O/A welding question: tip size

"mhorowit" wrote in message
ups.com...
I'm having a welding problem. I'm using an OxyAcy rig. I'm
running 2 psi for each gas thru a .025 diameter tip. I find that in
order to weld join two pieces of .035 tubing with this tip, I must
adjust the flame until it's no larger than 3/16" long. Otherwise
I'm heating up too much of an area and burning away the outer sleeve
(in the case of a splice using an inner sleeve). A flame that small is
very difficult to adjust.

I'm puzzled because the charts I'm looking at show a tip of this
size is appropriate for this size work.

Can you suggest what might be my problem? - Regards, Mike


Heat needs to be mostly directed towards the inner sleeve and away from the
easy to burn exposed edge. Using a larger diameter welding rod to shield the
exposed edge can help. But it sounds like, in spite of what your chart says,
you need to use a smaller tip. Just be sure you are getting enough of a
puddle on the sleeve as you turn down the heat.

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

On Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:52:17 -0400, "Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe" The Sea
Hawk at wow way d0t com wrote:

"mhorowit" wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm having a welding problem. I'm using an OxyAcy rig. I'm
running 2 psi for each gas thru a .025 diameter tip. I find that in
order to weld join two pieces of .035 tubing with this tip, I must
adjust the flame until it's no larger than 3/16" long. Otherwise
I'm heating up too much of an area and burning away the outer sleeve
(in the case of a splice using an inner sleeve). A flame that small is
very difficult to adjust.

I'm puzzled because the charts I'm looking at show a tip of this
size is appropriate for this size work.

Can you suggest what might be my problem? - Regards, Mike


Heat needs to be mostly directed towards the inner sleeve and away from the
easy to burn exposed edge. Using a larger diameter welding rod to shield the
exposed edge can help. But it sounds like, in spite of what your chart says,
you need to use a smaller tip. Just be sure you are getting enough of a
puddle on the sleeve as you turn down the heat.


I'm going to try using the optimal settings (adjust Acy first to where
the flame jumps off the tip, then add O2 to get to neutral) and
backing away from the work; it just seemed easier to work with a
smaller flame and get the tip to within 1/4" of the work - Mike

"Michael Horowitz" wrote

I'm going to try using the optimal settings (adjust Acy first to where
the flame jumps off the tip, then add O2 to get to neutral) and
backing away from the work; it just seemed easier to work with a
smaller flame and get the tip to within 1/4" of the work - Mike

Wow. 1/4" seems to be a lot, lot closer than I am from the metal. Perhaps
that is your problem; the heat is too concentrated. I'll bet my distance is
3/4" to 1".

How about anyone else? How close are you to the work, with the tip of the
torch?
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:
"Michael Horowitz" wrote

I'm going to try using the optimal settings (adjust Acy first to where
the flame jumps off the tip, then add O2 to get to neutral) and
backing away from the work; it just seemed easier to work with a
smaller flame and get the tip to within 1/4" of the work - Mike

Wow. 1/4" seems to be a lot, lot closer than I am from the metal. Perhaps
that is your problem; the heat is too concentrated. I'll bet my distance is
3/4" to 1".

How about anyone else? How close are you to the work, with the tip of the
torch?
--
Jim in NC

Jim - I seem to have fallen into a trap. Instead of reducing the amount
of heat by torch position, I simply reduced the heat by cutting down on
the cone size. That got me close to the work. I'm going to practice
with the 'approved' method of producing a neutral cone and backing
away; more practice.EAA book says start with the tip 1" from the metal
- Mike

In practice, I seem to wind up with the blue flame about 1/2" or so away
from the metal, depending on how much heat is in the metal, etc.

What I do is adjust the acetylene until its just barely stopped smoking.
This is the point where you get the "feathered" flame. Then I add the
oxy for a neutral flame.

It sounds to me that the OP needs a smaller tip anyway.

John

John T wrote:

In practice, I seem to wind up with the blue flame about 1/2" or so away
from the metal, depending on how much heat is in the metal, etc.

What I do is adjust the acetylene until its just barely stopped smoking.
This is the point where you get the "feathered" flame. Then I add the
oxy for a neutral flame.

It sounds to me that the OP needs a smaller tip anyway.

John


Especially for welding thin wall 4130.

I use an O and an OO on a Vector F-100.
It's a log compared to the Meco, but it works well...


Richard