Hot Max Torches VTK-MD - Manual (Page 7)

KDAR Company 6
Operation
WARNING
At this point the operator should be wear-
ing appropriate protective clothing such as
gloves and goggles.
Lighting the Torch
1. Open the acetylene control knob on the torch han-
dle just enough to let some gas flow.
2. Holding the striker close to the welding tip
squeeze it a few times to create the sparks re-
quired to light the acetylene.
Note: A oxy-acetylene torch should NEVER be lit
with oxygen present in the mixture.
Adjusting the Flame
1. If the acetylene is set too high the flame will be a
few inches away from the tip. Reduce the amount
of acetylene by turning the acetylene control knob
counter clockwise.
2. When the flame is about 8—10 inches long and
only has a small amount of black smoke; begin to
introduce oxygen by turning the oxygen control
knob clockwise.
3. As oxygen is added the flame will turn from a
yellow-orange to a whitish color and flame will
have three distinct cones (Figure 1). This is called
a carburizing flame and is not hot enough for
welding.
4. As oxygen is added to the mix the acetylene
feather will shrink and disappear into the cone
(Figure 2). This a neutral flame and is ideal for
welding.
5. If additional oxygen is added the cone will be-
come shorter and fuzzy (Figure 3). This is a oxi-
dizing flame and will cause breakdowns in the
material being welded and the weld itself.
Figure 1
Heat Envelope
Acetylene
Feather
Beginning
of Cone
Figure 2
Figure 3
Heat Envelope
Sharp,
Bright Cone
Short Heat Envelope
Short, Fuzzy
Cone
Once a neutral flame has been achieved the torch
is ready for welding.