Thread: Bit the bullet! OXY LPG

Hi all,

I have finally bit the bullet and bought an LPG reg off e-bay.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LPG-Regulator-Tig-Mig-Arc-Welder-Quality-New-Welding_W0QQitemZ120282089020QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11774QQcmdZViewItem
QQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

I Bought the LPG reg after I went to get my G size acetylene bottle filled the other day, and almost fell over when was told it would cost $316.00 for the fill. Last time I had it filled it cost $160.00, and that was heaps more than it cost than the time before.
I have used oxy LPG in the past..... on a job site I borrowed a plumbers set for 1/2hr to do a job. I didn't like the loose flame, when compared to acet' but the cost has negated that issue for the moment. I haven't welded steel with gas for years, and mainly use gas for plumbing work and steel heating these days, so the LPG should do.... I hope.


Now for the question.... Will my comet oxy/acet mixers work with the LPG, or do I require a LPG specific mixer, and cutting torch?

Thanks

You will need LPG tips and hose suitable for LPG (i was told that LPG will leak through acetylene hose)

The handpiece and mixer is OK to use..

Thanks for that.

You will need LPG tips and hose suitable for LPG (i was told that LPG will leak through acetylene hose) The handpiece and mixer is OK to use..

My hoses are good for acetylene or LPG, so that is covered.

By tips, I guess you mean the cutting nozzles need to be specifically designed for LPG??, as they mix gas.
I am assuming the 10 or so welding/brazing tips that I have are ok, as the mixing is done at the hand piece.

Yea I guess the brazing/heating tips would be OK but cutting tips need to be LPG ones...

the cutting tips are type 44 for lpg

The brazing tips need to be lpg as well

The aceterleen brazing tips seem to work ok with lpg but blow out easily . Drilling a little" çup ''in the end of the tip with a drill bit twice the size of the hole seems to help a lot though. The special LPG cutting tips work really good --much better than putting lpg through the acteterline cutter .

I took the end of a caravan regulator and put it in the aceteleen guage ---seemsto work fine for the last 6 years. Just screws straight into a 9kg or 45 kg bottle .

soooooooo much cheaper than aceteleen


good luck Mat

Thanks again Guys.

Drilling a little" çup ''in the end of the tip with a drill bit twice the size of the hole seems to help a lot though

Mat, what form of hole am I looking at, and how deep. I have plenty of machining gear, so can form a hole accurately to whatever spec.

Originally Posted by Fossil

Thanks again Guys.




Mat, what form of hole am I looking at, and how deep. I have plenty of machining gear, so can form a hole accurately to whatever spec.

Well someone told me that years ago so I had a look at some copper heating/brazing/welding tips in a shop and sure enough they were sort of cupped in the end .So I just drilled them a little bit just in the end But I havent checked out any proper ones in years and the technology might have improved . I recon just have a look at the latest tips designed specifically 4 oxy/lpg and modify yours to be the same .

The cutters tips are quite different but not so expensive

Good luk , seeya Mat

Originally Posted by RQ WELD

The brazing tips need to be lpg as well

Nope - LPG works fine with std brazing tips and heating tips. Flame is not as hot so you need to get used to selecting the new right size for the job, but one size up is usually the go.

Just the cutter tip needs to be type 44 as already mentioned.

I have been using Oxy/LPG for more than 15 years on my CIG Comet 3 kit. No problem with hoses mixers or handpieces (as I was advised by my CIG dealer at the time).

Forget welding steel, but that's never been a need of mine anyway - I use my old stick welder and newer MIG for that.

For plumbing, cutting and so on I reckon it's the go for an occasional user or DIYer. That cylinder cost finally got to me too, but the convenience and lower cost of LPG confirmed me.

Originally Posted by Fossil

almost fell over when was told it would cost $316.00 for the fill. Last time I had it filled it cost $160.00, and that was heaps more than it cost than the time before.

Hi Fossil,
I've got a dedicated Oxy-LPG setup, Harris brand with regulators, handpiece and hoses etc, so I can't offer any advice about swapping parts. It does work out cheaper to fill....BUT ...I just got billed $135 for rental on an E size oxy bottle! It's gone up about 1/3 since I signed the rental agreement. Now I have to justify having it to the trouble-and-strife, as its not much more than a hobby item now.
Why can't the costs equate to exchange LPG bottles, which surely need the same H&S built in?!

Cheers,

Thanks again guys,

The LPG Reg should turn up tomorrow, and I have some gas fitting to do on Wednesday, so I will report back on my experiences silver soldering with the new setup. I ordered size 6 8 and 12, type 44 cutting nozzles as well, so I will do some test cuts on an old RSJ I have and report back.

I have brazing tips sizes 6, 8, 10, 12 15 and 20, so I'll give some feedback on they work out as well.

Hi Fossil, how did you go? I'm just about out of acetylene and i'm looking at changing to LPG for silver soldering my lucas mill tips. Anything special to watch for with the lpg?

hi all,just a thought for those of you who are thinking of converting to lpg.i did this years ago buying harris torches and dedicated oxy/lpg tips etc and the oxy costs per annum overshadowed the savings especially when slower heat up and cutting times are included.I was useing 3 to 5 times more oxygen to acheive the same result,admittedly it is in a trade shop but i wouldnt go back to it.

Originally Posted by danielhobby

hi all,just a thought for those of you who are thinking of converting to lpg.i did this years ago buying harris torches and dedicated oxy/lpg tips etc and the oxy costs per annum overshadowed the savings especially when slower heat up and cutting times are included.I was useing 3 to 5 times more oxygen to acheive the same result,admittedly it is in a trade shop but i wouldnt go back to it.

The heavy engineering shop next door to my shed uses lpg for cutting and swears by it, but they don't use it for anything else. I'm not intending to do cutting with it, just silver soldering with high silver content rod which needs to get to a touch over 700 C. I've used MAPP/air in the past and it went OK, although pretty slow.
When using acetylene, I have to barely crack the taps or the flame is too big.