Anybody do your cutting with Propane instead of Acetylene?

6BangBronk

6BangBronk

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Location
Durham
Made a FoyMart run this morning and they've converted. First I've heard of it? Come to find out it may be a better choice in the long run? The heat transfer takes getting used to for it's just a different approach but it seemed just fine with me. Dude cut 1/2" like nothing. Just had to hold the tip further away.

Their reasons were both cost and supply. They carry propane on-site and said it cut their cost tremendously. Plus time running around for acetylene.

I would also site the fact that if you buy acetylene, you have to carry your tank back to the exact same supplier to swap out. Now what happens when you're cutting in the field 200 miles away??? But you can buy propane from about any corner store.

Plus your tank don't have an expiration date.

Anybody else's thoughts???
 
You need different cutting heads too. Be sure you have the right equipment.


We used to run MAPP when I was out in the field. It burns colder but was easier to find, tanks were lighter, and cheaper in the long run.

We didn't use standard 20lb tanks, we used the big yellow MAPP tanks from the welding supply which was basically the same thing but with a stabilizer in it I think.

It's been years since I've used it but many people seem to use it and like it. If I was cutting really heavy steel, I'd run acyletelyene but for general stuff, MAPP seems more efficient.
 
One of your plants uses propane instead of acetylene in all the torches. The main reason is they cant get acetylene very easy and we use tons of it (foreign country). It seems to work OK, just seems to take a little bit longer to cut than using acetylene.
 
I have used it for years, yes, burns a little cooler but you really can't tell. It does due to the different type tips (two piece) heat a larger area. With that you may get some warpage or cook something more than you want. However like anything with practice & knowledge. It's great, I still use it noe. Propane though, cuts the same as MAPP. Hell may be the same I don't know. I like the price..
 
i work for dh griffin and thats what we use. It seems to work pretty good and its way cheaper. It wont cut a precisely or as fast but if you just need to but if you just need to burn metal it works good. The torch is specific to that setup not sure what the difference though.
 
I run it at work. We have an 8x12 flame cut table. I cut anything from 1/4" to 5" steel plate and have the ability to cut up to 10" plate. Works pretty damn good!

There's a 1000 gallon propane tank out back for my machine and refilling forklift tanks. My oxygen comes in 16 bottle racks. They usually last 2 full days depending on what I'm cutting. All in all, it's fairly inexpensive to run and I get a nice finish around the profile of my parts.
 
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