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Hey Guys, we are getting more and more heavy scrap and need some advise on setting up torches to cut 5 to 7 inch material. We are using oxy propane and I really need to change to liquid oxygen and just need advise on preasures and tips for 4ft scrap torches. We have been cutting lots of cars, tanks, angle plate and autos but this oil field scrap is a different animal. Thanks Marty
Hey, I have a bunch of tips that were from an old pattern torch that was oxy, propane. I will look to see the numbers and get back in a day or two.
Thanks so much Ill post some pictures of these surge tanks we are cutting tomorrow.
You can use 'gouging tips' to thin the metal down a bit. May or may not help you.
I was waiting for PistoneScrapProcessing to chime in here as he cuts up locomotives so he could tell you about cutting the thick stuff.
I am chiming in mechanic. Its not just locomotives that I have cut up over my lifetime. I have cut up plastic molding machines, die cast machines, Huge stamping presses, locomotives and railcars, draglines, excavators, any piece of heavy equipment ever made, etc. The problem is always going to be you need to have bulk liquid oxygen and lots of it to cut through thick material I am busting through about a 1,000,000 cubic feet of oxygen in a month cutting right now. That is 222 of the liquid bottles that the majority of scrappers use in a month. Plus I am using about 2,000 gallons of propane every month and half to two months. We are also running jet torches. You want to buy one its 2500 for the torch. Each tip is 200 and tip nut is 50 bucks. You can't just walk into a welding store and buy one either. It took years of trial and error to figure out how to cut big big stuff. A h-scrapper number 8 tip can get it done but its going to be slow going. It also helps that I know one of the best cryogenic guys in the gas industry. He can build you a bulk trailer but the cost would be 60k plus depending upon what you want on it. Those are really your only two options. Spend a huge amount of cash or just do it with dewar tanks and a number 8 tip. I have seen where people have made crates for there liquid bottles and married six of them together. You can only get 1,000 cubic feet an hour out of a dewar tank. If you marry six of them together and have a 6,000 cubic feet and hour vaporizer you could run one jet torch off it. You would have to tie together three or four propane tanks to or you are just going to freeze the liquid propane to the bottom of the bottle and the liquid won't turn into gas. Making a pallet still doesn't make sense though because you aren't going to be getting a price break by doing it like that. It still involves a bunch of labor for the gas company. More labor more money. With a bulk tank the truck backs up hooks up dumps the product and rolls out. You also never run out of product because the tank is hooked up to a satellite which relays back how much product you have in the tank. When it gets below a certain amount they send out the truck and dump the product in your tank. No phone calls no hassle just a once a month bill. I hope this makes sense. If it doesn't ask questions I will try to answer them as best I can. The one thing I won't share is who or where I get my torches from since all my stuff is custom built. Victor and harris both make the torches they work good but in my opinion anything harris and victor is 100 percent JUNK in my opinion. I would suggest flametech if you are going to buy one.
What is the tons per torched?
What is the tons per torcher?
You can also look into a Petrogen, Petrogen - Cutting torch systems that use everyday liquid fuels
I have cut 18" diameter press rods with one, no I do not work for them, only used their torch .
There are to many variables to answer this question. Type of torch, fuel (acetylene, propane, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, etc) and oxygen set up (k tanks, liquid oxygen, packs, etc.) all have an impact. The thickness of steel is another element that must be considered. The other major variable is the skill level of the burner. The size of tip is another consideration.Quote:
Originally Posted by Cpfab
I have been lucky to have cut with a variety of set ups. Training at the Petrogen factory and the instructor at Smith Torches has provided valuable knowledge. The Petrogen torch system is expensive but valuable for thick steel as Scrapman pointed out. Petrogen torches are popular in the Chinese and Russian oil fields and actually safer than many believe. They are also used by NATO, the US military, fire departments, rescue services, etc. I have had six of these systems at one time and loved them. They are over kill for most scrappers. For most scrappers, a quality torch combined with a propane tank and K tank is the best combination.
A good burner can cut two tons of steel into prepared iron with one k-tank in an hour, assuming they have a good layout and the proper settings for their fuel. If I have multiple jobs, I use liquid oxygen (17 k tanks). The cost of fuel is minute compared to oxygen. For more insight you can search "Scrappers Dream - Torches."