Weird Residue

[j2canoe]

I have been using a 5 lpm oxycon for about 5 months now. In the last couple of months, I have been noticing a whitish film over my glass (and the jars that hold them) and a corrosive/rust film over all of the steel surfaces in my studio. I usually run the oxycon for 5 or 6 hours every night and all day on the weekends. I clean the filter regularly. I'm assuming that it is the oxycon causing this to happen as it has never happened before. I torch in my son's old bedroom with the window wide open and two large fans operating. The kiln is also located in the same 10ft x 10ft room and is running while I work. It does get quite hot in the room. I use bulk propane (outside tank) and have a Cricket. Is this a reaction from the nitrogen being split off from the oxygen?

[Dale M.]

I have been using a 5 lpm oxycon for about 5 months now. In the last couple of months, I have been noticing a whitish film over my glass (and the jars that hold them) and a corrosive/rust film over all of the steel surfaces in my studio. I usually run the oxycon for 5 or 6 hours every night and all day on the weekends. I clean the filter regularly. I'm assuming that it is the oxycon causing this to happen as it has never happened before. I torch in my son's old bedroom with the window wide open and two large fans operating. The kiln is also located in the same 10ft x 10ft room and is running while I work. It does get quite hot in the room. I use bulk propane (outside tank) and have a Cricket. Is this a reaction from the nitrogen being split off from the oxygen?

If you had proper ventilation you should not have a nitrogen build up issue.... Besides I don't think a oxycon can remove enough oxygen and return enough nitrogen to the room atmosphere to cause a imbalance. How ever NOX (Nitrogen Oxide) is created when "air" is heated by combustion and the nitrogen in the air is converted to nitrogen oxide. Nitrogen Oxide when it is combined with moisture (humidity) forms nitric acid which will cause rust, but I would think it would have to be highly concentrated in room to form a dust or rust objects, most like it would cause respiratory problem for people in room long before it became a "visible" hazard...

The rust may be just that, rust from humidity.... The white powder could be anybody's guess, maybe something coming in from outside... IS there a heavier build up of "dust" around oxycon?

Dale

[kbinkster]

Do you have make-up air? If you don't have another window open to let in fresh air to replace the air that is being moved out by your fans, then you aren't getting good ventilation. You could have some NOX issues, but I would check the concentrator, first.

If you take your oxygen hose off the Cricket and look at that brass barb fitting, there is a little metal screen. Look and see if there is any whitish residue on that screen. If there is, let me know (I believe I sold you that machine).

[j2canoe]

Thank you both Kimberly and Dale! I checked the screen and it did not have anything on it. I think you are both right about the make-up air. We had not turned on our air conditioner yet and the door to the room is closed to keep our four-legged denizens out of the glass area. I cleaned up the residue and we turned on the air conditioner a few days ago. I have not had a recurrence of the problem - although DH may need medical attention now that I am torching with the open window and the air running full blast along with the fans!! :) Someday, hopefully, he will build me the vent hood he has promised me......Thank you again for your help. Cheers! Joan:)

Kimberly - you did sell me my oxycon and it is SUPERB! It runs like a charm!! Thanks! :)

[mary1_$]

Household fans like window fans etc. alone are not good ventilation. Window fans etc. Won't ventilate proper.To bring are into the room it is fine. But to ventilate a torch they are not. Be careful bad ventilation will harm you. Lovies Mary