Oxy-fuel Welding and Cutting - Uses

Uses

Oxy-gas torches are or have been used for:

• Welding metal: see below.
• Cutting metal: see below.
• Also, oxy-hydrogen flames are used:
  • in Stone Work for "flaming" where the stone is heated and a top layer crackles and breaks. A steel circular brush is attached to an angle grinder and used to remove the first layer leaving behind a bumpy surface similar to hammered bronze.
  • in the glass industry for "fire polishing".
  • in jewelry production for "water welding" using a water torch.
  • formerly, to heat lumps of quicklime to obtain a bright white light called limelight, in theatres or optical ("magic") lanterns.
  • formerly, in platinum works, as platinum is fusible only in the oxyhydrogen flame and in an electric furnace.

In short, oxy-fuel equipment is quite versatile, not only because it is preferred for some sorts of iron or steel welding but also because it lends itself to brazing, braze-welding, metal heating (for annealing or tempering, bending or forming), rust or scale removal, the loosening of corroded nuts and bolts and is a ubiquitous means of cutting ferrous metals.