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cutting torch acetylene regulator to propane tank question

corvairbob

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Aug 13, 2011
Messages
1
Location
mi.
Occupation
machine repair
i have been it the machine repair field for 30 pus years and i never used propane for the cutting gas on a torch system as the companies always had acyetlene. and i have a set of torches and the same thing for me, i used acyetlene. but now being retired i find the gas has got way out of my price range, so i figure for what i use the set for propane would be a good feul gas for heating and i'm guessing i could cut with it as well. i asked the local college that i got my certificate at and that instructor will not tell me the adapter i need to get the acetylene regulator and propane tank connected up with.

i did a lot i research but still can't find out if there is one. even ebay. i have yet to stop into the tank supply place yet so if i do not find an answer here i may have to drive 30 miles to find out. when i worked i got my tanks replaced form the same place the shop did so they delivered them to the shop and i took them home. did not have to drive 30 miles. anyway i figure a tone of guys on this site have this same setup and may tell me the kind of adapter i need to connect the gauge to the tank. i may be that i'm just do not know the exact name to ask for. thanks
 

crane operator

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sw missouri
I use both propane and acetylene. Regulator is the same for either gas. You just need a different tip for the torch head. Both tanks use left hand thread internal threading.
 

bam1968

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Nov 1, 2014
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IA
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Excavating Contractor
What crane operator said...... Unless you are wanting to use the new style ' grill bottles'..... Then i'm guessing you will have to fabricate some sort of a fitting for those tanks.
 

Nige

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Jun 22, 2011
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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
Unless you are wanting to use the new style ' grill bottles'..... Then i'm guessing you will have to fabricate some sort of a fitting for those tanks.
"Fabricate some sort of a fitting".? On a fuel gas setup.? What could possibly go wrong.? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

You can use the same regulator for acetylene & propane provided that you don't go over 15psi outlet pressure. If you need more than that a regulator change will be necessary.
 

Jonas302

Senior Member
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Jan 4, 2015
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1,197
Location
mn
Regulator is same even most 20 lbs tanks still have internal threads, Tips are different but have used an acetylene tip on propane many times just not as satisfactory, hoses are different for propane "T grade" but nobody bothers with them might as well get the right ones if you need new hoses
Acetylene price is very high but a tank goes a long ways until someone forgets the valve on at least (;
 

colson04

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2016
Messages
2,057
Location
Delton, Michigan
My uncle had a propane torch set years back, but I don't know much about it. I had looked into going propane years ago, but ended up with a small O/A, highly portable torch set that suited my needs.

Looking around, Harris Products Group calls themselves the experts on using alternative fuels for torch applications.

https://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/

They have a nice video series comparing the differences between alternative fuel and acetylene, and how the alternative fuel torch can be cost competitive and just as effective as acetylene. Type in a YouTube search for Harris Injector Torch. One point that is mentioned in one of their videos is that the regulators and hoses are different for propane. Not sure why though.
 

AllDodge

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Apr 2, 2011
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2,288
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Kentucky
Don't forget about need a different hose for propane, I think its type T

Had to buy it to use a rose bud torch
 

walkerv

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Messages
1,125
Location
wingate nc
You will deffinatly go thru alot of oxygen even using propane tips. About 18 full bottles to one 20lb propane tank, at least that is what my neighbors miileage was .he had an adaptor that is or was availble thru air gas pur acty regulator was for male outside thread
 
Last edited:

Bluox

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Jun 19, 2010
Messages
1,960
Location
WA state
If you are just heating things check out turbo torch, think small weed burner with different size tips. If you are used to burning with acetylene you won't be happy with propane .
Don't try the new style propane bottles with the outside threads ,they have a safety flow valve that wont let you use munch gas .
Your regulator should screw into a propane bottle but like others have said be ready to drive 30 miles for oxygen more often.
Good luck
Bob
 

Bluox

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WA state
"Fabricate some sort of a fitting".? On a fuel gas setup.? What could possibly go wrong.? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

You can use the same regulator for acetylene & propane provided that you don't go over 15psi outlet pressure. If you need more than that a regulator change will be necessary.
So why can't you use a acetylene regulator over 15 lbs. for propane?
Bob
 

crane operator

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Location
sw missouri
I did a little looking, and if you have grill bottles that only have a external thread, I think something like this should get you running. Looks like it has a set of internal threads on the opposite end of the grill bottle type fitting.

