Which Regulator for Propane?

Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:23 pm

Well, this is embarrassing. I bought a gas outfit a year ago, and it sat while I waited to find cheap tanks. I finally gave up and bought new ones. I built a cart for propane and oxygen, thinking I had bought a propane outfit plus additional stuff for acetylene. In reality, it turns out I bought an acetylene outfit with some additional stuff for propane.

Now I have to get a propane regulator.

The outfit came with Victor ESS42 regulators, so I looked for an ESS42 propane regulator. I found two flavors: 150 psi and 60 psi. I have no idea which one is right for me. I'm just a hobbyist with a 125-c.f. oxygen tank and a barbecue tank for propane.

A little help?

Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:15 pm

Now I'm reading I can use the acetylene regulator after all. I connected it to the tank with an adaptor.

I have a Victor CA2460 torch body. Looking to see what kind of propane stuff I need on the end of it.

Sadly, a mouse made a home in the coiled hose before I took it out of the box, so now it smells like infected mouse crotch.

DavidR8 · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:31 pm

Chips O'Toole wrote:Now I'm reading I can use the acetylene regulator after all. I connected it to the tank with an adaptor.

I have a Victor CA2460 torch body. Looking to see what kind of propane stuff I need on the end of it.

Sadly, a mouse made a home in the coiled hose before I took it out of the box, so now it smells like infected mouse crotch.

Hi Chips, I'm in the midst of doing the same thing and have the same torch.
I bought a propane specific tip for the CA2460, a GPN-1 if my memory serves me.

Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:35 pm

Help! I can't figure out what size heating tip I need. The acetylene tip included with the kit is size 8.

I want to be able to bend stuff and heat cast iron parts prior to welding. Right now, I have a 15"-wide piece of 1/4" plate, and I want to heat it red hot so my finger brake will bend it.

DavidR8 · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:38 pm

Chips O'Toole wrote:Help! I can't figure out what size heating tip I need. The acetylene tip included with the kit is size 8.

I want to be able to bend stuff and heat cast iron parts prior to welding. Right now, I have a 15"-wide piece of 1/4" plate, and I want to heat it red hot so my finger brake will bend it.

This is a propane compatible #8
https://weldfabulous.com/victor-0323-03 ... gle-stage/

That said, have you tried the one you have?

Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:43 pm

Thanks. Not cheap, is it?

I have not tried it. The tip I have is for acetylene, and I have no idea whether it will do propane.

Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:44 pm

Thanks. Not cheap, is it?

I have not tried it. The tip I have is for acetylene, and I have no idea whether it will do propane.

DavidR8 · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:49 pm

Definitely not cheap.
I priced out what it would cost to get the "proper" propane tips for my torches and I was looking at near $500. That's a heck of a lot of acetylene!!!

Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 6:56 pm

Chinese tip is $40.

I am looking around, and I see a guy claiming the only difference between acetylene and propane heating tips is a little rim that protects the propane flame. Heck, I can thread an acetylene tip and make that.

Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:40 pm

Tried the acetylene tip. Does this look right?

I read you can clamp a piece of metal around it to shield the flame for propane.

Guess I'm an expert now. If any of you kids need tutoring, I am here to help.

: 09 22 20 acetylene heating tip running propane unmodified small.jpg (196.64 KiB) Viewed 3012 times

DavidR8 · Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:00 pm

Chips O'Toole wrote:Tried the acetylene tip. Does this look right?

I read you can clamp a piece of metal around it to shield the flame for propane.

Guess I'm an expert now. If any of you kids need tutoring, I am here to help.

09 22 20 acetylene heating tip running propane unmodified small.jpg

That’s looking like a flame alright.
Is that with o2?

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Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 21, 2020 10:28 pm

That was with O2. Not sure what a heating flame should be like. I tried to get a nice blue flame that looked intense and didn't flap around too much.

DavidR8 · Tue Sep 22, 2020 1:04 pm

Looks good to me!
I have to get a refill on my propane. Maybe I can get that done today and give it a go. I have a #10 heating head.

Chips O'Toole · Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:56 pm

I'm going to try to char a steak with it.

Poland308 · Thu Sep 24, 2020 8:41 pm

For heating you have two options. Blue and orange. There’s a technical term. Carbarizing ??? Can’t remember. Orange is a lower heat and won’t impart carbon to the metal. Blue is hotter and may potentially add carbon to your metal if you get it hot enough. I may be backwards on the carbon point but Know im right about the temp.

Chips O'Toole · Sun Sep 27, 2020 5:22 pm

I fired up the acetylene rosebud today, and I used it to bend 1/2" steel tabs on a middle buster. I had no problems with it, which makes me wonder if something is wrong.

: 09 27 20 middle buster with tabs bent using propane torch small.jpg (161.59 KiB) Viewed 2794 times

DavidR8 · Sun Sep 27, 2020 6:20 pm

Was it galvanized?

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Chips O'Toole · Mon Sep 28, 2020 1:36 pm

I don't know. It was powder coated.