Oxy/Acetylene options

[Fawteen]

I've had a full-size O/A torch set with leased bottles for many years. The company I leased bottles from closed the local depot and if I stay with them I'd have to drive nearly 60 miles one way to swap bottles. Non-starter, so I returned the bottles and cancelled the lease today.

Modern technology in the form of a plasma cutter and steel cutting circular saws have given me more options for cutting steel and frankly, it's been quite a while since I cut anything with a torch. However, I don't think I want to be without a source of serious heat for heating/bending/convincing stuck fasteners.

So I'm trying to decide what to do next:

Option 1: Keep leasing full-sized bottles from a company that DOES have a local-ish depot. There's the lease expense and the fact that I might use the setup 3 or 4 times a year so I'm paying to store gas that doesn't get used. Of course, it also doesn't need refilling if it's not used, so there's that.

Option 2: Get a small rig for occasional use. More expensive per use, but no lease. No one in Maine will refill customer-owned full size bottles but I'm waiting to hear about the 10CF acetylene and 20cf O2 bottles. Company did tell me that lease is a flat $84/year/bottle regardless of size. If they'll swap/refill customer owned bottles, that seems like the way to go.

Option 3: Applicable to both Option 1 and Option 2 - switch to Oxy/Propane the difference being I'd lease the O2 bottle and refill the propane locally.

Suggestions/experience appreciated.

 

[Mark-Mi]

I've had a full-size O/A torch set with leased bottles for many years. The company I leased bottles from closed the local depot and if I stay with them I'd have to drive nearly 60 miles one way to swap bottles. Non-starter, so I returned the bottles and cancelled the lease today.

Modern technology in the form of a plasma cutter and steel cutting circular saws have given me more options for cutting steel and frankly, it's been quite a while since I cut anything with a torch. However, I don't think I want to be without a source of serious heat for heating/bending/convincing stuck fasteners.

So I'm trying to decide what to do next:

Option 1: Keep leasing full-sized bottles from a company that DOES have a local-ish depot. There's the lease expense and the fact that I might use the setup 3 or 4 times a year so I'm paying to store gas that doesn't get used. Of course, it also doesn't need refilling if it's not used, so there's that.

Option 2: Get a small rig for occasional use. More expensive per use, but no lease. No one in Maine will refill customer-owned full size bottles but I'm waiting to hear about the 10CF acetylene and 20cf O2 bottles. Company did tell me that lease is a flat $84/year/bottle regardless of size. If they'll swap/refill customer owned bottles, that seems like the way to go.

Option 3: Applicable to both Option 1 and Option 2 - switch to Oxy/Propane the difference being I'd lease the O2 bottle and refill the propane locally.

Suggestions/experience appreciated.

option 3. I use oxy propane. The acetylene tank I own sits in the corner. I use 20 pound barbecue tank.

 

[wh]

Have a plasma cutter rated to 3/4 inch, a metal saw and oxy/acetylene set up. Fortunately there is a company here that still swaps customer owned bottles. Welding supply place I was with sold out and new owner company closed store in less than a year. Was worried what I would do. The other company has no problem switching them. Tank fills usually last me 2 years or better. For me, nothing beats oxy/acetylene when I need heat!

 

[Duner Wi]

I would if possible own my own tanks even if smaller. I do have to pay for occasional tank tests. I really like owning my tanks. My friend leases and I hear about shortening the lease and raising the prices.

 

[RedMF40]

I would if possible own my own tanks even if smaller. I do have to pay for occasional tank tests. I really like owning my tanks. My friend leases and I hear about shortening the lease and raising the prices.

I must be lucky. Some years back I bought a full torch outfit with full-sized bottles on the used market. My supplier just exchanges the bottles and I’m on my way. Shout out to Roberts Oxygen in Maryland, some of the best customer service I’ve seen anywhere. Sorry, I don’t have any suggestions for the OP except possibly to move to Maryland.

 

[plattman]

I've had a full-size O/A torch set with leased bottles for many years. The company I leased bottles from closed the local depot and if I stay with them I'd have to drive nearly 60 miles one way to swap bottles. Non-starter, so I returned the bottles and cancelled the lease today.

Modern technology in the form of a plasma cutter and steel cutting circular saws have given me more options for cutting steel and frankly, it's been quite a while since I cut anything with a torch. However, I don't think I want to be without a source of serious heat for heating/bending/convincing stuck fasteners.

So I'm trying to decide what to do next:

Option 1: Keep leasing full-sized bottles from a company that DOES have a local-ish depot. There's the lease expense and the fact that I might use the setup 3 or 4 times a year so I'm paying to store gas that doesn't get used. Of course, it also doesn't need refilling if it's not used, so there's that.

Option 2: Get a small rig for occasional use. More expensive per use, but no lease. No one in Maine will refill customer-owned full size bottles but I'm waiting to hear about the 10CF acetylene and 20cf O2 bottles. Company did tell me that lease is a flat $84/year/bottle regardless of size. If they'll swap/refill customer owned bottles, that seems like the way to go.

