How to Clean Oxy Acetylene Tips

Oxy acetylene torch

Proper cutting torch maintenance not only prolongs the life of your oxy acetylene torch, it allows for cleaner, more precise cutting. Dirty tips cause poor gas mixtures and improper gas flow, resulting in sputtering, loss of gas flow, inability to get a proper flame and improper cutting temperatures. Cleaning your oxy acetylene tips frequently reduces or eliminates most of these problems, not to mention extending the life of your torch tips and torch head.

Things You'll Need

• Medium crescent wrench
• Oxy acetylene torch tip cleaning tool
• Small wire brush

Instructions

1. Close all valves on the torch head and ensure that both the oxygen and acetylene bottles are turned off.

2. Open the acetylene valve on the torch head and pull the trigger to release any acetylene remaining in the line. When it stops hissing, release the trigger and close the acetylene valve. Repeat this step for the oxygen line.

3. Remove the tip, using your crescent wrench.

4. Brush the outer surface of the oxy acetylene torch tip, using your wire brush, to remove any slag or dirt from the outside of the tip. Also, clean around the connection end of tip to remove any deposits that may get inside the tip when changing it.

5. Clean the holes in the tip by running one of the tip cleaning brushes back and forth through the holes. The correct tip cleaning brush will differ depending on the tip being cleaned. You want to select a brush that fits snugly, but moves easily so that it cleans the sides of the holes but does not get stuck.

6. Blow out the tip by blowing hard through the connection end of the tip with your mouth.

7. Screw the tip back on your oxy acetylene torch head and tighten into place, using your crescent wrench.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean your cutting and welding tips frequently to extend their life.

• Never clean your tip while the torch is operational. This can result in injury or even death.

References

• The Beginners Guide To Oxy-Acetylene Welding Equipment
• Welding Guide