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setup beginner

Setting Up a Propane and Oxygen-Fed Torch

The torch has arrived, the concentrator and propane too. Now I have to assemble everything, and honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing. Let’s do this.

Setting Up a Propane and Oxygen-Fed Torch

Preparation

This is one of the most critical parts of the entire workshop setup, because if we do it wrong, things can end very badly.

We are working with flammable elements and the danger is obvious, so we will check everything five times and make sure everything is installed properly.

The first step is researching what needs to be assembled and what needs to be bought, always prioritizing safety. For this, I had to watch several videos and ask questions on different forums. Thanks to everyone involved in preventing my workshop from exploding. ^_^

I also want to point out that part of the difficulty came from the fact that the Nortel Mega Minor is much more common in the US market than in Europe, and the fittings and measurements here are slightly different.

Eventually, I found two possible solutions:

  1. Import the hoses from the US (Amazon).
  2. Buy everything from a specialized lampworking store. In my case: Artyco.

This is the diagram of my setup:

torch-propan-con.png

Propane Line

  1. Propane tank.
  2. 0 - 300 mbar regulator with pressure gauge
    1. Gas bottle coupling: 20-090-06, 02-000-53, 04-100-03
    2. Reducer coupling with external thread S-195 - 3/8 buiten x 3/8 links buiten
  3. Connector.
  4. 6.3mm x 13mm propane hose ISO 3821
  5. 1/4 torch connector. 02-000-58 and 04-002-00

Oxygen Line

  1. Philips Respironics EverFlo oxygen concentrator.
  2. Tricoclair® AL medical hose | PVC hose with layers | 6mm x 12mm
  3. T connector 3 x 6 mm
  4. 6mm x 13mm oxygen hose ISO 3821
  5. 1/4 torch connector. 02-000-58 and 04-002-00

We will try to keep the oxygen line as short as possible in order to maximize airflow.

The Nortel Mega Minor is a surface-mix torch, meaning that the gas and oxygen are not mixed inside the torch itself. Instead, propane enters through one channel and oxygen through another, and the mixture happens outside the torch, at the tip. Because of this design, we do not need to add a flashback arrestor to the torch. We also do not need one on the oxygen line because we are using an oxygen concentrator instead of a pressurized oxygen tank. Otherwise, a flashback arrestor would indeed be necessary.

On the other hand, every connection is secured with a hose clamp.

To check for leaks, we can make a simple soap-and-water solution and apply it to the joints. If bubbles appear, it means there is a leak and that connection must be checked again.