I've been running on Oxy/MAPP torches for a few years and looking to upgrade. What do you veteran gunsmiths use around the shop for sweating on sight bases and the odd bit of silver brazing? Also why do you choose the use that combo? Thanks in advance gents
Best fuel/air combo for Gunsmithing?
- Thread starter Rebelson
- Start date
- Location
- North-central Saskatchewan
I have an oxy-acetylene kit, and I use it a lot. But I would have to say that unless you are doing high temp brazing/silver brazing or welding you can get some pretty impressive heat by using two propane torches. If you have one propped up so that it is directing the flame against the side of the part that is hard to reach with your handheld torch, you can get much hotter, much quicker. Obviously you need to be careful of fire hazards when doing this.
Another thing to consider, oxy-propane is much cheaper to run than oxy-acetylene, but you can't weld with it.
Oxy-acetylene welding is sort of a poor man's TIG. It was the last thing I was thinking of when I got my setup, but ended up being easier than I expected. It's very nice to be able to use something other than my Can Tire MIG welder when the part is going to be blued. Much easier to get the bluing to look good.
Another thing to consider, oxy-propane is much cheaper to run than oxy-acetylene, but you can't weld with it.
Oxy-acetylene welding is sort of a poor man's TIG. It was the last thing I was thinking of when I got my setup, but ended up being easier than I expected. It's very nice to be able to use something other than my Can Tire MIG welder when the part is going to be blued. Much easier to get the bluing to look good.
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I bought mine last year (O/A rig) - $900 from air liquide, 2 small refillable tanks, tote, torches ... everything needed (the igniter sucked). If you go the O/A route do some homework, I found out the slightly less prices princess auto rigs bottles were not refillable (either that or AL would not refill them) "
Go to a proper gas supplier, get some advise ~ unless you already know.
Best purchase I made only next to my bandsaw ... gives you sooooooooo many more options. Making longrifles I do a lot of bending, hammers, trigger guards, butt plates, name it. O/A lets you put the heat exactly where you want it and bend without heating the whole part just to have it bend at the thinnest cross section ~ the extra heat is also very handy soldering long ribs to really heavy barrels. You can also build up brass, German steel ~ and with a bit of work cast iron parts. Which you do a lot of to fix casting voids.
You do need the extra heat to harden a frizzen - can't get it hot enough with MAPP.... Then of course you also have the ability to solder or braze anything you will come across.
So extrememly versetile (and fast) - OH! almost forgot ... you can weld and cut with it as well!!!
And yes, I also still use propane and MAPP/turbo torch when appropriate.....
- Location
- North-central Saskatchewan
Cutting gets to higher heat by adding the oxygen jet. Once the steel is burning it's apparently possible to completely shut off the fuel and keep cutting. I've never tried it, that's just what I was taught. Also haven't tried welding with oxy-propane. Just what I've been told by people smarter than me.
Air Liquide - They had to be filled when I bought them - don't think it was more than $50 or so - have not had to have them refilled yet. (remember this is a small rig like you would see an HVAC guy lugging about)
You absolutely can. I welded a couple chunks of (cold/hot rolled) steel ... poorly, been 35 years since I tried (high school metal shop)
