Helping a friend dispose of his brother's estate.
brother was an accomplished machinist and benchrest rifle builder.
One of the last things we need to get rid of is an old acetylene generator.

I have no idea what it is worth or who might be a prospective buyer for
it. It's in the DFW area if anyone here is interested.

Suggestions?

Ignoramus7868 wrote:
On 2009-02-06, RB wrote:
Helping a friend dispose of his brother's estate.
brother was an accomplished machinist and benchrest rifle builder.
One of the last things we need to get rid of is an old acetylene generator.

I have no idea what it is worth or who might be a prospective buyer for
it. It's in the DFW area if anyone here is interested.

I would put it on ebay.


thought about that, but saw no listings, either current or completed.
And I'd like a little more info so I could write a decent listing.

On Feb 6, 10:43*am, RB wrote:
Helping a friend dispose of his brother's estate.
brother was an accomplished machinist and benchrest rifle builder.
One of the last things we need to get rid of is an old acetylene generator.

On Feb 6, 11:20*am, wrote:
On Feb 6, 10:43*am, RB wrote:

Helping a friend dispose of his brother's estate.
brother was an accomplished machinist and benchrest rifle builder.
One of the last things we need to get rid of is an old acetylene generator.

I have no idea what it is worth or who might be a prospective buyer for
it. *It's in the DFW area if anyone here is interested.

Suggestions?

Any markings on it?

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...30600828aGyZle

Dave

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/...94673964cjPxoT

D

RB fired this volley in news:gmi2co$8re$2
@news.motzarella.org:

So what were they used for?


Generating acetylene gas for welding and cutting.

Prior to the acetone/sponge method of storing dissolved acetylene in
cylinders, it was impractical to do so, because acetylene becomes
explosively unstable at elevated pressures.

So, in order to use acetylene in the shop, it was generated (more or
less) on-demand by those water-bath generators.

I remember my Dad working in a shop that had one. That was in the
'60s, and still not everyone had switched to tanks.

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

LLoyd

On Feb 6, 3:03*pm, wrote:
On Feb 6, 2:25*pm, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"



lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
RB fired this volley in news:gmi2co$8re$2
@news.motzarella.org:

So what were they used for?

Generating acetylene gas for welding and cutting.

Prior to the acetone/sponge method of storing dissolved acetylene in
cylinders, it was impractical to do so, because acetylene becomes
explosively unstable at elevated pressures.

So, in order to use acetylene in the shop, it was generated (more or
less) on-demand by those water-bath generators.

I remember my Dad working in a shop that had one. That was in the
'60s, and still not everyone had switched to tanks.

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. *Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

LLoyd

There was a lengthy discussion of that somewhere- I think an RCM
thread here referred to a sci.welding thread where it was all laid
out.

Had something to do with the pressure, size of the piping, heat
dissipation, a lot of factors that went into it.

Dave

I do recall the thread had a warning to run like hell if your
acetylene tank got hot or started making noise.

Dave

On Feb 6, 2:03*pm, wrote:
On Feb 6, 2:25*pm, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"





lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
RB fired this volley in news:gmi2co$8re$2
@news.motzarella.org:

So what were they used for?

Generating acetylene gas for welding and cutting.

Prior to the acetone/sponge method of storing dissolved acetylene in
cylinders, it was impractical to do so, because acetylene becomes
explosively unstable at elevated pressures.

So, in order to use acetylene in the shop, it was generated (more or
less) on-demand by those water-bath generators.

I remember my Dad working in a shop that had one. That was in the
'60s, and still not everyone had switched to tanks.

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. *Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

LLoyd

There was a lengthy discussion of that somewhere- I think an RCM
thread here referred to a sci.welding thread where it was all laid
out.

Had something to do with the pressure, size of the piping, heat
dissipation, a lot of factors that went into it.

Dave- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
This issue was discussed in SEJW over concerns about putting a
splitter with two regulators on an acetylene tank. Link: http://tinyurl.com/auoh5u

RB writes:


Heck, I haven't even seen it. I ran across those same pics whist trying
to find out what to expect.

