PETROGEN CUTTING TORCHIowa City Fire Department

Special Operations Training

Proper StorageThe system should be stored in the ready for service position. This means the following should be paid attention to.• Fuel canister is full

of Camp Fuel• O2 bottle is full and

the regulator is seated properly with O-ring.

• The fuel hose has been purged prior to storage.

• Accessories are stored inside of unit.

Torch Position• Ensure the torch is

stored with the cutting tip down. This will eliminate the chance of the connections getting plugged with debris.

Striker Tool• Ensure that the

striker tool is ready for service.

• If the flint is worn, loosen the screw and rotate the flint plate to the next flint.

Proper PPEEnsure that the person cutting is wearing the following-

• Gloves• Torch Glasses• Arm and Leg

Protection

Lighting the TorchFollow these steps in order for the best results.

1. Turn on the O2 ½ turn.

2. Add fuel slowly until a fuel mist is seen.

3. Create a spark with the striker. Be careful not to saturate the striker.

4. After lite, adjust the flame by adding or reducing the fuel.

This picture shows a flame that is too rich (too much fuel).

Too RichStill to rich or too much fuel.

Perfect FlameThe perfect cutting flame should be mostly blue with a very short amount of white near the cutting tip.

This flame will make a jet noise.

Be careful not to add too much O2. This will only deplete our resources quickly and not help the cutting process.

Starting a CutTo start cutting, hold the torch close to, but not on, the object being cut.

Once the metal becomes molten, slowly squeeze the handle on the torch.

Squeezing the handle adds more O2, thus increasing the flame’s temperature.

Hand PositionProper hand position will help make a consistent cut.

One hand squeezes the handle, while the other steadies the tip close to the object being cut.

Good Hand PositionThis is a great example of using the lead hand to keep the tip at the proper distance.

Hand PositionThis techniques is difficult to keep the tip at a constant distance from the object. Although not ideal, it made be necessary to cut in this position.

Cutting I-BeamsIt is possible to cut several inches into thick steel with the Petrogen Torch.

Practice cutting through the web while cutting the top or bottom of an

I-Beam.

Cutting I-BeamsIt is helpful to slightly angle the cutting tip in the direction that you are cutting.

This technique helps keep the molten slag from melting back together after your pass.

Cutting RebarIf you have someone impaled on rebar, then you should consider using this technique.• Wrap the rebar with

a towel saturated in water next to the patient.

• The wet towel will absorb the heat being transferred along the rebar.

• Notice the bare hand holding the rebar. With the wet towel, no heat is felt on the other side.

Cutting Fence PostA fence post can be cut in the same fashion as rebar.

Again, with a saturated towel, no heat is transferred to the patient.

Fence PostThis object can be cut with one pass. This reduces that amount of cutting time and the amount of heat generated.

Hollow PostsA post that is hollow does transfer heat, even with the use of a wet towel.

The hollow chamber allows the heat to quickly spread.

DO NOT use a torch to cut this object if it is impaled in a patient.

Hollow PostThis object can also be cut with one single pass if the cutting tip is held in a consistent position.

Steady Hands

Happy Cutting!