Option 3: Applicable to both Option 1 and Option 2 - switch to Oxy/Propane the difference being I'd lease the O2 bottle and refill the propane locally.

Suggestions/experience appreciated.

Option 3 worked just fine for me.

 

[wh]

I bought my set up from widow of man that was in maintenance at a major production factory near here. There was no paper work with them. Both tanks were full. Finally needed filling and went to local distributor of name on tank. Man asked if I owned the tanks. Said yes. No problem. They sold out in a few years and new owners simply put their emblem on tanks when you swapped. When they sold out and then that company closed the biggest fab company in the county also does customer sales. They accept the bottles with no questions.

 

[Tony in SD]

I've had a full-size O/A torch set with leased bottles for many years. The company I leased bottles from closed the local depot and if I stay with them I'd have to drive nearly 60 miles one way to swap bottles. Non-starter, so I returned the bottles and cancelled the lease today.

Modern technology in the form of a plasma cutter and steel cutting circular saws have given me more options for cutting steel and frankly, it's been quite a while since I cut anything with a torch. However, I don't think I want to be without a source of serious heat for heating/bending/convincing stuck fasteners.

So I'm trying to decide what to do next:

Option 1: Keep leasing full-sized bottles from a company that DOES have a local-ish depot. There's the lease expense and the fact that I might use the setup 3 or 4 times a year so I'm paying to store gas that doesn't get used. Of course, it also doesn't need refilling if it's not used, so there's that.

Option 2: Get a small rig for occasional use. More expensive per use, but no lease. No one in Maine will refill customer-owned full size bottles but I'm waiting to hear about the 10CF acetylene and 20cf O2 bottles. Company did tell me that lease is a flat $84/year/bottle regardless of size. If they'll swap/refill customer owned bottles, that seems like the way to go.

Option 3: Applicable to both Option 1 and Option 2 - switch to Oxy/Propane the difference being I'd lease the O2 bottle and refill the propane locally.

Suggestions/experience appreciated.

Since I’m an occasional user like you, my oxy/lp setup does what I need it to do. Now if i was a full time black smith or metal muncher, I’d have an oxy/ax setup.

 

[JOCCO]

Sent you a PM and I did not like propane set up. Might be ok for occasional use.

 

[Loosehandle]

I've had a full-size O/A torch set with leased bottles for many years. The company I leased bottles from closed the local depot and if I stay with them I'd have to drive nearly 60 miles one way to swap bottles. Non-starter, so I returned the bottles and cancelled the lease today.

Modern technology in the form of a plasma cutter and steel cutting circular saws have given me more options for cutting steel and frankly, it's been quite a while since I cut anything with a torch. However, I don't think I want to be without a source of serious heat for heating/bending/convincing stuck fasteners.

So I'm trying to decide what to do next:

Option 1: Keep leasing full-sized bottles from a company that DOES have a local-ish depot. There's the lease expense and the fact that I might use the setup 3 or 4 times a year so I'm paying to store gas that doesn't get used. Of course, it also doesn't need refilling if it's not used, so there's that.

Option 2: Get a small rig for occasional use. More expensive per use, but no lease. No one in Maine will refill customer-owned full size bottles but I'm waiting to hear about the 10CF acetylene and 20cf O2 bottles. Company did tell me that lease is a flat $84/year/bottle regardless of size. If they'll swap/refill customer owned bottles, that seems like the way to go.

Option 3: Applicable to both Option 1 and Option 2 - switch to Oxy/Propane the difference being I'd lease the O2 bottle and refill the propane locally.

Suggestions/experience appreciated.

New at my welding store is you have to pay for hydro test if exchanging a out of date "owned" high pressure bottle. Max size is 80-100 cf, cost is about $80 exchange.

 

[DanielW]

Personally: I'd never go back to acetylene after going to oxy-propane. Far cheaper/easier to get propane, and once you get set up right with the correct settings, tips, etc., I've noticed no difference for cutting and heating. You do want to make sure you're sizing things right: If you just switch to propane without tweaking your standard setting and changing tip/head sizes, it won't work well and you'll find yourself using way too much oxygen and producing less heat than you want. But once dialed in right, there's almost no difference. I can still cut through 1"+ plate dandy and use a large rosebud with propane.

One of the best benefits of propane is the size of rosebud you can use for heating: As you probably know, you're very limited in how large of a rosebud you can use with acetylene due to the risk of drawing off acetone from the tank. If you want to use a large rosebud with acetylene, you need a tank the size of creation to avoid this problem/danger. With propane, that's not a concern: You can use as big of a heating tip/rosebud as you want on a 20 lb. barbecue tank.

You do still use a smidge more O2 with propane, but if set up right it's not really that much different than with acetylene. And O2 is way cheaper and easier to come by than propane. I always keep a couple of O2 tanks anyway even when I was on acetylene, so I always have a full one on hand anyway and the little extra O2 consumption has never been a problem.