He said it's about the size of a 55-gallon drum, which seems to gibe
with those pictures.

So what were they used for?

I saw these along the street in Port a Prince called "Little Detroit".
They literally ran whole shops along the road, and packed up every night.
The generator was the source of Acetylene gas for their torches.

--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

"David Lesher" wrote in message
...
RB writes:


Heck, I haven't even seen it. I ran across those same pics whist trying
to find out what to expect.

He said it's about the size of a 55-gallon drum, which seems to gibe
with those pictures.

So what were they used for?

I saw these along the street in Port a Prince called "Little Detroit".
They literally ran whole shops along the road, and packed up every night.
The generator was the source of Acetylene gas for their torches.

--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

Acetylene generators were used all over America in years past. Where there
was not natural gas piping, etc. Union Carbide got it's name from supplying
the Calcium Carbide powder for the generators. Miners lamps were Acetylene
fired.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
m...

"David Lesher" wrote in message
...
RB writes:


Heck, I haven't even seen it. I ran across those same pics whist trying
to find out what to expect.

He said it's about the size of a 55-gallon drum, which seems to gibe
with those pictures.

So what were they used for?

I saw these along the street in Port a Prince called "Little Detroit".
They literally ran whole shops along the road, and packed up every night.
The generator was the source of Acetylene gas for their torches.

--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

Acetylene generators were used all over America in years past. Where
there was not natural gas piping, etc. Union Carbide got it's name from
supplying the Calcium Carbide powder for the generators. Miners lamps
were Acetylene fired.

They were also used for residential lighting. I remember my aunt and uncle's
farm house in Kansas still had the gas pipes coming out the walls. I
remember my uncle and cousins hauling the old generator out of the cellar
and dumping it. I remember all the white sludge in it. This was about 1940
and they still did not have electricity. My dad also worked in a couple of
auto shops that used them for welding. Smaller versions were used for
automobile headlamps and small lamps used by miners and cave explorers.

Don Young

On Sat, 7 Feb 2009 17:26:28 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"David Lesher" wrote in message
...
RB writes:


Heck, I haven't even seen it. I ran across those same pics whist trying
to find out what to expect.

He said it's about the size of a 55-gallon drum, which seems to gibe
with those pictures.

So what were they used for?

I saw these along the street in Port a Prince called "Little Detroit".
They literally ran whole shops along the road, and packed up every night.
The generator was the source of Acetylene gas for their torches.

--
A host is a host from coast to
& no one will talk to a host that's close........[v].(301) 56-LINUX
Unless the host (that isn't close).........................pob 1433
is busy, hung or dead....................................20915-1433

Acetylene generators were used all over America in years past. Where there
was not natural gas piping, etc. Union Carbide got it's name from supplying
the Calcium Carbide powder for the generators. Miners lamps were Acetylene
fired.

The first one I saw (in a welding shop ~1958) had been removed from a
local church when electricity became available for lighting. The
church elders were happy to be rid of this finicky, messy system, and
the shop owner was quite happy to remove it and clean up the mess at
no charge.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

On Feb 6, 11:25*am, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. *Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

No, it's low pressure (maybe 80 psi?), which won't
spontaneously explode. It also won't fit much into a
gas bottle, thus the acetone/wick is used to increase
capacity.

On Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:03:05 -0800 (PST), whit3rd
wrote:

On Feb 6, 11:25Â*am, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. Â*Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

No, it's low pressure (maybe 80 psi?), which won't
spontaneously explode. It also won't fit much into a
gas bottle, thus the acetone/wick is used to increase
capacity.

Be VERY carefull. Acetelene at over 15 PSIg is unstable.
Pressure in the tank can be around 250 psig in an acetone solution.
(which IS safe). If acetone is removed from an acetylene tank it can
become very dangerouse - which is why acelylene cyls MUST be stored
and used in an upright position only.

wrote in message
...
On Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:03:05 -0800 (PST), whit3rd
wrote:

On Feb 6, 11:25 am, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

No, it's low pressure (maybe 80 psi?), which won't
spontaneously explode. It also won't fit much into a
gas bottle, thus the acetone/wick is used to increase
capacity.

