Oxy-gasoline cutting

[wallacefj]

I got bogged down trying to cut a 10" disc from 2" mild steel with an oxy-acetylene torch, ( backing plate for a lathe chuck) and started looking for alternatives cheaper on gas. I came across oxy-gasoline cutting but found that prices in Canada (chinese made) were about $1,600 for the rig. On ebay an apparently identical one from China was $450 including shipping. Still too rich for me but this report may be of interest.
http://www.em.doe.gov/EM20Pages/pdfs...s/itsr1847.pdf

[mickeyf]

This price differential is roughly similar to what you'll find for cheap vs. quality plasma cutters. Mind you, I don't think either plasma cutter at those exact prices will claim to cut through 2" steel. Gasoline/Oxygen cutting sounds like the sort of thing someone would do a DIY version of (and probably come to grief...).

[Don Young]

Around here the scrap yards seem to be using propane (LPG) with liquid oxygen tanks so it would seem that is the most cost effective method they know of. I haven't tried it but if possible I suspect a good preheating on a barbeque grill or some similar method might make the cutting go quite a bit faster.

[wallacefj]

Mickeyf
Funny you should say that about DIY, I was tempted to get the torch and fab the tank. It is just pressurised with a hand pump, not very much. Following this up led me to explosion proof tanks, filled with aluminum wool.

The attraction apart from savings in fuel gas cost is that it is supposed to be faster than fuel gases for cutting thick material. Altogether a good time-waster researching it, but fun. I think i will just get a bigger propane cutting tip.

[martym]

I learned how to burn with oxygen and LP gas because that was what my dad used at home. Never tried to burn 2" thick plate but I don't see any reason why it couldn't be done.

[mickeyf]

Way back when I spent a lot of time around scrap yards they used oxy-propane. I did too, but mostly because I couldn't justify the annual rental on the acetylene tank. But now, as soon as I'm feeling rich enough I'm gonna get me one of them new-fangled plasma cutters.

[Jojojoker]

the Oxy-gasoline cutting rig, (petrogen) is great for cutting thick steel ie 3 - 12 inches. one does need to clean the cut with a grinder prior to welding because of contamination. it is US coast guard approve. it does take a while to ignite with the correct flame. if i found a used one for a couple hundred I would probably buy it.

[Forestgnome]

There's no reason you should be bogged down cutting 2" steel with an oa rig. Something was wrong, tools/technique.

[kf2qd]

Most folks think that OxyAcetylene is the best cutting combination, but it is really better for welding. OxyPropane is what most commercial cutting is done with. Propane actually supplies more more preheat and gives a cleaner cut. Just get the proper tip and cleaning tool. The best tips require a tapered reamer type cleaning tool and will cut thicker with less gas used.

Rig up a fixture that will let you move the torch as smoothly as possible as that will give you the best results.

[boslab]

worth a try?, the most ive ever cut with oxy propane was 10", it was not easy by hand, fact is when you cut thick stuff its a gas axe not a cutting torch!, with a track cutter its better, if yourgoing to cut thick plate think of a way to motorise the plate, like a turntable and keep the torch fixed to a stand, car window motors have a good torque, just an idea.
a panto profile cutter is the best thing since slicedbread in that dept
regards
mark