In Oxyfuel cutting fuel gases and oxygen are used to cut sheet steel. Oxyfuel cutting is a chemical reaction between pure oxygen and steel to form iron oxide. Preheat flames are used to raise the surface or edge of the steel to approximately 1800°F (bright red color).
Pure oxygen is then directed toward the heated area in a fine, high pressure stream. As the steel is oxidized and blown away to form a cavity, the preheat and oxygen stream are moved at constant speed to form a continuous cut. Only metals whose oxides have a lower melting point than the base metal itself can be cut with this process. Hence, Only low carbon steel and some low alloys meet the above condition and can be cut effectively with the oxyfuel process. IT can be best used for thickness of around 80 mm.