Welding Oxygen is a mixture of gases for use in a welding torch. Welding Oxygen is NOT the same as Medical Oxygen. In fact, Welding Oxygen has vastly different uses than does Medical Oxygen.
Medical oxygen is used for oxygen treatment and delivery to patients with oxygen deficient blood; this is the reason why medical oxygen is known as “HIGH DOSE” oxygen.
Welding Oxygen is used in a welding torch for the purposes of shielding the flame from the atmosphere in order to prevent atmospheric contamination.
Welding Oxygen has much more uses than just welding. For instance, Welding Oxygen is used as an accelerant, in addition to being used as a shield for welding torches and cutting tools.
So, What Does Welding Oxygen Do?
Welding Oxygen works by replacing oxygen when it is absorbed by metal and produces ozone or plasma gas which protects the cutting flame from contamination from other gases in the atmosphere. This way it can cut hot metal without contaminating the atmosphere with smoke or carbon dust. The ozone also acts as a catalyst for welding.
Welding Oxygen is used a shielding gas because it is oxygen rich and very clean, and because it has a high density.
The density of Welding Oxygen is important in order to see how much Welding Oxygen you will need for your torch. The less Welding Oxygen you have, the more than likely you will need more welding oxygen. This is because the thicker the Welding Oxygen mixture, the more shielding it provides from other gases in the atmosphere.
What does Welding Oxygen do besides shielding?
In addition to shielding, welding oxygen functions as an accelerant or as a cleaner for cutting tools or torches when they are carrying out cutting operations. This makes welding with Welding Oxygen much easier and safer than welding with pure oxygen.
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Shop High-Quality Welding EquipmentLet’s take a look at the differences between Medical Oxygen and Welding Oxygen
Medical Oxygen is used to deliver oxygen to patients with oxygen deficient blood – this is a very high dose of oxygen. Medical Oxygen is very clean and can be delivered in a pure form or as a mixture with Argon.
Welding Oxygen is used in welding torches as a shield from the atmosphere – this eliminates the need for “high dose” oxygen. Welding Oxygen has many uses as an accelerant and cleaner for cutting tools or torches when they are carrying out cutting operations. Welding Oxygen doesn’t require any mixing and can be delivered in a pure form as well.
In order to see how much welding oxygen you will need, you have to know how much shielding you will need. The more shielding you need, the less welding oxygen you will need. You don’t want to be using too much Welding Oxygen because you will have to add more shielding gas in order to prevent contamination from other gases in the atmosphere.
The best way to calculate how much welding oxygen you will need is to measure the height of your arc (or cut-line) and multiply that by a factor between 2 and 4 depending on how thick or thin you want your shielding gas mix to be.
Be sure that your shielding gas is having an effect on your welding, otherwise it won’t be providing any shielding. Also, remember that the thicker your welding solution is, the more shielding it provides from other gases in the atmosphere.
If you are using a high-end cutting torch, it will be worth the extra expense to purchase a high-end shielding gas mix.
Welding Oxygen has many other uses besides welding, such as cleaning and accelerating cutting tools when they are being used.
What is Welding Oxygen Used For
Welding Oxygen can be used in a welding torch to shield the flame from atmosphere contamination and to provide shielding during welding. Welding Oxygen has many other uses besides welding, such as cleaning and accelerating cutting tools when they are being used.
Density of Welding Oxygen
The density of welding oxygen is very important because it determines how much shielding you will need. The less welding oxygen you have, the more shielding you will need. The most common density for welding oxygen is between 0.067 grams per cubic centimeter and 0.07 grams per cubic centimeter, but the density depends on the type of welding that you are doing and the type of shielding gas that you want to use.
Conclusion
The difference between welding oxygen and medical oxygen is that welding oxygen is used to shield the flame from contamination by other gases, while medical oxygen is used to deliver oxygen to patients with deficient blood.
Welding Oxygen has many uses besides welding, such as cleaning and accelerating cutting tools when they are being used.
So the next time you are at a local welding shop and they say that they are using welding oxygen, ask them to explain how it works. They will be happy to tell you all about it.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment below!
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