Oxy acetylene welding, sometimes known as oxy fuel welding (OFW), is one of the oldest, and most common types of welding processes used today. The process isn’t as popular as it once was, but its versatility and heat characteristics continue to allow it to be the process of preference for thin metal fabrication.

With combustion temperatures reaching up to 3200°C, not only are oxy fuel setups capable of heating and fusing almost any type of metal, they’re also capable of effortlessly cutting through metal stock up to 30cm thick with the proper cutting attachment. Oxy welding also doesn’t require filler rods, allowing fabricators to keep their consumable costs down.

Suffice it to say, if you already have an oxy fuel welder setup and are looking to upgrade, now’s the perfect time to do it. If you’re crossing over from another process, however, and you’d like to know a bit more about what oxy fuel has to offer, now’s also a great time to get familiar it.

The All-Around Excellence of Oxy Acetylene Welding

Let’s be honest: when it comes to flexible, affordable welding processes and equipment, all encompassing oxy acetylene kits for welding, cutting, and brazing are the perfect alternative to MIG, TIG, and all other types of arc-based welding setups. Oxy welding doesn’t require the expensive welding machines, continuous power sources, or pricey rod and filler consumables that arc-based processes do, while still allowing you to turn out finished product with the same level of quality and control that oxy fuel has enjoyed for well over a century.

Even with the gradual shift away from oxy fuel as a mainstream industrial process, cost, convenience, and torch control are responsible for the widespread acceptance of portable oxy acetylene torch kits for more specialized activities, including:

· Customizing and restoring automobiles;

· Performing remote repairs to farm and construction equipment; and,

· Artisan and home workshops.

The availability of modern, caddy-sized oxygen and fuel gas bottles that are safer to restrain and transport have also helped to make oxy more appealing for a broader range of professional and hobby welders. Anyone who’s looking to transition to oxy fuel will quickly discover that the technical improvements that have been made in portable oxy acetylene equipment will also let you put those compact attributes to better use as well.

Oxy-Fuel Gives You More Flexibility Than Other Processes
You can expect a well equipped, all encompassing oxy acetylene kit to include the following equipment:

· A highly adjustable, heavy duty aluminium torch handle;

· A range of individual welding, cutting, and brazing tips;

· Australian Standard 5/8” UNF-threaded oxygen and fuel-gas regulators;

· Color-coded and flame resistant oxygen and fuel-gas hoses; and,

· An IP-rated carrying case.

A premium oxy torch kit will also be able to use either acetylene or LPG as a fuel-gas. This helps to make a solid, but flexible combination of equipment that lets you:

· Weld and cut an entire range of iron, aluminium, and magnesium alloys;

· Maintain greater control over your heat zone and bead size;

· Reduce the risk of unintended metal warping, distortion, or burn through;

· Work either indoors or outdoors, from any position, and under any conditions; and,

· Freely decide whether or not the use of filler rod is necessary.

These are benefits that simply aren’t possible with other welding processes. And for absolute safety, a top quality portable oxy acetylene torch kit will also include torch-end and regulator-end flashback arrestors that conform to Australian Standard (AS) 4603 requirements for downstream thermal cut offs.

Oxy-Fuel Torch Tips for Any Welding or Cutting Process

When weighing all the advantages that investing in a new acetylene set for sale can bring, the biggest difference comes down to the tips. Oxy fuel tips come in a wider range of head styles, lengths, and angles than ever, and there are literally hundreds of tips available for any heating or fusing process that you can think of.

Regardless of whether you’re involved with cutting, brazing, welding, or gouging, an oxy acetylene set gives you the opportunity to change tips whenever you need. Ensuring that you’re selecting the right tips is important, however, and there are 3 things that you need to consider with regard to them:

· Tip seating type. Most oxy acetylene torch kit manufacturers have their own unique tip seating style, and using incompatible tips and torches can result in dangerous gas leaks. Ideally, you want to stick with torch manufacturers that have the most extensive tip ranges.

· Metal thickness. Tip sizes are directly related to the thickness of the metals you’re working on. To avoid wasting fuel gas, generating excess heat or sparks, or potentially ruining the working piece, your tip sizes always need to match to the working metal’s thickness.

· Fuel gas. Because the burn rates and flame temperatures vary between fuel gases, you only want to use tips that are designed specifically for the type of fuel you’re using. Seating a low burn rate tip for use with a high burn rate fuel can result in a backfire, so they need to be paired appropriately.

Remember to Stay Safe When You’re Oxy Welding

For all of oxy fuel’s merits, it’s important to remember that choosing the right oxy acetylene set for sale is as much about safety as it is about performance. That’s because the high temperatures and volatile gases that gives oxy fuel welding its tremendous versatility can be explosive when incorrectly combined.

In addition to making certain that your oxygen and fuel-gas valve adjustments are correct and flashback arrestors properly fitted, there’s still a core of safety measures that need to be adhered to every time an acetylene torch set is used. Those measures include:

· Ensuring that the torch, oxygen and fuel cylinder, and regulator connections are tight;

· Making sure that the size and type of the torch tip are correct for the equipment, and the fuel gas being used; and,

· Thoroughly purging all gas hoses before and after every use.

These simple safety measures, together with the use of proper personal protection equipment (PPE), will allow you look forward to enjoying decades of safe service with your portable oxy acetylene set and equipment when you make the transition.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, there’s no mistaking the fact that oxy fuel welding is capable of producing the exact same results as an arc-based welder, but at a fraction of the cost. Experienced MIG and TIG welders will instantly recognize how much more flexible oxy acetylene is, and beginners will appreciate how much quicker they’ll be able to turn out great work.

Only all encompassing oxy acetylene kits allow you this degree of control over both the process and the product. If you’re thinking about upgrading your old equipment or looking for something that’s easier to transport and set up than what you already have, a portable oxy kit is the only way to go.