Airgas and Praxair have the market cornered where I live and neither will exchange/fill my acetylene tanks so I use propane. I've thought about driving over to Greenville with my tanks to see if there's any place that want's to fill or exchange my customer owned tanks. Only mom and pop I'm aware of is Electro-Tech out on 66 at 69. Where do you get your supplies?
Here's some facts (not just opinions) that might help you with your decision. Acety-oxy mix burn's at max 5,700F, Propane-oxy mix burn's at 5,100F max. That's 10% difference. Once metal is preheated and cut has been started,the fuel can be turned off (acety or propane make's no difference) and you can finish cutting a 48" plate as long as you don't lose the cut. The ONLY reason an acetylene regulator doesn't work as well with propane as it does with acety is if it's an"idiot proof regulator"that will not adjust higher than 15psi. If you aren't familiar with 1/10th and 1/15th draw rate for acetylene,look it up before using a rosebud or large tip. That doesn't apply to propane but for heavy and continuous use,have a backup tank handy incase pressure drop's too far to support flame. High quality grade R hose work's and last's just fine with propane. The rub is that standards for R hose alow's low quality hose to meet standards and be sold. T grade standards are much higher for flame resistance,breaking strength and such so you will not find sub-quality T hose for sale anywhere that carrier's insurance. If your hose is on it's last leg,for goodness sake replace it with Grade T even if using acetylene. It's not that much more expensive than QUILITY R hose. There's no need for a special handle unless you want one of those 4 foot long scrapper's outfit. Acety tips don't work worth spit with propane,buy 2 piece tips and for precision cuts,don't oversize tip. Flame adjustment is different. There is no smoke or black nasties floating through the air so start with small flame,add oxy,add acety,add oxy back and forth until flame whistles(a little practice will show you exactly how) then set to neutral. During pre-heat and cutting,hold tip farther away from metal,(again a little pratice and experimenting will let you see where to hold). If you get excess doss,use more oxy pressure.
These are opinion,check them out for yourself. Half the people that say propane sucks are using acety tips,don't do that,you won't like the results. The other half say it sucks because it isn't hot enough to weld. That's not even half true. Heat has nothing to do with it,the problem is that unlike acety,propane doesn't shield puddle. Welding with propane is akin to peeling all the flux off a 6010 rod then attempting to make a suitable weld. It is true that propane is usless for welding but anyone that tell's you it won't braze is wrong,I do it often.
Don't forget to tell me about friendly gas suppliers up you way,I need to start trading with someone besides my local Airgas.
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