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Passing Gas

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by Roboter, May 26, 2006.

  1. May 26, 2006
    Roboter

    Roboter Klaatu Barada Jeepto

    Loomis California
    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2005
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    316
    Do acetylene/O2 bottles slow leak over time? I bought a Lincoln Port-a-Torch last year and finally got around to using it yesterday. Got about 10 minutes of burn time then both went empty. Regulator and bottle valves were closed before I used it

    $40 to refill bottles every 10 minutes get expensive quick. :mad:
     
    Roboter, May 26, 2006
    #1
  2. May 27, 2006
    Rondog

    Rondog just hangin' out

    Parker, CO
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    Aug 25, 2005
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    2,918
    They shouldn't. I brought home my dad's old setup last year, and they both still had lots of gas in them, until I left the bottle valves open overnight :mad:. Both tanks were dated 1979, I think. You're talking about the little dinky bottles though, aren't you? The carry-around kind? I can't imagine they have much time on them to begin with, but I'd think a lot more than 10 minutes.
     
    Rondog, May 27, 2006
    #2
  3. May 27, 2006
    Roboter

    Roboter Klaatu Barada Jeepto

    Loomis California
    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2005
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    316
    Yup. I got the girlie-girl acetelyne-in-a-purse carry kit. :oops: :rofl:
    I was thinking the same thing, 10 minutes is ridiculous. At least half an hour or so. We'll see what happens when I swap for new bottles. :(
     
    Roboter, May 27, 2006
    #3
  4. May 27, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,585
    there may be a leak in th valve. Trade the bottles next time for a new set. most places that do refills, they jsut swap them instead of refill them in front of you, at least that is down here. Sounds like something is really wrong especially if you have the valve clsoed. And it is very dangerous to boot to have that gas leaking, store them outside if that is the case, cause say if it leaks in a closed garage, and you happen to walk in and turn the light on, that could make it go BOOM.
     
    DanStew, May 27, 2006
    #4
  5. May 27, 2006
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    It should last longer than that. There is always the possibility that the bottles were not filled fully from the factory --- sorta like the gas tank on a new car.

    or (and I am sure this NEVER happens)...

    Some one up stream of where you bought it 'borrowed' the bottles, used them a little, and 'returned' them.

    Nah, that would never happen..
     
    kamel, May 27, 2006
    #5
  6. May 27, 2006
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2003
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    2,706
    Is this the kit that used the blowtorch sized bottles? If so yeh 10 mins is about all you get out of a bottle of O2.
     
    mb82, May 27, 2006
    #6
  7. May 27, 2006
    Roboter

    Roboter Klaatu Barada Jeepto

    Loomis California
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    316

    :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: Had it stored in the garage all winter. :mad:
     
    Roboter, May 27, 2006
    #7
  8. May 27, 2006
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
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    12,379
    Couple of things here. The smallest acetylene cyls. only have 10 cf, and the O2 has 20 cf., so you aren't going to get much use out of it. Maybe more than 10 minutes solid cutting but not a lot. Anyway, check your gauges, acetlylene should start off with around 250 to 300psi when full, O2 around 2000psi. when full. Secondly, as mentioned be very careful of leaks! A number of years ago our company had pictures of a car that was blown apart by a leaking acetylene cylinder. (Cylinder wasn't from us.) A guy sent his wife to pick up a cylinder, they put it in the trunk, car had an electric trunk lock, she got home and opened the trunk with the button and it blew up and killed her. Be very careful guys!
     
    Glenn, May 27, 2006
    #8
  9. May 27, 2006
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
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    the small bottles should last more than 10 minutes. i have teh small set and cut alot of stuff. I also got an extra set of bottles which helps out tremendously because we all know bout running out of gas on a weekend and are stuck in the middle of a project :(
     
    DanStew, May 27, 2006
    #9
  10. May 27, 2006
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2002
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    12,379
    How about you guys either measuring diameter and height of your cyls. or posting a pic of the set so I can see what size you have. Both cyls, acetylene and O2.
     
    Glenn, May 27, 2006
    #10
  11. May 28, 2006
    zed

    zed Iowa- Gateway to Nebraska

    central iowa
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    Aug 4, 2004
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    good call glenn. i was about to suggest the same thing. cause i've got Q size
     
    zed, May 28, 2006
    #11
  12. May 28, 2006
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    Is that the 80cf size O2? Our company doesn't use those letter designations, I used to be more up on what other companys use but it's been a long time since I dealt with the cylinders.
     
    Glenn, May 28, 2006
    #12
  13. Jun 3, 2006
    Roboter

    Roboter Klaatu Barada Jeepto

    Loomis California
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    Roboter, Jun 3, 2006
    #13
  14. Jun 3, 2006
    Glenn

    Glenn Kinda grumpy old man Staff Member

    Apopka, Fl
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    I can't really see the cyls. but they must be the smallest, 10cf acet. and 20cf O2.
     
    Glenn, Jun 3, 2006
    #14
  15. Jun 4, 2006
    Rampdog

    Rampdog knuckle buster

    Sandy, Oregon
    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
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    105
    We had a set of leakers in a shop I once worked in, so we made it a point to back off the regulators after turning the bottle valves off. They went from draining over the weekend to lasting almost forever.(My boss was too cheap to get them fixed.) Some regulators can be rebuilt, but I'd only trust a welding supplier to do that. If they leak, outside is the best place for them.
    Mike
     
    Rampdog, Jun 4, 2006
    #15
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