Make it hot...make it cold...make it hot...make it cold...make it hot oww fuck shit make it cold...cold goddamnit...now make it hot...make it cold...make it hot...make it cold...make it hot......
 
 

R. Marino Photo by J. Vindeola

From Reefer For speed, leave it hot all the time...for swiss cheese, let a tender do it...for accuracy, let Al Bertleman do it and for sheer entertainment let Max Kimble do it. From TN When you burn your rod down too far and it gets stuck in the collet, take your Big Chief and open it up. Close the blade against the stub to trap it against the Big Chief's handle. Squeeze your knife tight and pull that little bastard out of there. From driftpin I like to stuff a few extra rods down the side of one of my bottom boots (the tall slip on kind). You know, you always need just one more to finish the cut. From Bitter Experience If you go down and can't penetrate, and the next guy goes down and can't penetrate, and the next guy the same thing, don't go thinking it's something exotic like magnetized steel or some other bullshit theory. Check your O2 regulator. It has to be a high flow type of reg. If it's just a regular old regulator, you can jack it up all the way and it still won't flow enough volume to get your burn all the way through. Been there, done that, looked stupid.

From hammerwrench@mailcity.com
How To Make Broco Darts
-or-
Something To Do Which Will Get You Into Trouble
Hacksaw the crimped end off a broco rod.  Take all the little rods that fall out and cut them in half. Fret each of them with a small piece of a strand of 1/4" rope and a little duct tape. Make sure the fret will pass through the empty broco rod. It should be pretty tight but not so tight it's hard to pass through the empty rod. Stick a dart into the empty rod - breach load it like a shot gun - and put the rod in the torch handle. Dial your O2 up to about 300 psi or so. Range: 100 yards easily. Sharpen them if you like, but even unsharpened ones will go right through a sea gull. Excercise common sense.
You didn't learn this here.
   

A good tender wire brushing Broco rods before sending them down.

More from Reefer:
Wisdom is inevitable.  Living long enough to share it with others, is not....Never burn into any pipeline, unless you're on air at 220ftsw.  After that depth, common sense ceases to be a hindersome concern and you can freely burn into all pipelines.  Always load your high top boots with all the extra rods you can afford to lose.(and you will, usually when you jump in)  Don't ever forget to take a rig axe.  Feeding fish on decompression is easier with a barnacle chopper.  Cut out the pre-dive coffee.  You can't afford to be nervous down there.  Remember to leave as many hangers as possible.  The dive rotation will go around further and Russian Roulette can seem fun, after your turn is over.  Following these simple steps won't ensure longevity or wisdom.  If  you want those things, try retirement.    Now get down there and make it hot!      Reefer

Talking about wedges, take a few small scrap steel wedges down with you in a pocket with a small hammer. As you go along the length of the cut, bang a wedge into the cut every few feet or so. Again this stops the weight of the top piece from sagging downwards and jamming. It also makes it easier to see if you have left any "holidays" in the cut.

Talking about "holidays", or bridges. If you do leave some, the thing will not come loose under the lifting power of the crane when you claim you are finished. The crane driver will not thank you for making him risk a broken wire. Your vision might be hampered by bad vis, or if the water is clear you will probably blind yourself with the flash at some point, so use a hacksaw blade to confirm the cut is through, and make sure that your section of the cut is complete. Do not expect the next guy to go over your bit again. The wedge tip really helps here.

Check, double check, and check again that O2 will not be trapped in a pocket above the burn site and potentially cause a fatal explosion. If you think there is a chance of a pocket forming, see if you can burn a hole at the top of the area to allow the O2 to escape. You can test the likelihood of a pocket with your breathing gas or pneumo before starting to cut. Take the time to do this because otherwise the "fatal" part might apply to you.

Start the cut at the most awkward spot, and work towards the easy part. Towards the end of the cut, get the crane rigged for the lift and apply a wee bit of tension. Then get yourself into a safe, clear area where you can make the final slice, and watch with satisfaction as that sucker pops slightly upwards and free.(If you have left any holidays you will forego that satisfaction and you will look like a beginner. You will also have to scrabble about under an unstable load looking for the culprit, and be prepared to duck when it does pop free!) Try to sound casual as you inform the supervisor that the load is clear to the surface.

Before you do anything make sure you are in a stable position, get yourself really comfortable, relax, think about the cut and then enjoy yourself. Remember you are the best burner in the North Sea/Gulf of Mexico/Middle East/Far East!
Cal.