[Shop-talk] harris welding torches and blue point jack?

[Karl Vacek]

Acetylene isn't stable by itself at pressures above about 15 PSI.  For that 
reason, it's dissolved in a matrix containing acetone in the tank - part of 
the reason acetylene tanks are surprisingly heavy for their size.  If the 
tank has been on its side, it should sit upright for a while before being 
used - I don't remember how long, but ISTR that it's on the order of a few 
minutes, not hours.

Karl




> If you're serious about safety, shouldn't your tanks always be
> vertical?  Valves don't
> get knocked off and there's something about using acetylene after the tank
> has been
> on it's side.