Low cost manifolds (DIY)

[Mr. Wonka]

Hi Folks.

In the past people have asked how we set up the manifolds under all of our benches. Below is a diagram for low cost manifolds (mainly parts from Lowes or Home Depot) in which you could just cut a hose anywhere and insert these in with a couple of hose clamps.

I hope this helps some of you!

Tom

BTW- The propane and oxygen fittings (that the regulators plug into) are available through your gas supplier.

http://users.csonline.net/glass/manifold.jpg

[Icarus]

I wish I could rep you for this, but I gotta spread it around some more. However, this is definitely a knowledge rep worthy post.

[Mecha]

Hey, that's how I built my manifold. Easy peazy and it allows me to have shut off valves for my hand torches.

[Forche]

I built mine like this too but had troubles finding the npt to oxy and npt to prop parts. Where do you guys get em?

[Emmett's Glass]

I built mine like this too but had troubles finding the npt to oxy and npt to prop parts. Where do you guys get em?

Try the welding shop, if not try doing a search for western enterprises.

I have a similar system but I have quick connects at the end of everything and don't have the shutoff valves.
E

[Greymatter Glass]

The gas/oxygen parts are called "B" fittings.

You'd probably want a Western Enterprise P/N (#xx) (also Radnor):

#33 - 1/4 NPT to B LH (fuel gas)
#32 - 1/4 NPT to R RH (Oxygen)

These are listed in the Western Enterprises and Radnor catalogs under Fittings / A,B,C,D / REGULATOR OUTLET BUSHINGS

You can get them from any welding or pipe fitting supplier that sells welding fittings.

They shouldn't be more than a buck or two each.

[daveabr]

we carry all those western parts


http://www.dichroicimagery.com/index.php?cPath=431_23

[Mecha]

Oh oh,

totally unrelated, but do you happen to carry the hose barb fitting for the air inlet on Herbert Arnolds? I need one. It is just like the fitting on the torch end of the HA regulator except the threads are reversed.

Please say you have one.

[Mr. Wonka]

I don't use B fittings on the ends. I purchased the fittings that mimic your gas bottles so you can screw a regulator directly into the manifold.

During AGI when we have 20 torches on one line alone, I use a main reg at the tank and charge the line to 60 or 80 pounds. Individual work stations can use the regs on the manifold to set any pressure they want.

I forgot the name of the regulator fittings, but if you tell your gas company what you want to do they will get you what you need.

Tom

[Forche]

Wow guess i didn't really look that hard then. Thanks for the replys- the welding shops didn't carry em so I had to make a couple with saws and welding - fun fun fun. Then I see there a buck from ABR :o:

[daveabr]

We don't have any actual "Herbie" parts from Arnold, but I think the air hose is a 1/4" barb.

[Mecha]

Nope.

It is metric, and it is a lot bigger than 1/4inch.

Too bad. Guess I have to order one from Germany.

[daveabr]

The gas ones are, but the barb for the air hose, which is measured by it's id, is for sure 1/4" I even just put a tape measure to one to be sure.

If you are talking about the hose barb for the oxy, it's much bigger

[Mecha]

I don't think we are talking about the same thing here. My air intake (lower one, right hand side when viewed from behind the torch) is way bigger than my oxy intake. Maybe it is different on the new torches but I don't see why it would be.

Are you mixing the air and the oxy intakes up? Luft is air, the bottom one, which should be the same size as the gas (at least the male part is if you take the barb off).

Also, these are German, and they use the metric system, so none of the fittings are 1/4 inch. The ID of the oxy hose barb on my torch is 5mm, or about .2 inches.

[Emmett's Glass]

I'm using 3/8 hose on my old style Herbie for air. Do you have the nut and just need a barb?
E

[Mecha]

Edit

Wait, I think I know what you are using. So I can just get a 3/8 inch female with hose barb and use that even though the the male part on the torch is a b style fitting (meaning the ball and cup parts are compressed together)?

If that is the case then sweet, thanks for the info.

[Mr. Wonka]

OK, I just got the part number for the regulator fittings:

Item Number: B-42 - WESTERN ADAPTER CGA510 X 1/2NPTM

Item Number: B-52 – WESTERN ADAPTER CGA540 X ½ NPTM

Tom

[Swampy]

Not only, but also (http://carlislemachine.com/as_accessories/hosing.php)...

[daveabr]

whoops, sorry, i did have them mixed up.

