[tacticalogic]

Probably, since it was a trailer. I don't think he was welding. He was probably using the torch to break some frozen bolt on the 2 peice rim. He may have had most of them off, the valve stem pulled, but there was that fix-a-flat in their that blew up since the valve stem was open and a gas/air mix still in there-exposed to the flame.

Sounds possible. I thought welding sounded kind of odd, too. Wonder if he might have been trying to re-seat it using the ether/gasonline method, but substituted acetlyene?

[spunkets]

"Wonder if he might have been trying to re-seat it using the ether/gasonline method, but substituted acetlyene?"

I doubt it. This is a modern shop and he's got a band to wrap around the circumfrence and tighten, which brings both beads in contact with the rim. With his soap and large CFM compressor, he'd have no problem.

Just a caution... Acetylene explodes at anything over 14psi, so it should never go into anything under pressure. The stuff in the tank is dissolved in acetone for that reason and the tank should always be upright when drawing from it-esle the acetone comes out.

[jonascord]

Like a cop would know the difference. Stick and torch welding is becoming a lost art, when Lowes has a $200 MIG welder. I can see him using a torch to heat up a lug, or burn off a nut. Air heated to 1500 degrees is going to expand. Boyle's Law rides again.