Be VERY carefull. Acetelene at over 15 PSIg is unstable.
Pressure in the tank can be around 250 psig in an acetone solution.
(which IS safe). If acetone is removed from an acetylene tank it can
become very dangerouse - which is why acelylene cyls MUST be stored
and used in an upright position only.

Seems if transport on their sides is OK, so storage should be ok. Using
them, they must be upright, as getting acetone into the gage and lines will
damage them. And then you may have overpressure in the lines or torchhead.

RB inquired about an acetylene generator and to this I say:

I had the same one and couldn't give it away but that was over 20
years ago and there were still quite A few around at the time. Ended up
cutting it up and tossing it on the scrap truck.
Perhaps A blacksmith could use it or want it for his old timey shop
decor. ABANA might know someone but transport cost's may be prohibitive.

Good Luck!
H.R.

On Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:44:18 -0500, Gerald Miller
wrote:
On Sat, 7 Feb 2009 17:26:28 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:
"David Lesher" wrote in message
...
RB writes:

Heck, I haven't even seen it. I ran across those same pics whist trying
to find out what to expect.

He said it's about the size of a 55-gallon drum, which seems to gibe
with those pictures.

So what were they used for?

I saw these along the street in Port a Prince called "Little Detroit".
They literally ran whole shops along the road, and packed up every night.
The generator was the source of Acetylene gas for their torches.

Acetylene generators were used all over America in years past. Where there
was not natural gas piping, etc. Union Carbide got it's name from supplying
the Calcium Carbide powder for the generators. Miners lamps were Acetylene
fired.

The first one I saw (in a welding shop ~1958) had been removed from a
local church when electricity became available for lighting. The
church elders were happy to be rid of this finicky, messy system, and
the shop owner was quite happy to remove it and clean up the mess at
no charge.

I suppose they are still handy if you do lots of welding and are
waaaaay out in the wilderness - it has to be a lot easier and safer to
ship in drums of calcium carbide than filled Acetylene welding
bottles, if for no other reason than you don't have to send empty
bottles back for refilling. The empty drums become raw materials.

Do a bit of searching, there are companies in India still selling
the generators new.

The big problem as noted is the "care and feeding" of the generator.
And knowing what we know now, putting an acetylene generator in the
basement probably isn't the smartest thing to do... A shed out back
might be far safer. A shed with an earthen berm all around it to send
the blast energy up.

Of course, if you do that much welding you'll also need an Oxygen
concentrator for the other necessary ingredient...

-- Bruce --

On Feb 8, 12:20*pm, Bruce L. Bergman
wrote:
On Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:44:18 -0500, Gerald Miller





wrote:
On Sat, 7 Feb 2009 17:26:28 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:
"David Lesher" wrote in message
...
RB writes:
Heck, I haven't even seen it. I ran across those same pics whist trying
to find out what to expect.

He said it's about the size of a 55-gallon drum, which seems to gibe
with those pictures.

So what were they used for?

I saw these along the street in Port a Prince called "Little Detroit"..
They literally ran whole shops along the road, and packed up every night.
The generator was the source of Acetylene gas for their torches.

Acetylene generators were used all over America in years past. *Where there
was not natural gas piping, etc. *Union Carbide got it's name from supplying
the Calcium Carbide powder for the generators. *Miners lamps were Acetylene
fired.

The first one I saw (in a welding shop ~1958) had been removed from a
local church when electricity became available for lighting. The
church elders were happy to be rid of this finicky, messy system, and
the shop owner was quite happy to remove it and clean up the mess at
no charge.

* I suppose they are still handy if you do lots of welding and are
waaaaay out in the wilderness - it has to be a lot easier and safer to
ship in drums of calcium carbide than filled Acetylene welding
bottles, if for no other reason than you don't have to send empty
bottles back for refilling. *The empty drums become raw materials.

