Dunkin' Donuts doesn't know oxyfuel

Have you seen the Dunkin' Donuts (DD) commercial that features men wielding oxyfuel torches to toast food? When this commercial aired as my husband/resident welding expert and I watched TV the other night, he immediately began to point out all the things that were wrong from a technical standpoint.

Most viewers would think the commercial is creative and memorable, particularly since it features culinary expert and Dunkin' Donuts spokesperson Rachel Ray. (Somehow the culinary expert and Dunkin' Donuts spokesperson combination seems oxymoronic.) But according to my expert, it's rife with mistakes.

The DD torch bearers are wearing arc welding personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes a welding helmet. Oxyfuel cutters typically wear goggles.

The flame shown in the commercial is a carbonizing flame usually produced with air fuel equipment and not oxyfuel, although oxyfuel can be used.

There are no gauge guards on the fuel tank regulators. A big no-no.

Those who developed the commercial clearly went for maximum visual effect, not authenticity. The toasters pulling down their shields resembled knights preparing for battle. And despite the errors pointed out by my husband, I like the commercial. I give it three and a half stars. I'd give it four, but I'm not a fan of fast food or those who hawk it.

For a much more accurate picture of the oxyfuel process, you need go no farther than this Web site. Thefabricator.com features two excellent articles about oxyfuel cutting in its Article Archive: Practicing safe oxyfuel cutting: Tips for proper equipment use and Safety: The burning issue in oxyfuel torch use: Understanding and preventing backfires and flashbacks.

You may be asking what's the big deal if this commercial isn't technically accurate? It isn't a big deal, unless you happen to live with someone who knows his stuff and feels compelled to share it.

And there you have it. A short, sweet blog post. Kind of like a Dunkin' Donuts jelly filled donut minus the 270 calories, 10 fat grams (g), 39g of sodium, and 12g of sugar.