[Jewelry making - Article 01312] - [Orchid] Use, Maintenance and Storage of Acetylene Torch

[Nan Lewis]

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Hello All - 

    I've spent several hours searching the archives for info on the safe
    use, maintenance and storage of my acetylene-air torch set up but I
    still feel unsure and there's a big crink in my neck from sitting so
    long at the computer! :-)  Many of the posts have said something
    to the effect that it can be safe as long as "proper care" is taken
    - but no one has clearly spelled out what "proper care" means.  So
    please bare with this newbie  - - and would someone give a lesson on
    this?  Or point me to where I can find complete info? 

    Here are my specific questions - - 

    My studio is in my garage, which is separate from the house.  It is
    also my husband's metal and woodworking shop.  We don't store the
    car in there, just our shop stuff plus household stuff like paint
    cans, gardening supplies, etc.  This time of year we have 2 space
    heaters plugged in on timers, they go on at 5am and off at 6pm.  The
    heaters are like little radiators, fully enclosed, no heating
    element is exposed.  The tank is in the corner next to my bench and
    NOT next to either of these little heaters. It IS near the shelves
    where we have the old paint, fertilizer, paint thinner, etc. stored.
     Also, my pickle pot is on that side of my bench (which is really an
    old large table) sort of right above the tank. 

    1.  Is this set up dangerous? 

    2.  Is it ok for the tank to be out in the cold (during the night
    when the heaters are off)?  We are having below zero temps  at night
    here in the northeast lately. 

    3.  I always turn the tank valve off and bleed the gas out of the
    hose when shutting down at end of day.  But I have not been turning
    the regulator nob - I was told to have it set in the middle and
    leave it there.  Is this ok? 

    4.  This is my first tank - still quite full.  But when it starts to
    get towards empty, is it ok to let it run completely out of gas or
    should I make sure I stop before that point? 

    5.  If, God forbid, I ever have a fire in there, what type of
    extinguisher should I have?  Right now we just have a little
    standard household one.  What would happen if I just dumped water on
    the flames - would that be ok or make it worse? 

    That's all the questions I can think of right now.  I appreciate all
    your time in reading and responding! 

Nan

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