I have a little experience with torches, cutting with gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas, plasma cutters, and acetylene. The information you were given is partially correct. All you have to change is the torch tip. Propane is cheaper and far more efficient than acetylene for scrapping. The secret is setting the flame correctly. It should sound like a jet engine when set and produce a defined and sharp star when the flame is held within 3/4 in. of flat metal.
Using the largest oxygen tank reduces the cost per cu. ft. A single K tank of oxygen will last about 2 hrs. of steady hard cutting. The propane tank from a grill will last for a long time. I use 100 lb. propane tanks and liquid oxygen (equal to 17 K tanks) and with this set up estimate that I spend about $ 3.00 per hour on fuel. Using oxygen K tanks the cost for fuel is about $ 8.00 per hour. These figures assume proper regulator settings and good cutting technique. The only cheaper fuel I have found is gasoline and this requires a special torch. Hope this helps.
Register To Reply
Originally Posted by JnJunk
Bookmarks