Industrial Acetylene Supplier in Pittsburgh, PA
Greco Gas is a trusted acetylene supplier serving Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania, with a full inventory of cylinder sizes ready for welding shops, fabricators, and industrial facilities. Since 1941, our team has supplied the region with dependable gas delivery, hands-on technical support, and the cylinder sizes that actually match how a shop operates.
What Is Acetylene?
Acetylene (C2H2) is a colorless gas with a faint, garlic-like odor. When burned in an oxygen atmosphere, acetylene produces one of the hottest flames of any fuel gas, reaching temperatures above 6,000°F (3,100 to 3,300°C). That intensity, combined with its reducing flame that helps clean contaminants from a metal surface, makes acetylene a preferred choice for cutting, welding, and heat treating high-strength steel.
Acetylene also plays a role outside the welding shop. It's a key raw material in chemical manufacturing, used to help produce ethylene, methane, polyurethane, and other polyester plastics, including the PVC found in many household plastic products.
Acetylene Applications
- Welding and cutting — oxy-fuel torches rely on acetylene's high flame temperature for clean, fast cuts and welds on high-strength steel
- Industrial heating — brazing, soldering, and heat treatment processes
- Chemical manufacturing — raw material feedstock for ethylene, methane, polyurethane, and polyester plastic production
- Atomic absorption spectroscopy — laboratory analytical applications requiring a controlled, consistent flame
As a complete industrial gas supplier, Greco Gas also supplies the oxygen that pairs with acetylene for oxy-fuel cutting and welding, along with a full range of shielding and welding gases for shops running multiple processes.
Acetylene Cylinder Sizes
Acetylene is unstable under pressure as a free gas, so it's dissolved into a cylinder filled with acetone and a porous filler material (typically a calcium silicate or charcoal-based matrix), which stabilizes it for safe storage and transport. Greco Gas stocks a full range of cylinder sizes to match the scale of your operation:
| Cylinder Size | Approximate Gas Volume | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| MC | 10 cu. ft. | Portable/field work, small repairs |
| B | 40 cu. ft. | Light-duty shops, hobbyist use |
| #3 / A | 75 cu. ft. | Small to medium fabrication shops |
| #4 | 110-145 cu. ft. | Production welding, regular shop use |
| #5 | 300+ cu. ft. | High-volume industrial and fabrication facilities |
Cylinder volumes are approximate and may vary by manufacturer. Our team can help you determine the right size and quantity based on your weekly usage.
Acetylene Safety & Handling
Acetylene is highly flammable and must be handled by trained personnel under controlled conditions. A few key safety points Greco Gas builds into every delivery:
- Withdrawal rate matters. Acetylene should generally be withdrawn from a cylinder at no more than 1/7 of its rated capacity per hour to avoid pulling liquid acetone out with the gas.
- Cylinders must stay upright. Because acetylene is dissolved in acetone inside a porous filler, storing or using cylinders on their side can allow acetone to enter the regulator and torch.
- Flashback arrestors are essential. These prevent a flame from traveling back into the cylinder or hose line.
- Trained handling only. Our team can walk your staff through proper setup, storage, and changeout procedures.
Trust Greco Gas for the safe, compliant delivery of acetylene to your facility.
Methods of Acetylene Production
Acetylene can be produced by any of three methods:
- Reaction of water with calcium carbide (the method used to produce Greco Gas acetylene)
- Passage of a hydrocarbon through an electric arc
- Partial combustion of methane with air or oxygen
Acetylene is also used as a starting material to make solvents, acetylenic alcohols, and acetic acid.
Grades of Acetylene We Supply
- Industrial Grade — the standard grade used for welding, cutting, brazing, and heat treating applications across fabrication and manufacturing shops
- Atomic Absorption Grade — a higher-purity grade used in laboratory atomic absorption spectroscopy, where flame consistency and purity directly affect analytical results
Not sure which grade fits your application? Our team can help you determine the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
We stock a full range of acetylene cylinders, from small MC and B cylinders for portable and light-duty use up to larger #4 and #5 cylinders for production welding and high-volume industrial facilities.
Yes. We supply and deliver acetylene to welding shops, fabricators, and industrial facilities throughout Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania from our Tarentum, Butler, and Kittanning locations.
Acetylene is dissolved in acetone inside a porous filler material within the cylinder. Storing or using the cylinder on its side can allow liquid acetone to enter the regulator or torch, which can damage equipment and create an unsafe condition.
As a general safety guideline, acetylene should be withdrawn from a cylinder at no more than roughly 1/7 of its total rated capacity per hour. Withdrawing gas faster than this can pull liquid acetone out of the cylinder along with the gas.
Industrial grade acetylene is standard for welding, cutting, and heating applications. Atomic absorption grade is a higher-purity gas used specifically in laboratory spectroscopy work where flame consistency affects analytical accuracy.
Yes. Greco Gas supplies both acetylene and oxygen, along with the full range of welding and shielding gases your shop may need, so you can source your gas supply from a single, reliable provider.
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