Torch Vs. Plasma

[Inferno]

Bought a set of oxy/acy bottles a while back.. used them quite a bit. Mostly just messing around learning to gas weld. Bought a set of torches/welding rig too.

I'm about to buy a new 3 in 1 unit, tig, plasma arc.. I was going to take in the acy tank and get it swapped over to Argon, then use propane with the oxy setup as a cutting/ heating rig..

How much worth does this have? Should I just sell my torch setup, and oxy tank.. or keep them round?
I don't NEED the money, but I NEED the space. Working out of a 1 car garage. and I'd really like to be able to clear some of the clutter.

Coles Notes:
Buying plasma/tig unit, should i ditch the torch to save space?

[trkklr77]

the torch can be damn handy for heat bearings and friction fit parts as well as bending and preping heavy metal.

the combo machine will be the life saver and will cut 99% of what oyu will handle.


i would try to hang on to the tanks but if its got to go......

[Inferno]

Question 2 then:

Is a propane/oxy rig any good at heating?
And I've been reading mixed information on regs/hoses/torches/tips.. as to weather I can just plumb up the propane to the reg and have at her, or if I have to change all the torch/reg components?

[adampfisters]

I am not really answering your question but you could always trade down to the portable size 0/A as you are worried about space. Use the plasma most of the time but the O/A is there if you need it.

[DownNDirty]

I used to use my setup as a oxy/propane rig and can say it sucked. It doesn't cut, heat, or store as well. Sure I could grab my grill bottle and go to town, but the downsides were more than the upsides. Now I have the big bottles and go to town. If space is a concern just trade the bottles in for the small size and use the extra to get your argon bottle.

[REDCRO]

I use propane/oxy to cut with and would not change to acetylene for anything. propane is cheap and one does not have to lease tanks like I would have to here. It is slower to heat and cut, but if you are not running a torch for a living who cares. The only thing to switch out is the tip on the torch to convert to propane.

[Wyoming9]

I guess it all depends on you .

Me growing up with a Fuel gas torch and now having a plasma unit I find myself reaching for the Fuel gas torch over the Plasma unit .

I would give up the Plasma first if I had to make a choice. I guess it is all what you are comfortable with.

** To go with propane I think you have to get another regulator as well as changing out the tip. Looking at The Radnor (Air GAS):D you do need a different regulator.

[fairlane_68]

I used to work in a shop that had mac daddy shop equipment. Even with a fancy high end plasma cutter, they still kept the torch setup. When everything else broke, or something else went wrong, the torch always worked. How are you going to preheat whatever you're going to weld when the temps are on the chilly side? A torch setup, toter or whatever size, is one tool that a good shop cannot live without. Even if that shop is your home garage. If you get rid of it, or reduce it's ability, you'll regret it.

[billybob_81067]

I've used the oxygen/propane before and it works fine for cutting. As mentioned by others it is slower to get hot and you do have to change the tip. But do you ever do any brazing or run a rosebud? I don't think either of those things will work with propane. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Also it's the same regulator as acetelyene. Both are left hand thread fittings and you can swap back and forth no problem.

[fairlane_68]

This thread reminded me that I forgot to pickup a bottle of acetylene today. Dammit. Screws up my plans for the weekend a bit. :mad3:

[Lance Morin]

Doesn't the Home Depot up there have the cylinder exchange stations? I know they do here in North Texas (Dallas area). Dame good prices too.

[Inferno]

No. Around here they can only be exchanged at PraxAIR.. or I can drive an hour and exchange at an AIR LIQUIDE...

but i've called both places, and because I BOUGHT both my cylinders, and they're both un-marked.. it looks like I might not be able to exchange them at all..

They really really want me to lease a set of cylinders, but unfortunately the small ammount of welding I do, doesnt really justify leasing cylinders at a few hundred bucks a year.

This is one reason I wish I lived in a bigger city.

[CJHeap]

No. Around here they can only be exchanged at PraxAIR.. or I can drive an hour and exchange at an AIR LIQUIDE...

but i've called both places, and because I BOUGHT both my cylinders, and they're both un-marked.. it looks like I might not be able to exchange them at all..

They really really want me to lease a set of cylinders, but unfortunately the small ammount of welding I do, doesnt really justify leasing cylinders at a few hundred bucks a year.

This is one reason I wish I lived in a bigger city.

They should be able to just fill your bottles. That is what I do .

[guidolyons]

Keep the torch setup. You can heat, cut, weld, bend, etc. The plasma is nice for cutting thinner stuff though.


Tractor Supply has an excellent cylinder exchange... and they are open on the weekends.

