wrote:
I have a Smith accetylene generator. Can not find carbide anymore
around here. Anyone know where one can purchase a container.
I have lots of cutting to do an want to use the old machine.
The plan is to pressure test and replace the seals but waiting to do so
until I can locate the carbide.
These generators can be dangerous. I am 49 and have grown up around
this unit.
If the carbide is not available, I may clean it up and put it in a
museum or sell the generator.

I've found some 1 gallon-sized cans at the local army surplus store,
they mostly carry camping gear now. IIRC, the generator carbide is
larger than the lamp-sized stuff. We used to have a welding supply
that made their own acetylene, got their carbide in big drums on
railroad cars, which may be the only way you can get the stuff for
generators these days. Might be easier to go with oxy/propane for
extensive cutting. I've got an old Union Carbide welding manual, it
shows a special injector-type handle for use with low-pressure
acetylene from a generator. Not sure if you have one of those already
or not.

FWIW, there's a couple of old acetylene and welding manuals out on
www.gutenberg.org, for those that want to go looking. Free downloads.
Gives how many cubic feet of acetylene you should get from a pound of
carbide. It isn't as much as you'd think.

Stan