Meco Safety Instructions - Lacy West Jewellery Tools and Supplies

Suppliers to the Jewellery Trade

Technical Information Sheet
Meco Basic Instructions and Safety Precautions

CAUTION

This webpage is intended to highlight
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS.

This webpage is NOT INTENDED as an instruction
in the use of Oxy-Fuel Gas Apparatus.

Lacy West DOES NOT accept any responsibility
for errors in this document.

If you do not understand anything on this page or
if you believe something to be in error on this page,
CONSULT A QUALIFIED INSTRUCTOR or
A KNOWLEDGEABLE AND EXPERIENCED TRADESPERSON.

Definitions

DANGER
Immediate hazards which CAN result in severe injuries or death, damages, and losses.

WARNING Hazards or unsafe practices which COULD result in severe injuries or death, damages, and losses.

CAUTION Hazards or unsafe practices which COULD result in injuries, property damage, and losses.

Additional Technical and Safety Information

Compressed Gas Association Safety Bulletin	Avoid Dangerous Reverse Flow of Gases	Little Torch Operations Manual
Uniweld Regulator Operating Instructions	Torches and Soldering Equipment	Little Torch Hose Replacement Instructions

Technical Jewellery Books
Jewellery Books - General Jewellery Reference
Jewellery Books - Metalsmithing

Meco Basic Instructions and Safety Precautions

These instructions are general in nature, and are NOT intended to completely describe every possible application. Please read these instructions carefully and completely, and if there are further questions, or if you feel that these instructions do not pertain to your application, PLEASE CONSULT YOUR GAS SUPPLIER FOR EXACT INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR PARTICULAR APPLICATION.

WARNING

CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65: This product, when used for welding, soldering, brazing, cutting, and other metal working or flame processes, produces fumes, particulates, residues, and or other by-products which contain chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

1. When handling Regulators and Fittings, do not use oil, grease, hand lotion, or any substance that could contain petroleum solvents. Exposing these materials to high pressure Oxygen can cause a fire or explosion.

2. Always separately purge your Oxygen and Fuel Gas hoses before and after each use. This helps prevent deterioration of the hoses, and reduces the chances of accidentally mixed gases. (Ask your gas supplier to explain the benefits of Reverse-Flow Check Valves and Flashback Arrestors.)

3. After connecting regulator to cylinder (ask your Gas Supplier for instructions, for example Uniweld), be sure to release the tension on the regulator adjusting screw BEFORE opening cylinder valve. Allowing full cylinder pressure to enter a regulator that is "on" can damage the internal parts of the regulator (NOTE: This type of damage is considered abuse, and would not be covered under warranty.)

DANGER

Adequate ventilation must be provided, especially in confined work areas to remove harmful fumes and provide an adequate air supply for the user and the equipment. For safety sake double check all the equipment for leaks BEFORE entering a confined work area. Any leak in a confined space can cause serious problems.

Important: Pure oxygen will rapidly increase burning of almost any ignited material especially oil and grease and must never be allowed to saturate a confined work area. Oxy-Fuel/Vapor or Air-Fuel/Vapor concentrations in confined unventilated areas can also be hazardous and explosive if ignited.

DO NOT use a torch on containers or pipes unless they are properly cleaned, purged, and vented or if vapor gas fumes are present. Flammable gases and vapors can explode if ignited by using a torch on a container or pipe line. Fuel gases have an odor; if the user smells gas DO NOT use the equipment until the source of the leak is located and stopped, and until the surrounding area is properly ventilated and safe to continue work.

Some solvents and chemicals may become toxic and hazardous when heated -
DO NOT inhale fumes.

4. Always release the tension on your regulator adjusting screw after you have finished your work and closed your cylinder valve. (See 3 above.)

5. Always be sure that your hoses and fittings are in good working order. Have your entire set periodically checked by a qualified service facility. Do NOT use household chemicals (ie. Window Cleaner) to check for leaks. Plain soapy water is acceptable for this purpose.

WARNING

DO NOT USE THE EQUIPMENT UNTIL ALL CONNECTIONS AND EQUIPMENT ARE LEAK FREE.

Properly pressurize the system. To check for leaks close the cylinder valve and turn the pressure adjusting screw one turn counter-clockwise (to the left). If the high pressure gauge reading drops, there can be a leak in the cylinder valve connection or high pressure gauge connection. If the low pressure gauge drops, there can be a leak in the equipment valves, hose connections, hose, low pressure gauge connection, or check for diaphragm leak at the bonnet vent hole. Check for leaks using proper leak testing solution. If the high pressure gauge drops and at the same time the low pressure gauge rises, there is a leak in the regulator seat.

DO NOT USE THE EQUIPMENT UNTIL THERE ARE NO LEAKS IN THE SYSTEM.

6. Never switch regulators from one gas service to another. Regulators are gas specific for safety reasons.

7. Always be sure to use Tips (Nozzles) that are intended to be used with the Fuel Gas you are using.

8. Do NOT use Acetylene above 15 psig. Acetylene becomes very unstable above 15 psig, and most delivery pressure gauges are "red-lined" at 15 psig for this very reason.

9. Wear proper eye protection at all times. Even small jobs can produce sparks, smoke, and fumes. Check with your gas supplier for the proper type and shade of lens for your job.

10. Keep your work area free from flammable materials that could catch sparks and ignite. Always keep a fire extinguisher handy, just in case.

11. Remember to consult your gas supplier whenever you have a question on the safe handling of gases and cylinders. He is the local expert, and is there to assist you.

Additional Technical and Safety Information

Compressed Gas Association Safety Bulletin	Avoid Dangerous Reverse Flow of Gases	Little Torch Operations Manual
Uniweld Regulator Operating Instructions	Torches and Soldering Equipment	Little Torch Hose Replacement Instructions

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