I set my gages after I light the torch while pressing the cutting lever. Pressing the cutting lever causes the gage needles to move up and down. You start your cut by pressing the cutting lever, so I think it's a good idea to set the gages while the lever is pressed. After all, that is your cutting pressure. If not, you get a different reading. It may not be enough to matter, but that's just how I do it. I like to see about a foot long stream of heat/oxygen coming out of the tip, and when I press the cutting lever, the oxygen stream is long and sharp. If it isn't, you need to clean the center hole in the tip. The smaller flames coming from the cutting gas holes in the tip should not be long, but they should be sharp and clear. Also, when you press the cutting lever, the smaller flames coming from the cutting gas holes in the tip should not get longer. Cutting is really an art. To make a good clean cut, you have to get your heat and oxygen set properly, according to the thickness of the material, and you need a steady hand. Your torch shouldn't sound like a Boeing 747. If you have it set correctly, the flame will be long, and the oxygen will be fairly quiet, especially on thinner materials.
Hello Scott, you've got some good points to add in your post, setting the pressure with the cutting lever depressed or the acetylene valve opened refers to working pressures, setting the pressures with the valves closed and no gas flow refers to static pressure settings, as you stated they are different. Nice description. Have a great day, Regards, aevald
Thanks you guys, you made it very clear on what to do. A lot of books and sometimes when people show me they dont make it clear, I guess because its natural to them now and they forget the tiny steps they do subconsciously. I'm bummed that I have to go on a trip righjt now because I just want to go try what you all have helped me with. Thanks everyone, GREATLY APPRECIATED!