Oxy acetylene in the home workshop.

Some years ago, B&Q were selling Bernzomatic oxy-MAPP sets that gave a similar flame to oxy acetylene. I bought one and it got used very occasionally for freeing rusted nuts and bolts, silver soldering and brazing. B&Q stopped selling the oxygen, so the set became obsolete and useless. I sometimes miss having the capability and am considering buying an Oxyturbo 200 set that also uses disposable gas and oxygen.

Wondered if anyone has got one of these Oxyturbo sets and what they think of it.

Cheers

Hi Otley

I bought a set about 5 years ago the only problem was it used oxygen at a fast rate, as the bottles are throw away when empty they seem expensive. My answer to the problem which when I suggested it raised a few ( don't do that's ) was to buy a 25ltr bottle for about £70 of which £40 is a deposit on the bottle, I also bought a BOC regulator and then made an adapter to fit the pipe I have also done the same with the gas I now use a Camping gaz bottle of Butane. I can weld steel and silver solder with no problems. Hope this makes sense the miniature nozzles are medical needles with the point ground off which are colour coded for sizes.

Stan

I would say that for heating and brazing, but not welding, oxy-propane should be good enough. Mine is likely not really a large enough flame with only 5 litres/minute of oxygen available (about 88% O2, so not sure if it is 5l of oxygen or 5l of gas per minute).

My oxygen supply cost me less than a couple hundred about 3-4 years ago. Never runs out, no rental of anything. Twice the size would likely be far better than my 5l/m supply.

I suppose butane would give a hotter flame (more carbons and fewer hydrogens), so better still.

Hi Otley,

I've mentioned this before here but in case its helpful - I found O/A very useful when able to use it on a welding course at College but couldn't afford the expense and hassle of hiring bottles for home use. Instead I purchased a Bullfinch 404 which runs off a standard propane bottle and can handle small Sif-bronzing jobs and any silver soldering I might throw at it. I've found it very useful for small steel fabrications.

The Bullfinch is not the cheapest torch but is very well made and will likely see me out and the larger propane bottle I use is much cheaper than any 'disposable' bottle type of approach would be and brass brazing material (Sif-bronze) is considerably cheaper than silver solder. So a good investment over time I think.

Regards,

IanT