When should you choose Ox/Ac Welding

[Ten Hammers]

Keith, for cutting you are correct on the bottle usage and pressures. I use plasma for almost 100 % here at home and my regulators stay at neutral ( 4 psi ) for welding. Cold weather is hard on regulators. 3/8 rod can be nicely welded to 16 ga sheet with gas. I also use mig ( and sometimes tack with a mig before finish welding with gas ).

[gerald]

Remember, too, that acetylene usage for cutting and acetylene usage for a Rosebud are two different animals. The Rosebud really gulps down acetylene compared to a cutting tip.

[skunkriv]

I use oxy/propane for cutting and heating either with the cutting tip or a rosebud. Cutting with propane requires special tips but they are available for most torches.

I switch to acetylene for welding and brazing. About the only thing I weld with the torch are very light things like rose leaves and such and some repairs. My little 3' high acetylene bottle will usually last several years.

[Paragon]

I did my first forging last year using a OA set for the heating. Another nice thing is that I used it to weld the rose bud and leaf to the stem and it blends in nicely. Easily touched up if needed since the weld is at forging temp when you are done

I own my tanks, but exchange tanks to get them filled. You just pay for the gas. (this is why a lot of people say don't bother with getting brand new tanks as most places will do tank exchange - you would have to wait around for over 7 hours for your acetylene tanks to be filled) I have a set of 40 cu ft tanks. I think it cost around 25 to get them filled. If at any time I feel I need larger tanks, I can trade these in and get bigger ones. They will give full credit for these tanks (going rate for them when I trade them in) to go towards the larger set.
After you think about it, exchange system isn't that bad. You always have a good tank.

I think if you have an old tank that is out of certification (hasn't been presure tested in a long time) they will exchange it but if it turns out bad, you basically have to pay for the tank you received.