[Valkyrie Rider]

They really really want me to lease a set of cylinders, but unfortunately the small ammount of welding I do, doesnt really justify leasing cylinders at a few hundred bucks a year.

This is one reason I wish I lived in a bigger city.

WOW! Here in CT, I lease a 80 cu. ft. C25 bottle for my MIG and it costs me $35 a year

[44Runner]

Ever since I got my plasma I don't use my torch much but there are still times when you just need a torch.

[Todd W]

Unfortunately the plasma isn't exactly to useful when it comes to heating and bending metal :p

Cutting it off, and weldnig it back on, well, that's another story :evil:

[Inferno]

Did some research.

Can't get my Acy bottle filled here. It's gotta be rail-car'd to Kentucky or some crap..
Oxy can be filled 1 hour away.. but is a 2 week turn around.

80cf tank is $70 a year, $75 a fill.

So much for me trying to save money and hastle by owning my own tanks. I guess times change. Because a year ago when I decided to go down the own not lease route, I was told that it wouldn't be a problem to get the swapped/filled.

Anyways, decision is to ditch the Acy tank. Sell it to someone willing to deal with the hastle. KEep the Oxy, switch it to Propane, and lease an Argon tank.

It takes 2-6 months to get a Acy tank filled here.

[uglyscout]

Did some research.

Can't get my Acy bottle filled here. It's gotta be rail-car'd to Kentucky or some crap..
Oxy can be filled 1 hour away.. but is a 2 week turn around.

80cf tank is $70 a year, $75 a fill.

So much for me trying to save money and hastle by owning my own tanks. I guess times change. Because a year ago when I decided to go down the own not lease route, I was told that it wouldn't be a problem to get the swapped/filled.

Anyways, decision is to ditch the Acy tank. Sell it to someone willing to deal with the hastle. KEep the Oxy, switch it to Propane, and lease an Argon tank.

It takes 2-6 months to get a Acy tank filled here.


Where are you that you can't get bottles filed/exchanged?

[Todd W]

Are you fabbing ALL the time with the torch?

Get the largest ones they make, and if you are just using them at home when you need to they will last well over a year.

[Inferno]

I'm on the West Coast of BC.. Vancouver island. Can't exchange them because they are MY tanks.. cant get them filled because we dont have onsite filling, just exchanges.

I looked at tanks today. Lease is always $70.. doesnt matter on the size. and then the tanks go from about 2ft tall, to 3.5ft, to 5ft tall.. then to the 6ft tall monsters that are also almost 14" in di..

I'm going to get the biggest cylinder save the big monster.. because i cant move that round the shop..

The cost of a fill for 2.13 cubic meters is about $60, 4.5 cubic meters is $80, and the big 10+ cubic meter sucker is like $100..

so it makes sense to get the biggest one that you can manhandle..
Guy didnt really get that.. kept telling me to get the small little one thats like 1/2 the size of a scuba tank.. I may as well only fill once every 2 years at $80.. then 2x a year at $50..

[Goat]

You won't save too much. If you change over to a LP/Oxy rig you have to buy new tips for your torch. Acet tips are not compatible with pane. You should change out your torch hoses too. Acet uses a Grade R hose which is said to be incompatible with propane, the pane will eat it over time. Oxy-Pane hose is Grade T.

[MC]

You won't save too much. If you change over to a LP/Oxy rig you have to buy new tips for your torch. Acet tips are not compatible with pane. You should change out your torch hoses too. Acet uses a Grade R hose which is said to be incompatible with propane, the pane will eat it over time. Oxy-Pane hose is Grade T.


That I didnt know! I know we have used propane on Oxy tips frequently..hmm

[Goat]

That I didnt know! I know we have used propane on Oxy tips frequently..hmm

Anything that resembles a nozzle will work but to get max value & performance out any fuel you should be using the tip designed for the fuel.

Acetylene has dedicated tips & so does Mapp gas. Propane shares the tip design with Natural Gas.

Pane tips are usually a two piece design with way more preheat jets. They are an external mixing tip, not an internal like Acetylene. Because the pane tips are external mix, the majority of the heat is in the skirt of the flame.

Here is what they look like: Oxy-Acetylene is on top, Oxy-Propane is on the bottom.

http://www.no-bling.com/panda_image_gallery/galleries/goat_Built/OxyAcetJet.jpg

http://www.no-bling.com/panda_image_gallery/galleries/goat_Built/OxyProJet.jpg

[MC]

Interesting indeed. We use the oxy tips with propane and it cuts well enough but I will keep a ear out next time we order up some and see if we can get the "right" parts. Sometimes your stuck with what you have.