brazing torch at the moment but will give it a go when it dries off a bit.

out of interest how long does a 13kg propane bottle last on average with an oxy set up.

I have the tall thin oxy bottle that you usually see with acetylene if that makes any diference.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

You will get through your oxy bottle far far quicker than the propane. We are using out cutting bottles with a 5-75mm PNM nozzle off a w size oxygen and a 47kg propane nd use about 5 oxygen bottles to every propane.

 

[BrokenBiker]

so using a 13kg propane bottle I will probably use 2 oxygen bottle to the one propane?

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Depends on water capacity of the bottle, fill pressure ect. I can't remember is the BOC W size oxy are 200 or 230 bar. 200 I think. It should last the same sort of ratio if the bottle sizes are of a similar size.