Incredible welds

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by phykell

I seem to recall that they'd invalidate your house insurance as well. The scariest thing about them is hearing how easily flashback can occur. If the tank becomes hot, it's time to vacate the immediate area

Acetylene is nasty.
It doesn't like anything, even itself, and this is why acetylene cylinders differ from regular cylinders.

[Fayshun]

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

Acetylene is nasty.

Yeah, it makes bananas go ripe.

[phykell]

Originally Posted by Fayshun

Yeah, it makes bananas go ripe.

???

[Jonny69]

It's fine these days. The bottles are foam filled and you load them up with flashback arresters and anti back-up valves. It used to scare me stiff because I know someone who got badly burned by it, but once I'd used it for a bit I became very comfortable with it.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by Jonny69

It's fine these days. The bottles are foam filled and you load them up with flashback arresters and anti back-up valves. It used to scare me stiff because I know someone who got badly burned by it, but once I'd used it for a bit I became very comfortable with it.

they maybe filled with foam. But you still have to sit them upright for 1hour before using. You don't want the liquid to come out, or you will go up in a ball of flames.

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by Jonny69

It's fine these days. The bottles are foam filled and you load them up with flashback arresters and anti back-up valves. It used to scare me stiff because I know someone who got badly burned by it, but once I'd used it for a bit I became very comfortable with it.

Foam? they were always filled with wire wool to prevent concentrations (read hotspots) building up in the cylinder.
I have to disagree with you about it being fine though.
It might be safer than it was, but Acetylene is not (and never will be) completely safe to handle and should be respected at all times regarding storage and use.

[phykell]

If the pressure's too great, it can spontaneously combust - it's very unstable.

[A Place of Light]

Originally Posted by phykell

If the pressure's too great, it can spontaneously combust - it's very unstable.

I work with hazardous materials. Not as much now as I used to, but still often enough and with some real nasties.
When my first instructor said to me "Acetylene doesn't like anything.....even itself" I believed him. After being the first on-site when an incident has occured I can confirm that he's right. Volatile doesn't even come close.

[Glaucus]

Originally Posted by A Place of Light

I work with hazardous materials. Not as much now as I used to, but still often enough and with some real nasties.
When my first instructor said to me "Acetylene doesn't like anything.....even itself" I believed him. After being the first on-site when an incident has occured I can confirm that he's right. Volatile doesn't even come close.

Yep needs to be respected but no need to fear it, unless your a fireman. Two things that make it silly.

1) is the sheer range 2.2%-85% acetylene to air ratio is flammable. compare that to propane 2.2%-9.9%
2) is if the bottle is left on it's side the liquid can drain out the honeycomb and be forced out the valve when opened. The expansions is something ridiculous. like 1 teaspoon gives over a meter cubed of gas or something along those lines, can't remember the exact amount. which is why you are meant to leave acetylene bottles upright for 1hour before use after any transportation.

[Fayshun]

Originally Posted by Fayshun

Yeah, it makes bananas go ripe.

Originally Posted by phykell

???

Bananas give off acetylene as they ripen, it speeds up the ripening process. That's why you hang bananas to stop the ripening too quickly (acetylene is heavier than air and sits in the bottom of the fruitbowl)