Oxygen-gasoline torches have been found to perform very well and cut faster than oxygen-acetylene/propane torches. They have been around for decades. They run on a several types of liquid fuel (most commonly gasoline) and oxygen. The fuel is delivered to the torch through hoses from a pressurized gas tank (hand pumped) and a cylinder of oxygen.
The fuel tank is pressurized by a built-in hand pump. Use only fresh fuel and flush the lines if liquid fuel is going to sit in the lines for even a few days. White gas or camp fuel is cleaner and lasts longer.
The fuel and oxygen are combined in a mixer in the head of the torch. The fuel mixture travels to the tip of the torch, where it is lit. After a few seconds of heating, the tip of the torch becomes hot enough to vaporize the gasoline in the tip. Unlike acetylene and propane, you purposely hold the flame tip against the metal to heat the tip. The rapid expansion results in a high-velocity stream of highly combustible oxygen/ gas vapor that fuels the cutting flame of the torch.
Vaporization of the fuel in the tip is an endothermic process that reduces overheating of the tip and extends its life. In this way, this torch is safer because the fuel is liquid all the way to the tip, making a flashback impossible. The torch doesn’t come with a flashback arrestor on the fuel line.
Gasoline vapors, like propane, are heavier than air. Vapors will settle to the ground and flow similar to a liquid. This is why gasoline vapors tend to find their way into drains, sewer lines, basements, and other low spots. Stay alert and monitor; keep the area ventilated.
1 To light this torch, turn the fuel valve and the oxygen valve both halfway on, and light the mist. Once lit, place the tip directly on the work piece. (Photos by author.)
2 Build pressure to deliver the fuel by pumping the black knob handle to the pressure corresponding to the installed tip according to a tip chart.
Gasoline is more efficient than equal amounts of acetylene (2U gallons gasoline = 250 cubic feet acetylene). It is also less expensive and cuts thicker metal. Cutting through rust, debris, stainless steel, concrete-caked rebar, some exotic metals, and across air gaps is not a problem, whereas an oxygen- acetylene/propane torch does not do as well in the same situations. There are even high-heat tips that allow it to burn several kinds of liquid fuels, including diesel, biodiesel, kerosene, and military jet propellant (JP) 8, 5, and 24.
LIGHTING AND CUTTING
The liquid fuel mist created by the mixing in the tip and pressure from the oxygen can be hard to ignite. Sometimes your striker will become wet with gasoline, making sparks impossible. Hold the striker a bit off to the side of the mist to ignite.
To light this torch, turn the fuel valve and the oxygen valve both halfway on, and light the mist. Once lit, place the tip directly on the work piece, something you should not do with an acetylene or a propane torch. Do this to heat the tip to help vaporize the liquid fuel. As the tip heats the flame, quality will improve. If needed, slowly add fuel to develop an orange star pattern flaring from the tip 2 to 3 inches round. As the tip is against the work piece, it should begin to reach kindling temperature. Readjust (only using the fuel valve) as needed to produce a dark blue inner flame of about ¼ inch long. Better too much fuel than too much oxygen. Once properly adjusted, this flame will sound loud and aggressive. If this torch doesn’t light and adjust