handful of fuel-gas equip ?'s

[Pogo]

1.) can you use an oxy bottle that has been on it's side immediately after setting it up straight?

2.) how does moisture affect my regs? i was outside meltin' and it started rainin'.... i put some bags over the regs to save them from the hard rain, but will moisture affect them somehow?

3.) how airtight are quick-connects? do you guys that use them have problems? do you even check?

4.)do you guys back your regs off and re-tune before opening up a new bottle? or just open slowly?

5.)bleed lines in between meltin' sessions?

I'd like as much response here as possible, as I've had differing opinions from my two local suppliers.... what do you guys know?

[Slimy-E]

yes bleed lines always-back off regs always- and you can use oxy bottles while they are on there side- other questions i dont know

[Din]

I've never had any issues using a tank that's just been on it's side. It's probably bad form, but my regulators are outside, uncovered, all the time, and have been for a few years now, and they stay constant. They freeze, get wet, ect. and they're fine. I always bleed my lines at the end of they day, but very seldom do I change the settings, if ever.
I suppose I haven't checked my quick disconnects, but I don't seem to have ever had any leaking issues with them.

[Icarus]

1.) can you use an oxy bottle that has been on it's side immediately after setting it up straight?

Yeah, that should be fine. That's acetylene that it's an issue with.



3.) how airtight are quick-connects? do you guys that use them have problems? do you even check?

They should be completely airtight to be used with fuel gases and oxygen. If they stay that way over time is another question of course. But I use them and I love em.


4.)do you guys back your regs off and re-tune before opening up a new bottle? or just open slowly?

I always back my T- handle out between changing tanks. The sudden rush of air can damage the diaphragm in your regulator if it's partially open.



5.)bleed lines in between meltin' sessions?

Occasionally I forget on the oxygen, but I always bleed my propane lines after I close up shop for the day.

[byron3]

Most of the glass blowers around here are super safe. I worked in the metal fabrication field for years. I spent years at shops that had their cutting torches on quick connects. When the helper got in the shop he would wheel out the tanks, hooked up the torch (sometimes bottles had been turned off the night before other nights not) and went to work. I have seen oxygen tanks laid on their sides and worked off of in the field. No damage was ever witnessed by me.

Now the manufacturer of most gauges recommend taking the keys out after a session and inserting at the beginning of a session. Turn the propane on first and set the pressure to work then open the oxygen (completely -> there is a an upper seal to keep gas from leaking past the valve stem), now set operating pressure.

If you want to check you quick connects pressurize your lines and submerge them in water. No...... I have seen sets that had condensation on them every morning for months and they still function fine.

Yes it is recommended you bleed lines between sessions.