Cut the door out of my container today. Relatively thin stuff, less than
1/8". What surprised me was the distance from the tip that the oxygen cuts. With the attack angle at only about ten degrees, I was blowing a nice clean cut about two inches out from the tip. Still going to get my acetylene filled, but am going to give the propane some time, too. Does take a long time to heat the metal, though, if it is thick at all.Steve
Hey Steve,
What size tip were you using to cut the metal ? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to get through 1/8" with a #4 OXY/ ACE tip. It just keeps filling back in... Is there a trick to cutting with a tip that's meant for thicker metal ? (even though you are using Propane...?)
Hey Steve,
What size tip were you using to cut the metal ? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to get through 1/8" with a #4 OXY/ ACE tip. It just keeps filling back in... Is there a trick to cutting with a tip that's meant for thicker metal ? (even though you are using Propane...?)
I was using size 00 NG. I suggest you use a 0 or 00, either acetylene or propane.
Let me tell you the secret.
You don't want a torch angle anything close to perpendicular that you would use on say a 3/8 or 1/2" piece. You want to just about lay your torch on the metal. Well, DO lay the nut that holds the tip in on the metal. This will let you have a steady position to start the cut. Aim the flame almost parallel with the surface, and pick up the tip so it doesn't fry. The cut will go out about two inches from the tip if you are using about 30# O2. Way past the points of the cones. If you are doing it right, there will be a little molten bb that will roll out of the top of the cut and go skittering away from the flow of your tip. All the other slag will go under. Once you get the right angle, you can make straight clean cuts in thin metal, like .120". or even thinner. Trick is to know when it is molten, and to punch your entry cleanly, which can be done with the tip at a radical angle, too. But just do not try to cut thin with the tip at an angle more than 20 degrees, and I'd say 10 is better. Do short cuts and then get repositioned unless you have everything on a table, or you are steady handed.
HTH.
Hey Steve,
What size tip were you using to cut the metal ? I'm having a bitch of a time trying to get through 1/8" with a #4 OXY/ ACE tip. It just keeps filling back in... Is there a trick to cutting with a tip that's meant for thicker metal ? (even though you are using Propane...?)
reply: jman: look at these pics, and you can see the results of the cuts on my container. Realize this is 20 lineal feet of cuts. It's tricky, so get some junk to practice on. Trick is to have the torch laying almost flat and aim two inches in front of the cones. Oh, and use a second hand or some resting device to help keep it straight. Very little cleanup and dressing. Sometimes it is nice to leave the kerf as it is, as it is less sharp with the little blobs on the edge.
Have fun. You'll get it.
Hit the little colored icon at the end of the text which is not complete. You'll get the rest of the text, and it zooms it up for a good view.
I watched my uncle cut up automotive sheetmetal this way, cutting at the low angle, but using a welding tip instead of his cutting attachment. Worked pretty slick...I have no idea what the tip number was, though. --Glenn Lyford
AWESOMELY Good Information ! Thanks Steve ! Those close-ups are pretty sweet too.... I like being able to see those edges up close like that. I'll give it a try sometime today or tomorrow !
Cheers,
/Jman...
YW, but I burned up a lot of thin stuff before learning "the trick".
Steve
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