[Jewelry making - Article 01005] - Re: [Orchid] Natural gas

[T R. Hawkinson, Ltd.]

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Dear All,

    Here are some additional natural gas thoughts. 

    At the Minneapolis Community & Technical College we moved several
    years ago into a new larger facility. It was going from the second
    floor of the building to the fifth floor. Plenty of northern window
    light (probably the finest skyline view of downtown Minneapolis in
    the building), plenty of venting and plenty of power. One problem,
    low natural gas pressure. We measured under one pound coming out of
    the line. Hooking up 38 Hoke jewelers torches was not a pressure
    problem. All the torches work fine for general bench work. We put
    about 20 pounds of pressure into the oxygen line and again everything
    works fine. The casting area however was different. We couldn't run
    the large casting torch. We re-hooked up the old Smith NE250 I used
    as a student in 1977 and it solved the problem. They don't even make
    this torch any more. Even with a rosebud tip it takes us longer to
    melt larger quantities. We even melt with two torches on an open
    pour. So what I am saying is that minimum natural gas pressure is not
    a problem in the jewelry lab where I teach. 

    When I had natural gas in my home workshop, I just put a gas ball
    valve on a "T" section of pipe going to the furnace and had all the
    pressure I needed. For general bench pressure whatever the gas line
    produces should be adequate for general bench work. For bench oxygen
    pressure use about 5 pounds. 

    Melting has a different set up. I do prefer propane for casting
    silver, gold and platinum. A camper pressure regulator is preset at
    about 3 or 4 pounds. You can use one directly on top of a disposable
    propane tank and be code compliant in most areas. Casting pressure on
    oxygen is 20 pounds. 

Best Regards,
Todd Hawkinson


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