There has been some discussion about things like LPG as a heating gas and co2 as a shielding gas.

Seems a comprehensive discussion about alternative welding, cutting and heating options may be worthwhile.

Anything away from the stereotypical stuff that everybody uses.

There might still be a bit that can be teased out in the LPG option.

The atmos burner has just come to my attention..a burner that mixes air in the nossle and runs acetylene without bottled oxygen.

I've seen some spirited discussion about oxy/ petrol on US forums.

I remember the Dillon or Henrob torch from the late eighties.....a precision oxy acetylene hand piece...the party trick was welding up an aluminium coke can with the ring pull.

Hydrogen / oxygen reactors seem to have taken the jewlery trade by storm with their teeny weeny torches.

we've seen oxy/ map gas in disposable cylinders come out recently and a few plumbers are using it.

How about propylene as a fuel gas.

At one time or another all the current welding & heating technologies would have been alternatives.

In my brothers day ( he's 10 years older than me & did his time in a coach shop) oxy and stick where kings, MIG and TIG where the height of technology and only the richest big workshops had it and only the top of the heap welders where alowed near it...plasma cutting well that was just black magic.

My father ( a shipright) was certainly a competent welder though he never owned any welding gear.....I remember him welding something to the drawbar of Dicky Devine's trailer back in 1966 or 67..with a borrowed stick welder...my mother had to keep be away from the window so I did not watch and get a welding flash....I was 4 or 5 and realy wanted to know all about this welding thing.

I am sure when my grandfather was driving his Foden Steam Waggon around, there where blacksmiths that would have still been sceptical about oxy acetylene........"Eye Lad I'll be sticking with mye forrge and hammerr thankyou.....they had one of them acciteeeleen rigs blow up dowen the liverpool docks last yearr....all they found were his boots".

cheers