Actelynene getting scarce?
 

The local National Welders Supply store emailed my boss a couple of weeks ago about a plant in Kentucky blowing up. This plant was one of the largest producers of actelyne & calcium carbonate in US per the email.

Anybody heard about this?

I recall it happened several months ago. I've seen the same information (with comments on it being rationed) over on Garage Journal forum.

Yes, I saw a notice up at my shield gas supplier that they are no longer taking new acetylene customers because the one plant that produces something like 90% of the country's calcium carbonate exploded and killed some people.

Calcium carbide...

hemical plants are dangerous workplaces. Filled with flammable chemicals and heavy equipment, these plants present a variety of potential hazards to workers. While employers are obligated to protect the health and safety of employees, we all know accidents happen. When they do, workers' compensation can offer financial assistance to injured workers and their families.
Earlier this week, two workers lost their lives and two other people were injured in a fire and an explosion at the Carbide Industries chemical plant in Kentucky. When the furnace exploded, debris was thrown hundreds of yards from the burning building. While it is unclear at this time what caused the blast, we know it involved calcium carbide, a flammable material that reacts violently with water.
After the explosion, firefighters planned to let the fire burn itself out, as calcium carbide cannot mix with water. However, one of the transformers containing mineral oil located above the blast caught fire. The flames raged for two and a half days before going out.
According to emergency responders, two long-time employees were inside a control room at the time of the explosion, only 25 feet away from the blast. They both sustained third-degree burns over 90 percent of their bodies. One died on Monday, while the other died Tuesday morning at University Hospital. Another employee and a worker from a nearby plant were also injured in the tragic incident.
The plant, located along the Ohio River in West Louisville, produces calcium carbide products, which are used in metal fabrication and construction. Since the explosion, roughly 130 plant employees are out of work. At this point, it is unclear when they will be able to return.
The Kentucky Labor Cabinet's Division of OSHA sent two inspectors to the scene, surveying the damage, talking to responders and beginning to work through what caused the explosion. Authorities reassured people in the area that air quality was not a threat to the community.

If you have problems getting acetylene just use your gas grill bottle. Your acetylene regulator will screw right into it and then go to the welding supply house and get a propane tip for your torch. It is not quite as hot as acetylene but works fine for hobby people. I just had to do this and am thinking about leaving it that way as it is cheaper all the way around as I usually spend more on bottle rent than gas.

Hmm. I will have to check into this. I have several customers in the gas distribution biz.

Did not know this! With O2 is it hit enough to cut steel?

hmmm....apparently so, with a different cutting tip like 944Larry said. Definitely good to know!

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I've been using butane with my torch for 20+years. works fine but takes a little longer than actelyne to get hot enough to start burning thru. before then, we used mapp gas at our fab shop

I just used it today. It is slower than cutting with acetylene and I don't know how thick a piece you could cut, I usually never cut much thicker than a 1/4 inch. The way to tell if you have a propane tip is that it is made in 2 pieces. Apparently it is made that way to pass more propane to kinda' made up for the difference in heat output.

I used Mapp gas at one time. It was also put into a propane cylinder. Still had to use the 2 piece tips on the torch. Haven't seen any in years. I would go back to it as I think it was nearly as hot as acetylene.

Mapp isn't really even manufactured anymore...

MAPP gas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That explains that-Thanks!

On the acetylene front, I spoke with a couple of industry contacts today. It seems the plant that burned will be on line at the end of May and that many foreign producers now have an edge into the US market. Not nearly the big deal it could have been.

Larry

Darn, I like Mapp. I better stock up before the shops run out of it.

Ran up on this about the differences in the 2 gasses. Shows a good pic of the propane tip.
Andys Place, Propane vs Acetylene Cutting

Went by Nationals Welders the other day to get a darkened face shield that was a cerified shade to "safely" use a torch with. Spoke withe the guys on the counter. They mentioned "HEP" gas I think & propane. Propane has more BTU & is suposed to be better.

Neither one is a plug & play swap from the acetyelene though. Besides the 2 piece tip already mentioned, a differently rated hose should be used. Smith is out of stock of the 2 piece tips & their isn't much of the hose out there presently.

This store said they eventually plan to talk to big customers about switching over & keeping the small guys on actelyne.

One thing different than posted on this thread, I was told the plant won't be reopened. The Gov won't let them rebuild.
It was a family owned

First I've heard about the hose being different. Yep, we can always count on the 'gubment to make it easier for us all.