Multiplaz 3500 Evaluation by larry lee

[Rob Taylor]

The Multiplaz 3500 Evaluation by larry lee on the welding tips and tricks forum.

You can see the whole 14 part evaluation by using this search URL:
http://forum.weldingtipsandtricks.com/search.php?keywords=Multiplaz-3500+Evaluation%2C+Part&sr=topics&submit=Search

I enjoyed most of the detail and content of Larry Lee's evaluation and it would be a shame for it to be lost or hidden from view.

However, his last post and summary did not appear to be done with the same amount of thought and care as his other posts, it
felt rushed.

Since I am a trained, experienced and qualified 3rd Class Power Engineer, in plants ranging from hot water fire tube boiler operations
all the way up to high pressure steam plants, I may have a differing opinion on the "oxidizing" properties of water/steam.

Super heated steam is used in steam turbines for power generation and if there were any oxidizing properties to that steam it would
be disastrous. But lots of preparation of the water used to produce that steam is done to ensure the dissolved O2 level is as low as
possible.

Now don't rush out there and start draining water off of your closed circuit steam boiler loops for your Multiplaz. There is generally
some chemical treatment done to the water and without further thought and investigation I have no idea what ionizing by heating
to 8000 degrees celsius would do to some of those chemicals.

But there are other devices used to remove dissolved gasses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaerator

Keep in mind that distilled water typically still has a significant amount of air dissolved in it.
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem07/chem07025.htm

Should the water used in the Multiplaz 3500 be deaerated? As Larry Lee points out, a little oxidation helps for cutting metal,
and the isopropyl alcohol is used to create a reducing plasma stream. I would have to do considerably more research and
experimentation to know if deaeration would make a significant difference. I may even ask my Chemical Engineer buddy to
take a look at this.

Take Care,
Robert Taylor

[kakadu]

Hi Rob, I use the melt water (and Iso Propyl Alcohol)  from my refrigerator when I defrost it, and store it in a big plastic container, and as you live in a country where you get snow, that would probably be the best source of distilled water as opposed to just running the tap with all the chemical additives we "need'"  to have in our drinks.....LOL.

I only mix up a litre of alky/water combo at a time when I'm welding, as the alcohol would evaporate if stored too long and give you odd results, although a sealed plastic fruit container with a screwed top  would keep the mix in OK. 

Ian.