Oxy-acetylene torch to cut and clean scrap metal?

I know this doesn't answer your question but I use a plasma cutter. I started out with a junk Everlast. After 2 episodes of dealing with warranty work I got rid of it and went with a Hypertherm. I am really impressed/happy with it.

I am also set up to go mobile with a generator and compressor. Generator does okay. Compressor really lacks. Wishing I had gone with a bigger unit. Shop compressor does fine, it's a Puma 60 gallon upright. Had never heard of Puma, but it was cheap enough I thought why not give it a try. I've been pretty happy with this also.

Using a propane torch for cutting, choose the proper tip size for the metal your cutting, to light the tirch turn on the fuel ( propane ) when the torch is lit adjust the gas flow until the flame just begins to leave the tip now open the oxygen valve oin the torch just enough that the flame makes contact with the tip.

Now you'll see the cones form at the base of the flame, should sound like tearing paper.

Acetylene, light the fuel then turn it up enough os that the black smoke dissisipates, your ready to give the torch oxygen your ready to cut, once the cut has begun angle your torch towards the direction of the cut, if your cutting heavy metal the degree od angle will be much less than that for light guage metals.

I used a number 4 tip the centre hole large enough to fit a pencil lead, using this tip a skilled burner can cut upwards of six inch thick metal, round shafting is the most difficult to get started on a cut.

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

I know this doesn't answer your question but I use a plasma cutter. I started out with a junk Everlast. After 2 episodes of dealing with warranty work I got rid of it and went with a Hypertherm. I am really impressed/happy with it.

I am also set up to go mobile with a generator and compressor. Generator does okay. Compressor really lacks. Wishing I had gone with a bigger unit. Shop compressor does fine, it's a Puma 60 gallon upright. Had never heard of Puma, but it was cheap enough I thought why not give it a try. I've been pretty happy with this also.

Lugging around s generator and compressor to operate a plasma you're definatly serious about scrapping.

I had the Cut 70 plasma which imediatly developed a problem, trying to get help from the Chinese vedor - no English me no Cantonese was fruitless. Figured the thing was a write off at this point saw no harm in having a peek inside, what I found is a set of contact points than make the high frequencey one of the wires leading to the contacts was arcing to the cabinet, rerouting the wire fixed the problem.

Would I buy aniother, in a heart beat.

The 70 amp plasma would cut 3/4" thich steel all day long without so much as warming up. Best part is that the consumables are far cheaper than your Hypertherm.