Oxygen cutting involves adding oxygen to a cutting gas to increase the heat and fine-tune the flame for desired effects. It is a popular method for cutting and welding metal structures where electrical power is not available. Oxygen also saves gas and makes the flame burn hotter. The oxygen cutting torch is adjusted by regulating the gas, adding oxygen, and adjusting the oxygen cutoff valve to clean the cut path.
Oxygen cutting is the practice of introducing oxygen to raise the heating temperature of a cutting gas, such as acetylene. By introducing oxygen into the flame through the cutting torch head, the heat is increased and the operator is able to fine-tune the cutting flame to produce the desired effect. Oxygen cutting also uses compressed oxygen to blow liquid metal out of the path of the cut.
Oxygen acetylene cutting and welding is a popular method for repairing and creating metal structures where electrical power is not available. The practice of cutting with oxygen, or oxyacetylene as it is commonly called, makes cutting thick steel an easy task on almost any job site. Most job sites around the world have at least one oxygen acetylene cutting system on site.
Adding oxygen to any flame allows the flame to burn hotter. Just like blowing on a bonfire to cause material to burn, introducing oxygen to any fuel gas will raise the temperature at which it burns. Often, propane is used in a cutting torch instead of the more expensive acetylene. This is in part due to the ability of oxygen to create a hotter flame with propane which allows it to cut through metal.
Oxygen cutting also saves gas. The amount of gas used to create a cutting flame is less than half the amount of oxygen used. The acetylene is only used to light a basic fire at the torch head and the oxygen is used to regulate the heat level at the flame tip. The flame is adjusted from a dull orange to a bright blue by adding oxygen to the gas mixture. When using the system for gas welding, oxygen is added until a long flame becomes a short, concentrated fire.
When adjusting the oxygen cutting torch, the oxygen is adjusted in two ways. The gas is ignited and regulated until there is no more black smoke rising from the flame. Oxygen is then added to the flame until the flame burns a bright blue, meaning the temperature is at its highest. Finally, the oxygen cutoff valve is adjusted until the flame turns a brief bright blue color and the flame doesn’t change much when the oxygen lever is depressed. This creates a loud sound that cleans the cut path of any molten metal residue.
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