[Jewelry making - Article 01041] - Re: [Orchid] Natural Gas

[Patricia Glover]

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    About five years ago, I decided I wanted to use natural gas instead
    of acetylene--too dificult/dangerous to refill tanks and transport
    them in my car.  My husband, said he could connect into the natural
    gas line behind my gas dryer and bring the line into the adjacent
    garage where I had my bench (counter).  Talked to Rio, Smith, gas
    company,local jewelry store who talked to their suppliers, etc.  We
    could not get a straight answer. So we decided to go ahead anyway as
    we knew other people used natural gas with oxygen. My husband T'd
    off the gas dryer and brought it out to my bench line with a 1/2"
    black pipe.  I bought a Smith torch for natural gas from Rio.  I
    still had to use my natural gas tank but I was pretty happy with the
    set up.  It worked well for all my bench needs, mostly sterling
    silver and a little gold-- pendants, belt buckles etc.  It was not
    so good for melting metals for casting--took too long to melt. So my
    husband connected my old acetylene tank with a Y to the natural gas
    system so I could have both.  Since I don't really do casting, one
    tank of acetylene would have lasted for a long long time. A year
    later we moved to an older home that had more space for my husband's
    wood working hobby and my metalsmithing hobby.  Since we needed to
    upgrade the gas line into the house anyway we had a 3/4" line
    brought out to my bench by the plummer.  Now I have the ability to
    melt metal if I ever decide to do casting with no problem. 

    My advice to those thinking about natural gas is to go for it.  It
    is cleaner, safer, and so much more convenient. I'm sure the
    pressure here in Tucson is about the same as in most communities. 
    We all buy the same gas dryers, water heaters, stoves etc as people
    in other areas around the US.  Also, if you do go this route, you
    need a flashback arrestor only on the oxygen side. 

Pat Glover


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