O/A welding question: tip size

"Morgans" wrote in
:


"cavelamb" wrote

Might I ask if there is a reason for holding 2 psi?

That seems a tad low...

I was wondering the same thing. I usually go with around 32 Oxy, and
7 Acet. I am surprised he could get a neutral flame with those
settings, but he claims to know what a neutral flame is, and that he
is getting it. I wonder if his gauges are off...

32psi? That sounds more like "cutting tip" O2 pressure, not welding.

????

"Ken Moffett" wrote

32psi? That sounds more like "cutting tip" O2 pressure, not welding.

Yeah, you're right, it is. My mistake.

Ever try to weld with a cutting tip? Not easy, but it can be done! g I
wouldn't try to weld an airplane with a cutting torch, though.

Quite frankly, I do so little gas welding, I just play with it, until I like
it. I don't remember what I use. Does around 12 pounds sound about right?
That's what seems to come to mind.

Still, 2 pounds is not very much. I tend to use the knobs on the torch to
control the flow, as the most important control. I would think that if you
were using two pounds, you would have to have the knobs all of the way open.
I would think it would be hard to keep a consistent flame, like that.
--
Jim in NC

Ken Moffett wrote:

"Morgans" wrote in
:


"cavelamb" wrote


Might I ask if there is a reason for holding 2 psi?

That seems a tad low...

I was wondering the same thing. I usually go with around 32 Oxy, and
7 Acet. I am surprised he could get a neutral flame with those
settings, but he claims to know what a neutral flame is, and that he
is getting it. I wonder if his gauges are off...


32psi? That sounds more like "cutting tip" O2 pressure, not welding.

????


Weeeel, Jim, he likes a nice hot tip!

I run 7 and 14.
1 to 2?

or maybe it's 2 to 1?



Richard

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:52:17 -0400, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea
Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote:

"mhorowit" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm having a welding problem. I'm using an OxyAcy rig. I'm
running 2 psi for each gas thru a .025 diameter tip. I find that in
order to weld join two pieces of .035 tubing with this tip, I must
adjust the flame until it's no larger than 3/16" long. Otherwise
I'm heating up too much of an area and burning away the outer sleeve
(in the case of a splice using an inner sleeve). A flame that small is
very difficult to adjust.

I'm puzzled because the charts I'm looking at show a tip of this
size is appropriate for this size work.

Can you suggest what might be my problem? - Regards, Mike


Heat needs to be mostly directed towards the inner sleeve and away from the
easy to burn exposed edge. Using a larger diameter welding rod to shield the
exposed edge can help. But it sounds like, in spite of what your chart says,
you need to use a smaller tip. Just be sure you are getting enough of a
puddle on the sleeve as you turn down the heat.


I'm going to try using the optimal settings (adjust Acy first to where
the flame jumps off the tip, then add O2 to get to neutral) and
backing away from the work; it just seemed easier to work with a
smaller flame and get the tip to within 1/4" of the work - Mike

"Michael Horowitz" wrote

I'm going to try using the optimal settings (adjust Acy first to where
the flame jumps off the tip, then add O2 to get to neutral) and
backing away from the work; it just seemed easier to work with a
smaller flame and get the tip to within 1/4" of the work - Mike

Wow. 1/4" seems to be a lot, lot closer than I am from the metal. Perhaps
that is your problem; the heat is too concentrated. I'll bet my distance is
3/4" to 1".

How about anyone else? How close are you to the work, with the tip of the
torch?
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"Michael Horowitz" wrote

I'm going to try using the optimal settings (adjust Acy first to where
the flame jumps off the tip, then add O2 to get to neutral) and
backing away from the work; it just seemed easier to work with a
smaller flame and get the tip to within 1/4" of the work - Mike

Wow. 1/4" seems to be a lot, lot closer than I am from the metal. Perhaps
that is your problem; the heat is too concentrated. I'll bet my distance is
3/4" to 1".

How about anyone else? How close are you to the work, with the tip of the
torch?
--
Jim in NC

Jim - I seem to have fallen into a trap. Instead of reducing the amount
of heat by torch position, I simply reduced the heat by cutting down on
the cone size. That got me close to the work. I'm going to practice
with the 'approved' method of producing a neutral cone and backing
away; more practice.EAA book says start with the tip 1" from the metal
- Mike

32oxy and 7 acet??? thats more like cutting torch pressures. About 5psi
of each is more than enough. In fact, I used Kent "Tinman" Whites method
(I use a meco midget). you open the valves on the torch handle wide
open, then crack the acetylene regulator valve (not the tank valve,
thats already open) until you can feel the acetylne on your cheek, light
it, adjust it, then start turning in the oxygen regulator valve to get
your neutral flame.

Note: point the torch AWAY from your face before lighting!!

Done this way, the gauges on my regulators are pratically on the pins
with hardly any reading at all.

John

In practice, I seem to wind up with the blue flame about 1/2" or so away
from the metal, depending on how much heat is in the metal, etc.

What I do is adjust the acetylene until its just barely stopped smoking.
This is the point where you get the "feathered" flame. Then I add the
oxy for a neutral flame.

It sounds to me that the OP needs a smaller tip anyway.

John

John T wrote:

32oxy and 7 acet??? thats more like cutting torch pressures. About 5psi
of each is more than enough. In fact, I used Kent "Tinman" Whites method
(I use a meco midget). you open the valves on the torch handle wide
open, then crack the acetylene regulator valve (not the tank valve,
thats already open) until you can feel the acetylne on your cheek, light
it, adjust it, then start turning in the oxygen regulator valve to get
your neutral flame.

Note: point the torch AWAY from your face before lighting!!

Done this way, the gauges on my regulators are pratically on the pins
with hardly any reading at all.

John

THanks, John.

I remember reading that.

Will give it a try next time.

Richard

John T wrote:

In practice, I seem to wind up with the blue flame about 1/2" or so away
from the metal, depending on how much heat is in the metal, etc.

What I do is adjust the acetylene until its just barely stopped smoking.
This is the point where you get the "feathered" flame. Then I add the
oxy for a neutral flame.

It sounds to me that the OP needs a smaller tip anyway.

John


Especially for welding thin wall 4130.

I use an O and an OO on a Vector F-100.
It's a log compared to the Meco, but it works well...


Richard