I have both propane and aceylene, and the propane does heat up much slower. I can't say that I've noticed a increase in O2 usage, but I don't do a lot of cutting. I simply use the propane because I have a 1000 gal tank at the shop and sometimes when I'm working, the welding gas supplier isn't open, and its easier to just fill up my own tank.

https://www.amazon.com/GASPRO-Indic...ZAFF1BSF8EF&psc=1&refRID=DGRC4H4KKZAFF1BSF8EF

61jPxmb5iFL._AC_SL1000_.jpg
 

crane operator

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sw missouri
I also did look at the grill bottle at home, and it has both external and internal threads. I don't know that I've seen a tank with only the external big threads.
 

Birken Vogt

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Nov 30, 2003
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5,305
Location
Grass Valley, Ca
I worked in the propane industry and never seen a cylinder with external threads only. They always have internal because too much old stuff out there, has to be compatible.

The small cylinders valves have a restrictor but not that restrictive, should be plenty to run a torch, I run big generator engines off them all the time for short periods. They don't have a snap-shut device, if that exists it is contained in the male part that fits into the cylinder valve and goes to the regulator.

I have tried propane on a regular cutting torch and it was not very satisfactory but I did not pursue it any further.
 

Welder Dave

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Oct 11, 2014
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Canada
Same thread for propane as acetylene. They make propane specific regulators but an acetylene regulator will work fine. For cutting need to use propane tips and propane rosebuds for heating. You can't weld with propane though, only braze. The gauge for acetylene is red at 15 PSI but no problem to go to 20 or 25 PSI when using propane. Propane has an advantage when using a rosebud because you don't have to worry about withdrawal rates. In fact you can run a bigger propane rosebud. You will go through about 3 times more oxygen using propane. Grade T hose is recommended for propane as it won't degrade over time but isn't as flexible as Grade R hose.
 

repowerguy

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United States southern Ohio
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mixer truck mechanic
I'm one of the few that actually prefer using propane, it has a cleaner cut as the steel is actually burned and not blown in two. Using propane will force you to use proper cutting technique and not sloppy half measures. The hottest part of the flame isn't the little cones like acetylene, but farther out. A good clean tip is also a plus, but that's the same either way.
As an aside, I started using the American Torch Tips adapter system and it is great, I can swap to a 0 or a 1 or 2 in seconds or a rosebud just as fast. Buy the adapter once and then just the tips, nice system.
 

Welder Dave

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Canada
The technical term for oxy/fuel cutting is rapid oxidation. Proper tip and technique produces a clean cut no matter what fuel gas you use. I prefer acetylene and will sometimes use 1 size smaller tip for a more precision cut and narrower curve but have to go a little slower and sometimes preheat the line of cut. For straight line cutting with acetylene you position a preheat flame directly in front and behind the line of cut. For shape cutting the preheat staggers the line of cut.
 

Old Doug

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Oct 16, 2013
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4,484
Location
Mo
I have used propane for over 25 years . It dosent heat as fast i realy cant tell if i use alot more oxygen it must not be realy that bad. One thing that is great about the propane tips is the way they come apart to clean. When i wanted to start useing propane i went to the closes place to get a tip he tryed to order one and after several weeks he couldnt find one but he had a tip that would work in my torch but he didnt know what it was for but it looked like a propane tip. I had a grain bin to cut up so i tryed it . I couldnt get it lit unless i started a paper tale on fire but it would cut but not real good. Later on i was in Kc Mo and found a torch repair place . I ask about a tip and showed him what i had. He ask me were i got the tip like i had done something wrong then he ask how did i get it lit.I ask him what it was he said it was a Natural gas Oxy tip and it took a electric spark to lit it.
 

Delmer

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Jan 3, 2013
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WI
So why can't you use a acetylene regulator over 15 lbs. for propane?
Bob

Acetylene over 15 PSI is dangerous, in the tank it is disolved in acetone to keep it from blowing up, don't use acetylene over 15PSI. Propane is obviously fine over 15 PSI.
 

excavator

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Oct 16, 2006
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Pacific North West
Like most guys I started out with acetylene and never wanted to go to propane. But then someone who knew how to use it showed me a few things and I'll likely never go back. For everything I need, propane is just so much more convenient. And if you write "for welding only" on your tank you don't have to go to the new style tanks and should not have any problem getting the old style filled.
 
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