A thermal lance, thermic lance, oxygen lance, or burning bar is a tool that heats and melts steel in the presence of pressurized oxygen to create very high temperatures for cutting. It consists of a long steel tube packed with alloy steel rods, sometimes mixed with aluminium rods to increase the heat output.

How does an oxygen lance work?

A Thermic Lance is a steel pipe packed with mixed metal wires. ... The iron in the steel burns in the oxygen coming down the pipe to produce enormous heat and a liquid slag of iron oxides and other materials, which dribbles and splashes out, just like an enormous firework sparkler.

What is oxygen lance made of?

A thermic or oxygen lance is a steel tube with steel wires inserted, in which both components are made out of mild steel. This construction allows a flow of oxygen through the tube, as long as one end is connected to pressurised oxygen.