The Ford Barn

wrndln · 03-21-2018, 03:38 PM

I was at my local welding store today to see if my acetylene regulator was leaking. The regulator appears to be OK after some testing. Anyway, I was talking to the fellow in the store and he told me propane could be used in place of acetylene to heat nuts and bolts to loosen them much cheaper than acetylene. He said an adapter (CGA-510 to CGA-200) to adapt the acetylene regulator to the propane tank was necessary to use propane. He was out of the brass adapters that run $11 to $20 on eBay. Has anyone used propane in place of acetylene for their torch and if so, what were the results (a flame that will heat nuts and bolts to cherry red)?
Rusty Nelson

estout81 · 03-21-2018, 03:48 PM

I used propane for years. You can do anything but weld.Check with your local welding store for proper equipment. Yes it is much cheaper than acetylene.

pooch · 03-21-2018, 04:57 PM

You can braze and silver solder and weld body metal with LPG.

Heating to cherry red is no problem, just a bit slower.

I think you need an LPG heating tip, I am not sure if mine is, but it heats fine.

With plasma so cheap, it is a waste of money having acetylene there just for cutting.

mleder · 03-21-2018, 05:08 PM

Rusty - use the propane, must cheaper and safer. Easier to obtain. We torch scrap steel at our recycling yard and have used propane for as long as I remember (40 plus years) Of all the maintence heating we do to loosen and expand things we have never failed. If you want a demonstration you can come over. I'm your clubs newsletter editor in case you didn't connect the name I use on this forum.

Benson · 03-21-2018, 07:46 PM

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BILL WILLIAMSON · 03-22-2018, 08:44 AM

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03-21-2018, 03:48 PM	#2
estout81 BANNED Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Utica, Ohio Posts: 522	Re: Acetylene verses propane I used propane for years. You can do anything but weld.Check with your local welding store for proper equipment. Yes it is much cheaper than acetylene.

03-21-2018, 04:57 PM	#3
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South Coast NSW Australia Posts: 2,596	Re: Acetylene verses propane You can braze and silver solder and weld body metal with LPG. Heating to cherry red is no problem, just a bit slower. I think you need an LPG heating tip, I am not sure if mine is, but it heats fine. With plasma so cheap, it is a waste of money having acetylene there just for cutting.

03-21-2018, 05:08 PM	#4
mleder Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 178	Re: Acetylene verses propane Rusty - use the propane, must cheaper and safer. Easier to obtain. We torch scrap steel at our recycling yard and have used propane for as long as I remember (40 plus years) Of all the maintence heating we do to loosen and expand things we have never failed. If you want a demonstration you can come over. I'm your clubs newsletter editor in case you didn't connect the name I use on this forum.

03-21-2018, 07:46 PM	#5
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,594	Re: Acetylene verses propane ... qwertyuiop-96490 Last edited by Benson; 03-23-2018 at 12:44 PM.

03-22-2018, 08:44 AM	#6
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Acetylene verses propane Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Find a local JUNKIE & he can tell you ALL you need to know, about using Propane. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"