Q: If the Petrogen Torch has been around for 33 years, why haven’t I heard about it?
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A: We have a distribution challenge. Cutting torches are sold almost exclusively by welding stores. Welding stores are mostly owned by gas companies who rely on selling gases for their greatest profits. They would lose the cutting gas business forever if they sold our torch. They do not mind selling propane torches because oxygen consumption increases 30%. Petrogen’s oxygen consumption is the same as acetylene.
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Q: Why can’t you weld with the Petrogen Torch?
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A: Welding means melting two pieces together. Melting requires a neutral flame, neither oxidizing nor carburizing. Gasoline burns only in an oxidizing mode and cannot weld. When the steel melts, it burns. Acetylene is the only gas that burns neutral and can weld.
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Q: Isn’t gasoline dangerous and will it "explode"?
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A: Gasoline will never explode. Liquid gasoline cannot even burn. Gasoline vapors can burn, but only in a narrow range of 1.7% to 6% in air. Gasoline is much more stable than any other compressed gas cutting fuel.
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Q: What makes the tips last so long?
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A: Our tips resist melting because they run cool. When the gasoline evaporates inside the tip, the action is like a refrigerator. The larger the tip, the cooler it runs. Another reason for long tip life is that all the slag is oxidized. There is no molten steel to surround the tip and melt it.
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Q: I heard it is hard to light. Is this true?
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A: Not true. The technique is different from acetylene and propane, but not difficult.
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Q: Why would I change out my acetylene/propylene that is working just fine for me?
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A: Because you will start saving money on fuel (90% on acetylene; 40% on propane); save money on oxygen (30% on propane); and you will cut faster (twice as fast in the 2-inch range).
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Q: Can you cut stainless steel or cast iron with the Petrogen Torch?
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A: The Petrogen Torch will melt stainless steel, but because stainless does not oxidize (non-ferrous material), proper ignition cannot be achieved. This is true of all oxy-fuels (acetylene, propylene, propane, etc.). Petrogen systems can cut many grades of cast iron with excellent results. The quality of the cut is relative to the amount of iron in the material. The higher the iron content, the closer the cast iron will cut to regular steel. Some grades of cast iron have so little iron content that ignition is not possible.
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Q: What is the Petrogen Warranty?
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A: Lifetime for materials and workmanship.
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Q: What allows the Petrogen Torch to cut through layers and air gaps?
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A: Two things: First: the fully oxidizing flame burns ALL the iron in the steel, adding to the heat (instead of acetylene only melting 30% of the iron - which absorbs heat). Second: Gasoline burns faster than other fuels, releasing more BTU's. So many BTUs that the secondary flame has enough heat to continue the cutting action deep into the steel.
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Q: How much gasoline is equivalent to other fuels? Oxygen use?
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A: All hydrocarbon fuels have 21,000 BTU’s per pound. One gallon of gasoline has the same BTU content as 100 cubic feet of acetylene. Gasoline uses the same amount of oxygen per cut as acetylene. (30% less oxygen than propane.)
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Q: Can’t I just retrofit my current torch set up?
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A: No. All equipment is different, specifically designed for liquid fuel.
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Q: What kind of gas is recommended for use in the Petrogen Torch?
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A: Any gasoline will work. Use regular because it’s cheaper and works perfectly. If short of gas, Coleman fuel and aviation gas work extremely well. You can also use ethanol up to E-85; it will cut a little less perfectly, but the quality seems acceptable. Use STABIL fuel additive for longer shelf life.
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Q: What happens if you sever a hose? Won’t gasoline spray everywhere?
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A: No. The fast flow check valve in the tank outlet valve will snap shut. Spillage is about a tablespoon.
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Q: Is the Petrogen Oxy-Gasoline Cutting Torch OSHA approved?
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A: OSHA does not approve or disapprove specific pieces of equipment. The only OSHA requirement for welding/cutting torches is that they be listed by UL or Factory Mutual. We are listed by UL and therefore comply with OSHA.
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Q: Who is currently using the Petrogen Torch?
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A: Thousands of people world-wide in every industry and service including fire/rescue, military, demolition, construction, fabrication, mining--in short wherever steel needs to be cut efficiently and safely.
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Q: What temperature does the Petrogen Torch burn at?
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A: Oxy-propane burns at 4900F; oxy-gasoline at 5200F; oxy-acetylene at 5600F. Temperature is not as important as rate of BTU release. Gasoline releases its BTU’s faster than any other cutting fuel, heating the steel to its 2000F melting point faster than the other fuels.
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Q: Does the size of the gas tank limit how much steel I can cut per hour?
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A: One quart of gasoline will cut steel for 1 hour. One gallon for 4 hours; 2.5 gallons for 10 hours. So a full 2.5-gallon Petrogen tank will cut steel for 10 hours.
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Q: What happens if the tank is caught in a fire?
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A: The US Navy had the same question and actually built a simulated shipboard fire to test that very situation. While the fire burned, the gasoline inside the tank boiled and vaporized, automatically opening the pressure relief valve and allowing gasoline vapors to join the external fire. When the fire was extinguished, the tank cooled, and there was still a gallon of gasoline inside the tank.
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Q: Is the Petrogen torch made is China?
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A: No. There is an oxy-gasoline system made in China, but greatly inferior technologically. The torch is a simple propane torch, and the tip is designed to emit gasoline still in liquid form. All the evaporation takes place outside the tip prior to burning. Their tank is nowhere near the quality of the Petrogen ASME coded tank.
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Q: Where is Petrogen located?
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A: We are in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about 1-1/2 hours' drive south of Denver.
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Q: What is the advantage of using Petrogen over using Plasma?
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A: Up to about 3/8 inch of steel, plasma does a good job and is reasonably priced. Thicker than 3/8, the cost of plasma equipment goes up astronomically. Portability becomes more difficult and finally impossible. You always get a good cut with plasma, but cost and portability quickly become major problems.
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Q: Can the Petrogen Torch cut under water? How deep?
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A: All our torches can cut underwater with the addition of our 3-piece shroud assembly and use of our underwater cutting tips. Reported depth is 150 feet. Theoretical depth is 600 feet.
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