Welding is a process that is used for various applications, and knowing the art of welding yourself will make your life much easier and comfortable.
You can do a variety of DIY tasks related to different trades, which will eventually save you a lot of money and resources.
Although welding is a difficult job and is not made for everyone, and needs years of experience and technical expertise to perform a process but Oxy-Acetylene is a welding process that is not only easy to learn but also a cost-effective welding method.
What is Oxy Acetylene Welding?
Oxy Acetylene welding is also referred to as Oxy-fuel welding and gas welding. It is a type of welding process which involves liquid gas fuel to weld the materials. It is one of the oldest techniques used for welding and even used nowadays for many applications.
The oxy acetylene welding typically works with a filler material, which is selected based on the type of material that needs to be weld.
The welding is achieved when the flame produced by the fuel gases reaches to a temperature where the welding metals produce a collective pool of molten metal combined with the filler material placed along with the joining place.
- Benefits
Oxy Acetylene welding is one of the simplest and easy to learn the process of welding. It does not require complex techniques, making it easy to operate.
It does not require you to have costly equipment to make it useful, and the lightweight design makes it completely portable.
It has the ability to produce less intensity and as well as high-intensity flames making it useful for almost all kinds of metals.
It does not require much maintenance and gives better control to the welder, making it easy to achieve quality and efficiency.
- Uses
Many modern techniques and methods are now introduced, but the use of oxy acetylene is still useful for many purposes.
This welding technique is largely used for joining metals in the automotive, glass, and aircraft industries. It is also widely used for metal fabrication, repairing work, pre-heating, brazing, soldering, bending and straightening, rust removing, etc.
Plus, it is also used where there is no source of electricity power supply. In short, it has versatile uses that cannot be counted.
Equipment and Tools Required For Welding
The best thing about this welding technique is that it does not require many appliances and are not costly.
- Cylinders
To perform Oxy Acetylene welding, you mainly need one cylinder for the oxygen and a second one for fuel gas. The flame is produced by mixing the gases together with the right set of proportions. You may need one more cylinder for mixing the gases together.
- Pressure Regulators
The second most important thing you need is the regulators. It is used to regulate the volume flow of gases as per the requirements of the user.
Usually, the regulators have two integrated settings; the first is known as the fix-pressure setting, which ensures that constant gas is supplied at all times. The other setting is known as the variable setting method, which varies from time to time.
The regulators show you the cylinder pressure and as well as hose pressure through the pressure meters. It helps you in determining and controlling the required pressure.
- Flexible Gas Hoses
When dealing with the gas, you need to have gas hoses at all times. When using it for welding, special gas hoses should be purchased, which are specifically designed for use at welding processes. They are usually color coated to help you in identifying the oxygen and the fuel gas hose.
- Welding Torch
The most essential tool which is required is the welding torch. A welding torch is a thing that the welder holds to perform the process.
It is connected by the gas hoses and has cohesive valve knobs to regulate the intensity of the flame. For added safety, it may also have no oxygen-blast trigger added with the torch.
Fuel Gases
As you know that the Oxy Acetylene works when the fuel gas is combined with oxygen. The fuel gas may vary on the basis of the heat intensity required for the welding.
The most common gas used along with the oxygen in oxyfuel gas welding is acetylene. However, the other gases which can be used for oxyfuel gas welding are Hydrogen, propane, gasoline, and other similar fuel gases. Liquefied Petroleum Gas is also feasible to be used as a fuel for the Oxy Acetylene welding process.
Flame Types
When using the Oxy Acetylene welding technique, you can produce three distinct types of flames. Each type of flame is then used for a specific purpose.
The most common flame type used for welding is known as the Neutral flame, which is achieved when the oxygen and the fuel gas are mixed in equal proportion.
The second type of flame is known as the Oxidizing flame, which is achieved when the proportion of oxygen is increased, and the third type is the Carburizing flame, which is achieved by reducing the ratio of oxygen gas.
It mainly depends on the kinds of metal you are going to weld and the intensity of the temperature required for the welding process.
Safety
Welding is complicated and involves severe health risks. You need complete focus and attention while performing the process; a slight change of mind can result in huge damage.
However, the probability of risks and hazards can be minimized by following standard safety protocols and procedures.
Safety should always be a priority, and you should always take care of it first before performing any type of welding. In the case of Oxy Acetylene welding, you need to be more careful about it as you are dealing with the gas.
Always try to work in an open environment, inspect all parts for leaks, and always wear personal protective equipment. Store the cylinders separately in an upright position and keep them far from the flammable things.
Check the valves before and after the process to check if they are adequately closed or not and keep a fire extinguisher in case of emergency.
Gas welding is a skill and fun if done properly by following the safety protocols and procedure. You can achieve a perfect weld in no time if done appropriately, and by going through this article, you must have got an idea of what to do and what not to do in the oxy acetylene welding process.
Just keep an eye on the rules and procedure, and you are good to go with gas welding.