Diane,
You may be in violation of certain city regulations about acetylene.
Each city has its own set of rules. My rules are different than
yours.
Here’s what to do. Go to a pay phone somewhere. Don’t call from a
phone that can be traced. Call the Fire Marshal of your city. Tell
them you are using the acetylene in your home. Do not tell them who
you and where you are. If they know where you are, they may come a
knocking on your door. Ask them about acetylene. They may know
nothing. You might be able to find this online, but I doubt
it.Commercial buildings pull permits for inspection of any
combustible fuel. You may be in a code violation in your home. I
myself do not like anyone telling me what to do in my own home. Does
it sound like I have issues with inspectors here? And no, I do not
own a gun. Part of the problem we face is that we are such a small
community (jewelry making), inspector know very little about what is
allowed in residential property.
If you find out that you are in violation and do nothing you are
talking your chances about consequences. A fire could cause you a
world of grief.
The fire marshal would now inspect a fire for cause. If you are in
violation of the fire code and the cause of a fire, your insurance
company may deny coverage. This is a real bad situation. I don’t have
experience with any fire to give an example. I have just never had
any incident which is a good track record. I have at one time set
myself on fire. But that is another story!
This is one of the reason I use propane. I do not violate any fire
code (in my city) if the propane tank is under one pound in volume. A
refillable camper or barbeque propane tank is in violation. It’s too
big. The one pound disposable tank surprisingly last a long time and
only costs approximately three to four dollars. I keep spares around
when I run out. A plumbers propane torch that screws to the top of
the tank is probably not going to work well enough for fine soldering
work. Nor will map gas alone. You need to add an oxygen tank and use
a two hose torch. This would allow you to even cast if you choose.
Oxygen tanks, because people use medical products, are not the same
as the combustible gases. You have to chain the tanks to a tank caddy
or the wall and use flashback arresters on both hose lines. This, in
my town and many cities in the USA, will pass fire inspection and be
code. I say again, your city or town is probably different. Find out
if you can.
If you are in code, insurance is not a big problem. I had business
insurance and home owners insurance when my shop was in my basement.
Double coverage.
Never a problem, just double safe for me and my family.
Another drawback to acetylene is the bright flame. Welders wear dark
safety goggles for eye protection. You don’t need dark glasses with
propane & oxygen torches unless you cast. The people who use
acetylene alone or with oxygen may be damaging their eyes just
finding the right flame. Squinting with the flame is just not good
enough. The soot created is also in my opinion too dirty. A
traditional jewelers workshop is natural gas and oxygen which gives
the ideal torch, but many cities do not supply enough pressure for a
flashback arrester to go on the line.
Good luck,
Todd Hawkinson