WORKSHOP TOPICS - A SMALL OXY PROPANE SETUP

[@BedsitBob]

For braising or silver soldering, you need a neutral flame.

[@keithappleton]

Yes, I know that. I only need the oxygen to help the gas inside the Firebox. I am not Welding or Brazing, it's just a Silver Solder repair

[@steamboatmodel]

I have had a number of small welding rigs over the years, including full-sized tanks. The full sized ones I gave away as they changed the policy at the rental/refill stores they now want you to be certified to have tanks refilled. I have done welding off/on since 1967, but never paid the fee or took the tests to be certified. one of the first set s i had was made by radio shack and had small cylinders about the size of the air pistol cylinders, that ended up in a drawer when it became imposable to get the fuel for it. another set used propane and a canister that you put chemical pellets in and burned them to generate oxygen. The last set uses propane and oxygen cylinders that are the same size as the tall one pound propane cylinders , fortunately you can buy the cylinders at most hardware stores.

[@RockerMark]

That’s a nice little set and I do appreciate your sense of humour 😂

[@keithappleton]

😁

[@felderup]

i've got a bernzomatic similar to that, very temporary tanks but a real treat to run. it's a good midway to acetylene and legal to keep in a dwelling, i've been looking into building oxygen concentrators for that kind of thing.

[@neilbain8736]

This has been most informative. The algorithms are throwing up a lot of mini gas welding type vids just now. I use oxy acetylene. It has a nice fine central cone and the point is very useful as it gives a good degree of control. The colour and shape of the cone as the mix is altered will affect the metallurgy of the joint and filler rod as it melts. Brazing should have a neutral flame. Map gas is very handy. It's my go to gas. It's the hottest gas you can readily buy and is ideal for general heat, hotter than propane. Oxy Map is very much a thing and you can silver solder and braze with it. A friend uses it and I'm impressed by it but haven't got around to trying it yet.

[@stephenlesbos6208]

My dad and I had a very similar set 40 years ago, they must still be going then. And back then the oxygen was in thin tanks and lasted minutes. We were using it for silver jewellery soldering (silver solder on silver)

[@BedsitBob]

I had a similar set (probably badge engineering) some years ago, to do a bit of braising. They work OK, but the oxygen tanks don't last very long.

[@keithappleton]

I only need the oxygen to help the gas inside the Firebox. I am not Welding.

[@steveharrod6911]

I would say that the person who introduces some refillable cylinders for these is going to be very popular, does any contributor know if such things exist?

[@grahamhall2662]

Thank you for this post interesting. It would be good to know how long the oxygen lasts? Quite an expensive set for maybe just 5mins of use?

[@keithappleton]

I will find out in due course. I don't need welding force, as I am only silver soldering in a confined space in a Model Locomotive Boiler's Firebox.

[@someguy2741]

It looks like a perfect little thing. I bought an oxy acetylene setup and was astonished with the amount of heat and how bright it is. I recommend you wear the goggles. After a very short while the infrared light does a real number on your eyes. Also oxygen is very dangerous. If you spray oxygen around you will have a lot of problems. Pure oxygen makes flammable things VERY FLAMMABLE and seemingly non-flammable things also very flammable. On the topic of acetylene vs propane. Acetylene is much less stable. And apparently in the UK your acetylene torches did not have "flashback" devices. Under the right conditions the flame could travel up the hose and into the acetylene bottle where the acetylene would "decompose" in the absence of oxygen and melt a hole through the bottle and make all kinds of excitement. I assume modern setups have the flashback arrester. Also acetylene has the "rule of 7" where you cannot use more than 1/7th of the bottle of acetylene per hour. If you do the acetone in the acetylene bottle will start to come out with the acetylene. The acetone is used to stabilize the acetylene. There is an acetone soaked ceramic matrix in the acetylene bottle that "stores" the acetylene in a stable way. If you burn off the acetone then kaboom! Last kaboom is if you set the regulator to higher than 15 PSI. Without the acetone and matrix the acetylene becomes unstable at pressures higher than 15 PSI. The worthless internet suggests you set your acetylene to 15 PSI as the number one search result. At 15 PSI the acetylene again can "decompose" in the absence of oxygen and pure a hole through the hose or the bottle. So in the home workshop... especially if starting out I would do the propane. This way you can use the torch as a propane only torch when you need less heat... or run out of oxygen. You avoid all the kaboom of acetylene. And the cost of acetylene. And the cost of the tips and torches and setup is nearly identical. If you need more heat then acetylene is the way to go but that is enough heat to melt the copper. Which isn't very helpful. I look forward to the repair series!

[@keithappleton]

this is Oxy/Propane - not Oxy/Acetylene. Thank you for the Essay }:-)))

[@toneault7499]

hi keith.. yes you can use your gas cylinder's on this set up.. but it will need help..as in pre-heating the boiler .. then you can use your set to do the job... ok.. in a nut shell.. .. un like some .. and similar to you im here to help.. not put down .. atb .. tone U.K.

[@keithappleton]

Thank you, I am aware of this as I have repaired a boiler in the past.

[@tonyburrell2052]

I made the mistake of buying a similar kit last year (uses the same oxy/fuel bottles). Only brazed two small jobs when the oxygen ran out, the price of new bottles is ridiculous.

[@keithappleton]

I only bought this for one small Silver Soldering repair in a copper boiler firebox, so it should be OK.

[@TexasEngineer]

I have a similar unit years ago. It burns propane or map gas. The propane or map gas is cheap. The oxygen is ridiculous because it costs almost the same as propane per bottle. The problem is it takes 16 bottles of oxygen for each bottle of map gas. I purchased a used portable rig used for air conditioning and the bottles can be refilled. It is only a little bit larger but can use standard gas welding tools.

[@Tocsin-Bang]

Don't try and learn Portuguese, I've been trying since I met my wife in 2003!

[@keithappleton]

I'm trying to give it up }:-)))