The one downside is not being able to braze or weld with propane. But with all my other welding paraphernalia, I pretty much never have need to braze or weld with gas anyway: The MIG/stick/TIG can take care of that. If I really need something brazed, I'm still farther ahead to just pay for someone to do it for the one or two times every few years I need it done and stick with propane at home.

 

[RobCons]

I use the oxy/propane setup also. Still rent the Oxygen tank but will purchase one next time it needs swapping. Like my welding gas it seldom gets used anymore but is handy to have. Did the same on welding gas last time and its worked out well.

 

[Eman85]

lease deals used to be the norm but I think laws changed. I just swap my bottles at the gas company, but I don't use much gas as saws are better and I have a plasma cutter.

 

[moresmoke]

When I lived in Maine, B acetylene and 60 cu ft oxygen were the largest size the supplier would let the customer own. Now that I am in the mid west, it is B acetylene and 80 cu ft oxygen.

When it got so either if those bottles was almost $100 to exchange them with half of it being various fees, I switched mainly to propane oxy. I use a 5# propane bottle that I fill off the yard tank. Propane works fine for cutting and heating, just no welding. You can braze with it with the right tips. You will use more oxy with propane. Make sure your cutting tip is the appropriate size for the metal you are cutting, it will help control oxy use.

I still have a couple 60 cu ft bottles that the supplier is happy to fill, just can’t exchange. Usually takes a couple weeks to come back full.

 

[hoghollow]

Personally: I'd never go back to acetylene after going to oxy-propane. Far cheaper/easier to get propane, and once you get set up right with the correct settings, tips, etc., I've noticed no difference for cutting and heating. You do want to make sure you're sizing things right: If you just switch to propane without tweaking your standard setting and changing tip/head sizes, it won't work well and you'll find yourself using way too much oxygen and producing less heat than you want. But once dialed in right, there's almost no difference. I can still cut through 1"+ plate dandy and use a large rosebud with propane.

One of the best benefits of propane is the size of rosebud you can use for heating: As you probably know, you're very limited in how large of a rosebud you can use with acetylene due to the risk of drawing off acetone from the tank. If you want to use a large rosebud with acetylene, you need a tank the size of creation to avoid this problem/danger. With propane, that's not a concern: You can use as big of a heating tip/rosebud as you want on a 20 lb. barbecue tank.

You do still use a smidge more O2 with propane, but if set up right it's not really that much different than with acetylene. And O2 is way cheaper and easier to come by than propane. I always keep a couple of O2 tanks anyway even when I was on acetylene, so I always have a full one on hand anyway and the little extra O2 consumption has never been a problem.

The one downside is not being able to braze or weld with propane. But with all my other welding paraphernalia, I pretty much never have need to braze or weld with gas anyway: The MIG/stick/TIG can take care of that. If I really need something brazed, I'm still farther ahead to just pay for someone to do it for the one or two times every few years I need it done and stick with propane at home.

Do you have suggestions for tip sizing and settings if I make the switch?

 

[drsportster]

Maine sounds like New Jersey only leasing Now in Florida I own my bottles which are freely exchanged

 

[Timmycornpicker]

Maine sounds like New Jersey only leasing Now in Florida I own my bottles which are freely exchanged

I'm in NJ and I exhange tanks.

 

[da.bees]

I went with oxy/propane 20 years ago and couldn't be happier. I braze occasionally using lp cutting tips and modified acet tips. I occasionally pull homemade air/propane burner from my small forge and use it in hand for heating large items/surfaces. As for claims propane doesn't get hot enough, the homemade air/propane burner will melt steel in the little forge.

A tip for using propane cutting torch. The hottest place in propane flame is farther from tip than acety. Get a helper to keep time for you. Say "go" and hold flame on edge of steel until it's ready to press oxy trigger and say stop. Repeat but pull flame back a bit farther from material each time until it requires less time to reach cut temperature THEN starts taking longer which allows finding sweet spot for distance. Needless to say you should watch someone or video to learn how to adjust gas mixture for optimum flame.

 

[Fawteen]

After looking at alternatives, I decided that the best deal for me was to buy smaller bottles (60CF O2, "B" Acetylene) from Maine Oxy's local depot. That way no lease and they'll exchange them. Saves me $164 a year in lease expenses and cheaper to exchange vs. full-size bottles. All I really use it for is convincing rusted fasteners and bending stuff so I don't use much.

 

[wh]

After looking at alternatives, I decided that the best deal for me was to buy smaller bottles (60CF O2, "B" Acetylene) from Maine Oxy's local depot. That way no lease and they'll exchange them. Saves me $164 a year in lease expenses and cheaper to exchange vs. full-size bottles. All I really use it for is convincing rusted fasteners and bending stuff so I don't use much.

Sounds like a plan. I still have a full size 02 bottle but have swapped down to smaller acty bottle. Much easier to handle and generally works out to swap both at same time.