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acetylen torch set up question

Bernadette - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 7:03pm

I just bought a Prestolite Air acetelyn torch and am not sure how to start. I have been trained on Oxy-propane. The regulator on the torch only shows what is in the tank and not what the pressure is. I was told to keep the regulator screw knob rather loose to keep the flow pressure from being too strong.I know that once I get used to it, it will be fine,but I was wondering if anyone had any tips to get me started. I'm a bit afraid of it and don't want to be as that makes for a bit of danger.


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Rich Waugh's picture

Bernadette, With the

Rich Waugh - Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 9:45pm

Bernadette,

With the PrestoLite, you simply open the cylinder valve a quarter turn and then screw the regulator key/knob in until you hear gas flowing. Light the torch and bring up the pressure until you have a nicely formed flame with a well-defined inner cone of lighter blue that is about 1/3 the length of the outer flame or less. If the flame appears to be jumping away from the tip you have the pressure too high.

The PrestoLite is a naturally-aspirated torch so it requires gas velocity to induce air into the flow stream and mix it with the gas. Too little pressure and you don't get a good mix. The pressure you need will vary with the size of the tip you're using, too. You will quickly discover what works well for each tip.

The PrestoLite torch is a very safe unit so I wouldn't worry at all about trying different settings until you get what you like. The only safety caution is to make sure that all fittings are tight with no leaks (check with soapy water) and only open the cylinder vale about a quarter turn so that you can quickly shut it off if something bad like a cut hose should happen.


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Bernadette's picture

thanks for the tip on set up of prestolite torch

Bernadette - Friday, November 7, 2008 - 12:31pm

Hi,
The regulator is on and the key/knob is in the loosened position so now all I need to do it light it and adjust(srew it tighter) for desired flame? Does the loosened position mean that the regulator is closed meaning there is no pressure-gas flowing from tank to hose? I like to know how things work so I can feel comfortable. I know with my oxygen and propane that I adjust the regulators each time I use them, but they have regulators that have guages that tell me the pressure as well as how much is in the tanks.
thanks again.


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Rich Waugh's picture

That's right, Bernadette.

Rich Waugh - Friday, November 7, 2008 - 2:50pm

That's right, Bernadette. The regulator has a diaphragm or piston within it thatis acted upon by the key. When the key is all the way out (loose), it puts no pressure on the diaphragm/piston and the spring pressure keeps the valve closed and no gas flows. When you run in the key, it pushes on the diaphragm and partially overcomes the spring pressure, allowing gas to flow. The more you screw it in, the more gas flows.

In reality, it is somewhat more complicated than I described, since the purpose of the regulator is to provide a certain gas flow taking into account ambient pressure. All that happens behind the curtain, so to speak, so you just pay no attention nto the little man behind the curtain, as the great Oz said, and just deal with what affects you - the flow of gas to the torch.


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