Oxyaccetylene Cutting

Instead, I recommend that you get some torches and simply experiment with them.

Normally, when you buy a set, they will come with a manual and instruction guides on what the recommended parameters are for various thicknesses of material.

Why are you telling me this?

You should learn how to use a search engine.

84,000 results will be available to you.

Oxyacetylene Welding (OAW)

Two parameters. It works! It does not work!

Oxyaccetylene cutting is an art. You either can do it or not.

Further parameter are: Bottle full, half full or empty.

Mind the safety instructions.

The rest is trial and error!

I will write the book later.

You will need to pay attention to the draw down rate of your cylinder as this will determine what parameters you can use, we no longer use acetylene at all in the factory we use lpg for all our cutting and heating as it is safer. You cant get the same heat from lpg but do you need it?

I chuckled when I read the part about not painting commercial tanks olive drab.

Good find.

The best ever book, "the Bible" on Oxy-Acetylene Cutting is 'The Oxy-Acetylene Handbook" originally published by Union Carbide. Three editions have been printed so far. 1943, 1960 and 2000. Check Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Oxy-Acetylene-Handbook-Third-Edition/dp/0914096109

The second edition has 581 pages of everything you need to know, want to know or want to be an expert on the subject. I personally recommend it if you really want to have a easy reading instructional and reference book on the subject written by people who know what they are talking about. This will have all the parameters you could ever want on the subject My 2nd edition is well worn, frayed, has slag burn holes on it and the cover is burnt a little. I still might list in my will when I die.

There are many other "small handy-man" type books but they are for the beginner or the artist.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Buy a plasma cutter.....even a child can use one of those....unless of course you do not have a power source. If this is the case, please disregard my suggestion.

Very clear explanation, a good answer from me.

This is definitely more helpful then simply refer to Google….

I don't believe the OP wants to learn how to weld, or cut.

This is their only other post: Welding Procedure Specifications

Just a few additional points:

(prior to #1) check manufactures recommended tip size for the material you are about to cut. A #5 tip for a 3/16" thick sheet is way too much and will only cause difficulties.

(also prior to #1) A make sure the regulators and the torch are equipped with the appropriate check valves and/or flashback arrestors. This prevents reverse flow back to the cylinders.

(also prior to #1) Check the hoses for leaks, thin spots or blemishes. Make sure the hoses are placed as far away from the cutting area as possible. A leak in either hose will ruin your day! Don't let the slag fall onto the hoses and create potentially explosive situations.

6. If the acetylene "hisses" when you turn it on you probably have it set too high for a beginner or someone not familiar with the torch. Better to start small and adjust the acetylene/oxygen in steps till you get up to the flame you want.

End of #8. After adjusting the torch to the sharp blue flames, open the oxygen cutting valve on the torch all the way or to the setting you will be using and readjust the small blue flames. Opening the cutting valve will probably reduce the amount of oxygen to the heating flame. Set it to where you will be using the torch when cutting.

At end, yes practice, practice and more practice makes perfect, or at least better. Have someone who knows how to cut nearby so you don't pick up any bad habits.

Not being critical, just wanted to mention a couple of hopefully good additional things to otherwise an excellent answer. A GA for you!

Good Luck, Old Salt

http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/cutting-torch-safety.html

^This should give you all you need to know!

There are several basics of oxyacetylene outfit set up njot mentioned.

1. It is assumed that the regulators are atytached to the cylinders (not bottles, tanks, etc.).

2. Before opening the cylinder valves the regulator adjusting handles must be fully backed off.

3. Slowly open cylinder valves.

4. Adjust regulators to correct operating pressures.

5. Purge both opxygen and acetylene hose through the torch.

6. Make sure all torch valves are off.

7. Turn on the torch acetylene valve and light with a striker.

8. Adjust acetylene flame.

9. Turn on oxygen torch valve and adjust to correct flame characteristics.

10. Regulator pressures may have to be readjusted.

Has anyone seen a regulator orn hoses that has been blowen apart by not following proper procedure>

Yar

Is it also possible to cut stainless steel with oxy-accetylene ?

Why or why not ?

Yes. Why not?

It's probably slightly easier to cut stainless since it is less thermally conductive.

"Yes. Why not?

It's probably slightly easier to cut stainless since it is less thermally conductive."

HA! These statements are a good example of why we need a '' NOT a good answer!'' button. Or maybe it's just a 'senior moment'!

Sorry about posting anonymously.

I'll defer to you. It looks like you've cut much more than I have, which admittedly was just a couple of times and the sheet was thin.

Thanks

and GA for you.

In regards to resultant hardening the stainless steel, slow cooling hardens

PPT]Oxyacetylene Welding (OAW)

Oxygen/Acetylene Cutting

PPT]Oxy-Acetylene Safety