I just purchased two medical oxygen concentrators that have been
modified for torch supply use… do any of you use them and what
should I know? The previous owner bought them for glass work, and
they didn’t work for him, but seems to think they would easily supply
enough oxygen for a Smith micro torch using LP. Seems they would
provide a safe oxygen supply for my soon to be home studio.
Rick Hamilton
They work fine-- I use one. They put out about 5 psig maximum
normally so use it without a regulator. Glass workers do use these
with the smaller glass torches but the larger ones require more
pressure.
jesse
Rick,
I have been using an oxygen concentrator for about two years with
propane.
I put a stock splitter from a welding supply that threaded right on
the concentrator brass fitting to run two smith torches. You turn on
the concentrator and leave the oxy knob cracked for a few minutes to
bleed out the atmospheric gases.
I do fabrication, repair, ect. just fine with this set up.
Richard in Denver
Now here is a question that I can answer.
Oxy concentrators are really easy to use. You will only need one of
them to run your Smith. I am assuming that you have a “standard”
unit that will output 5 liters/minute which will give you around
2-4psi (give or take I am not a scientist or expert here so I am
sure that the psi conversion from lpm is wrong, but you won’t blow
anything up)
I used to run my glass torch on a single concentrator and switch
over the hoses to my Hoke when I was soldering. I can’t imagine that
you would need to use both concentrators chained together for your
purposes - a glass person would do that if they were going to work
hard (pyrex) glass but I honestly don’t think that you need to go
that far. I don’t use one anymore since oxy is so cheap here in
Thailand that it seems almost insane to rent or purchase a
concentrator when I pay $2.50 for a full sized tank delivered.
You will not be using a regulator for the oxy side, so you just
attach the hose to the little nozzle with a ring clamp. And you use
the level knob for the concentrator to then regulate the oxy.
If you do want to chain them together then there are some good
instructions here: http://www.suncoastbeads.com/
The only other thing I can think to tell you is to watch the purity
light. This is more important when you are working with glass - I am
not sure what the effect is when you are working metals - Your
concentrators most likely run around 95% oxy purity and the light
will go yellow when this starts to degrade. Again - I’m not sure if
this is AS important for metal.
If you need any other help feel free to email me off-list.
Hope this helps
Cheers-
Carree