[ReLo442]

I don't use B fittings on the ends. I purchased the fittings that mimic your gas bottles so you can screw a regulator directly into the manifold.

During AGI when we have 20 torches on one line alone, I use a main reg at the tank and charge the line to 60 or 80 pounds. Individual work stations can use the regs on the manifold to set any pressure they want.

I forgot the name of the regulator fittings, but if you tell your gas company what you want to do they will get you what you need.

Tom

I have worked at a propane/gas grill place on n off for the last few years.
The male portion that screws into the bottle is called a POL fitting (if threads inside the valve) or Acme nut if outside, hand tighten deal. The other part is just called Female POL which works for both of the male mentioned because the reg POL goes inside threads, the ACME goes on the outside threads.

http://www.amazon.com/Heater-F273791-Thread-Female-Fitting/dp/B005R21ROO

Im sure there is a better place than amazon to get them, just wanted to put up a link.

[elad65]

CGA 510 is regulator to fuel tank valve connector (propane or acetylene).

Elad

[bowlpusher]

Thanks for sharing that, we are in the process of hard lining the shop and it seems pretty pricey to do it up right.

[yinzer]

Yes! Thank you! I have given up on the help I was to reciceve on this project (it's been over a year), and have been trying to wrap my mind around it. But, woman that I am, I was making it way too complicated.

[Natedizzle]

Another tip... If you use street tees instead of regular tees. You can get lots more outlets in a smaller space, not to mention cheaper and much lighter... I dropped several pounds from my travel setup this way! I don't use the regulator connections on my manifolds, I have them on the hardline outputs and quick connects for my hand torches and other bench burners...

[brian falls]

Great post !
You inspired me to port out some aluminum on the old drill press and thread some holes and save myself sixty credits on y valves from airgas.

One thing I`m not sure about is whether ball valves are safe for oxy. The ball valves I get say they are safe for air, gas, and oil. They do not say anything about pure oxygen.

As far as I know they have a teflon lining that the ball valve rides in.
As I understand it teflon and oxy are a no go unless it is
"Green - Oil free PTFE used on oxygen lines and some specific medical gasses"

Granted I`m sure some off you guys are running these and haven`t blown yourselves up yet.
I could be wrong though so please correct me if I am.
Anyone?

[glassblowingBiker]

Tom I thought You had to use special Pipe for the 02 what did you use im wanting to do this at my shop thanks Jeff

[T-Rex]

Teflon-packed ball valves will be sufficient for oxy. You could also get away with Viton seals.

Here's a handy site that explains the qualities of different seal & O-ring materials:
http://www.solenoidvalvesuk.com/solenoidvalveseals.asp

[elad65]

Great post !


As far as I know they have a teflon lining that the ball valve rides in.
As I understand it teflon and oxy are a no go unless it is
"Green - Oil free PTFE used on oxygen lines and some specific medical gasses"



You may be confusing TEFLON TAPE application with ball valve construction. I believe its two different specifications.

Green TEFLON tape is same chemical composition as WHITS (general application) and YELLOW (gas) . Its just what the design specification call for on job specs of pipe application that determines which tape is used.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thread_seal_tape

Elad

[Mr. Wonka]

Tom I thought You had to use special Pipe for the 02 what did you use im wanting to do this at my shop thanks Jeff

Gas companies will only sell you fittings that are "cleared for oxygen use" to cover their asses. The Michigan building has 2 pieces of brass pipe that was cleared, and it cost me about $200.00.

Willy (from GTT) was here, and he told me that they just use over the counter fittings when piping LP & O2, and I've been doing that for the past 14 or so years with no problems.

Tom

[dose]

Hi Folks.

In the past people have asked how we set up the manifolds under all of our benches. Below is a diagram for low cost manifolds (mainly parts from Lowes or Home Depot) in which you could just cut a hose anywhere and insert these in with a couple of hose clamps.

I hope this helps some of you!

Tom

BTW- The propane and oxygen fittings (that the regulators plug into) are available through your gas supplier.

http://users.csonline.net/glass/manifold.jpg

Im a bit confused. 2 (oxy/or propane) regulators should fit according to the drawing right?

so if i just wanted my station to have its own regulators should i just do half of the drawing..i mean with just one fitting for the regulator?

[j4y]

Yea, the drawing is for 2 stations. You would need 2 of these. One for oxy, one for fuel to run 2 torches.

[fonzi03]

Picture is dead, can someone reupload please

[SageSalokin]

*bump* for a re-upload of the drawing. its dead atm