* Do a bit of searching, there are companies in India still selling
the generators new.

* The big problem as noted is the "care and feeding" of the generator.
* And knowing what we know now, putting an acetylene generator in the
basement probably isn't the smartest thing to do... *A shed out back
might be far safer. *A shed with an earthen berm all around it to send
the blast energy up.

* Of course, if you do that much welding you'll also need an Oxygen
concentrator for the other necessary ingredient...

* * *-- Bruce --- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The other really necessary item is an injector torch. Can't use a
standard torch like is used for bottled acetylene, the pressure off
the generator is too low. I don't know if they're even made anymore,
most of my info on care and feeding of the generators is from really,
really old welding books from the teens and '20s. Archive.org has a
few for download, should anyone care. From what the books said, you
get about 3-4 Cu. Ft. of acetylene per pound of carbide, so if you
need a lot of gas, you'll be buying the stuff by the car load. Then
thre's the slaked lime disposal problem. The one outfit that
manufactured acetylene in my hometown used to have tons of lime piled
by the back doors. Free for the taking, should anyone have wanted
it. The city was always on the owner about it.

Stan

On Sun, 8 Feb 2009 00:30:56 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:03:05 -0800 (PST), whit3rd
wrote:

On Feb 6, 11:25 am, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

No, it's low pressure (maybe 80 psi?), which won't
spontaneously explode. It also won't fit much into a
gas bottle, thus the acetone/wick is used to increase
capacity.

Be VERY carefull. Acetelene at over 15 PSIg is unstable.
Pressure in the tank can be around 250 psig in an acetone solution.
(which IS safe). If acetone is removed from an acetylene tank it can
become very dangerouse - which is why acelylene cyls MUST be stored
and used in an upright position only.

Seems if transport on their sides is OK, so storage should be ok. Using
them, they must be upright, as getting acetone into the gage and lines will
damage them. And then you may have overpressure in the lines or torchhead.

DOT regulations FORBID transport of disolved acetylene tanks in any
position other than upright.

On Sun, 8 Feb 2009 13:24:32 -0800 (PST), wrote:

From what the books said, you
get about 3-4 Cu. Ft. of acetylene per pound of carbide

Nah...yu got a LOT more than that from a pound. A pound of carbide
would run a generator most of the day with a couple guys running
torches. My first technical gig was in a friends dad's machine shop and
it was one of my duties to service his generator each day. He made
moulds on a brand new shiney Hydrotel and his guys were doing fab work
of all kinds. Where I first got to learn to burn rod.

Gunner

"Not so old as to need virgins to excite him,
nor old enough to have the patience to teach one."

wrote in message
...
On Sun, 8 Feb 2009 00:30:56 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 7 Feb 2009 20:03:05 -0800 (PST), whit3rd
wrote:

On Feb 6, 11:25 am, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

(y'know... I've still never quite figured out what they do with that
small volume of high-pressure acetylene between the acetone medium and
the valve/regulator. Doesn't THAT exist at the dangerous pressure?)

No, it's low pressure (maybe 80 psi?), which won't
spontaneously explode. It also won't fit much into a
gas bottle, thus the acetone/wick is used to increase
capacity.

Be VERY carefull. Acetelene at over 15 PSIg is unstable.
Pressure in the tank can be around 250 psig in an acetone solution.
(which IS safe). If acetone is removed from an acetylene tank it can
become very dangerouse - which is why acelylene cyls MUST be stored
and used in an upright position only.

Seems if transport on their sides is OK, so storage should be ok. Using
them, they must be upright, as getting acetone into the gage and lines
will
damage them. And then you may have overpressure in the lines or
torchhead.

DOT regulations FORBID transport of disolved acetylene tanks in any
position other than upright.

Shop where I exchange bottles nevers says a thing about them laying down in
the back of the truck. Must have the safety cap on, or they charge you on
the empty and you can not swap with the new bottle.