Talk:Oxy-fuel welding and cutting

Cutting rate
this is all wrong :-) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.4.229.157 (talk) 11:38, 18 March 2012 (UTC)

I know this talk page is for discussing improvements to the article rather than for asking questions, but I reckon what I'd like to know is pertinent and I can't find this information elsewhere online. My questions are; how fast can steel be pierced at the highest temperature, and how fast at lower temperatures (i.e. what thickness per second)? I read here (http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/protected/band_3/jk49.html) that it is 7.4 metres per second, but it sounds more like a measure of length for cutting at a certain depth, rather than simple depth. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 193.1.172.104 (talk) 15:58, 22 April 2007 (UTC).

Hi, This questions is a little nonsensical. The iron will burn at kindling temperature, approx 1,600 deg F. At that temp add oxygen and the iron will combine for form slag. One can bring the metal to "mushy" at 2000 def F with no improvement on piercing time. That time is dependent upon thickness and orifice size. And I think that data are too specific for an encyclopedia article. ArcTech 01:57, 9 September 2007 (UTC)

I think that a table providing sample cutting rates under a few typical conditions (not all possible combinations of conditions) is a good idea, especially in an encyclopedia article. A perfect example to follow is a short table in the Metals Handbook, 9th ed, Vol 16, p 524. A table no more than 3 inches high provides abrasive water jet cutting speeds for 4 typical example conditions, 10 thicknesses, and 9 materials. This enables the reader to evaluate the utility of the process for their application, not as a final determination of what is ideal, but to determine whether further investigation is warranted. A full set of tables with all possible conditions is certainly beyond the scope of an encyclopedia, but typical expectations of performance are part of what an encyclopedia is for. "Nonsensical" would better describe the complete omission of typical performance data. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 147.160.136.10 (talk) 15:34, 16 December 2008 (UTC)

Need info on cutting torch
What material is made from? Why the tips do not melt? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Ericg33 (talk • contribs) 21:49, 7 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Torch bodies are usually made of brass while the tips are copper. Both metals are non-sparking, a good thing when working with flammable fuel gasses. The tips don't melt because the gasses don't burn until they are beyond the opening or openings in the tip, thus the tip is mainly heated by radiant energy from the flame. Copper is one of the best heat conducting metals so heat from the flame is quickly drawn away from the tip and some of it is picked up by the gasses flowing through the inside via conduction. Bizzybody (talk) 07:23, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

Safety of diagram
An IP editor requested at Graphic_Lab/Illustration_workshop that we change a diagram on this page. Ivan Akira has produced an improved diagram, distancing the welder's flame from the gas valve. We would welcome an opinion from a subject expert as to how we can best depict someone welding safely. Certes (talk) 12:04, 5 January 2010 (UTC)


 * The new image looks good to me. Wizard191 (talk) 15:32, 5 January 2010 (UTC)

dead link
source for note 3, fundamentals of professional welding, is a dead link http://64.78.42.182/sweethaven/BldgConst/Welding/lessonmain.asp?lesNum=4&modNum=1 as are notes 4 and 5

70.183.133.3 (talk) 22:30, 10 March 2010 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the heads up. I've fixed the first two; the third is not repairable. Wizard191 (talk) 15:06, 11 March 2010 (UTC)

Welders and Weldors
A person who welds is a weldor. The tools they use to weld with are welders. See the Oxy-acetylene Weldor's Handbook. Same as a sailor is a person on a boat while the boat (if wind driven) is a sailer. You don't call a Navy soldier a sailer so why call a weldor a welder? Bizzybody (talk) 07:26, 4 December 2011 (UTC)

Lack of reference
I think it is very necessary when describing the temperature of mixed gas flames (or even single gas flames) to provide a solid reference. This page (and many others dealing with torch welding/brazing/cutting) are severely lacking with references at key points such as this. Hopefully someone with some experience and knowledge of references for this subject matter can chime in and fix this.

SmarterThanILook (talk) 20:18, 3 June 2012 (UTC)

I agree - for instance this page states a completely different maximum temperature for propane / air than what is stated on the propane torch page. Which (if either) is correct? Creonlevit (talk) 19:24, 25 October 2012 (UTC)

The claim that platinum can be fused in an oxy-hydrogen flame but not oxy-acetylene should be sourced. The claim is counter-intuitive, given that oxy-acetylene produces a hotter flame than oxy-hydrogen. 68.64.53.227 (talk) 00:47, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Copyvio?
Large chunks of this article are almost identical to http://www.cedengineering.com/upload/Fundamentals%20of%20Gas%20Welding%20and%20Cutting.pdf. I've worked my way back through the article history a bit, but can't really tell who copied from who. One specific passage which is identical is:

''Welding gas pressures using oxy-acetylene are set in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. The welder will modify the speed of welding travel to maintain a uniform bead width. Uniformity is a quality attribute indicating good workmanship. Trained welders are taught to keep the bead the same size at the beginning of the weld as at the end. If the bead gets too wide, the welder increases the speed of welding travel. If the bead gets too narrow or if the weld puddle is lost, the welder slows down the speed of travel. Welding in the vertical or overhead positions is typically slower than welding in the flat or horizontal positions.''

''The welder must add the filler rod to the molten puddle. The welder must also keep the filler metal in the hot outer flame zone when not adding it to the puddle to protect filler metal from oxidation. Do not let the welding flame burn off the filler metal. The metal will not wet into the base metal and will look like a series of cold dots on the base metal. There is very little strength in a cold weld. When the filler metal is properly added to the molten puddle, the resulting weld will be stronger than the original base metal.''

-- RoySmith (talk) 00:19, 18 June 2013 (UTC)

Victor/Harris
The article needs either a section or a reference to the types of torch kits commonly available. It needs to answer the question: "What distinguishes a Victor-style torch from a Harris-style torch?" Also: why are both types still produced? Why would one be more suitable to a particular job than another? Steve8394 (talk) 02:37, 1 April 2015 (UTC)