oxy acetylene recomendations?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

RavenTai

RavenTai

Joined
Nov 16, 2003
Threads
105
Messages
6,045
Location
Dixie co. Florida
I need to get a torch setup, the immediate task is brazing, but I would also like to have a cutting torch and welding tips, appropriate regulators bottle stand etc, I do not have any other welder so this will be it until I get a mig, I did some gas welding in school, I found it difficult but do-able, I have rented in the past but I really would like to buy a set this time and just have it.

I hear Smith is good, I like the lifetime warranty but their full set looks like $400 + more $ bottles and stand etc cannot part with that kind of coin right now.


Are their any good value sets out there that would be good for occasional use?

or should I wait and hunt down a used smith setup?
 
I would hit the pawn shops and see what they have....I have been tempted to try one of the sets that sells on ebay for $100, but haven't yet. The set I have is an old set I got from my wife's great uncle. He was a locksmith and got the set from a local bank the day after someone used them to break into the bank safe in the 70's :grinpimp:

If it worked for them, I figured that they would work for what I need ...


bk
 
Check out Victor and go to the hobart welding forum http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/ - they do have a lot of info on torches. I have a victor superrange setup but am going to ditch that. Local FD is giving me grief about storing oxygen in the same location as low power explosives for some reason :D .
 
I have a victor superrange setup but am going to ditch that. Local FD is giving me grief about storing oxygen in the same location as low power explosives for some reason :D .[/QUOTE]

I`ll take that setup off your hands Junk.Bring it to the meeting Saturday.I`ll bring you a lolly pop.
David
 
For the occasional use, I would consider the "harbor frieght" special!

I bought their set when I did my solid axle on my tacoma and it worked very well for that. I also used it to braze a power steering pump reservior and it did very, very well for that.

since then I have not used it going on two years. So for $70 or so bucks I got my money worth out of it so far. I just need to bite the bullet and buy me some tanks, I am sure I could use it more since I am fabbing up junk for the tacoma on a daily basis now and those cut off wheels are starting to add up. Not to mention I am about to start surgery on the FJ's in the near future.
 
I learned on an old Craftsman set. I thought it was fine for quite a few years, until I replaced it with a Victor set and finally realized what a piece of s*** I had been using.

But you can get by pretty well with a cheap set. The tanks are spendy and they're never big enough.
 
Have cash ready and look around for a used set. Craigslist is good source.
The most expensive part of O/A setup will be the large cylinders.

Plan on spending around $300+ for a complete O/A setup with large cylinders.

If you go cheap now and get the small cylinders, you'll soon be paying it back with frequent re-fills of gas.
 
I have used Victor torches for the last thirty years and have not had any problems. Two weeks ago I purchased a Victor Journeyman setup and love it. Pricey but worth it.
 
Thanks much for the info guys,

I think I am going to look around for used for a wile, I hope I can score some tanks in a used setup as decent sized tanks seam to be a large portion of the cost of a O/A setup,

If not probably going to go with the Victor super range II it seams to be the standard in the mid range, or I may piece together a just brazing/welding setup for now, and add bits as I go

Raven
 
While Vic quality cannot be argued, how about a 'good enough' set? Radnor comes to mind for me.
Radnor is to Victor, as Hobart is to Miller, as I see it.

Smith is another 'good enough' quaility that comes to mind.
http://www.smithequipment.com/index.html

(I actually asked a similar question on another forum and got this info)
 
Wile E Coyote said:
While Vic quality cannot be argued, how about a 'good enough' set? Radnor comes to mind for me.
Radnor is to Victor, as Hobart is to Miller, as I see it.

Smith is another 'good enough' quaility that comes to mind.
http://www.smithequipment.com/index.html

(I actually asked a similar question on another forum and got this info)
Click to expand...

Some of the Victor torches are made in China are not to compared to the older Victor torches.
Radnor is a house brand for Airgas. I would get whatever set of torches that come with your used O/A setup.

Unless you plan on using it all the time, I doubt it would matter much.
 
For brazing, heating, and cutting single stage regulators are OK but if you envision using your set to actually weld with 2 stage regulators are much better. They don't vary in output to the torch because of flow rate or remaining tank pressure.

It's nice to buy a set but piecing one together from used or new single items can tailor the setup to your needs. I bought the Victor journeyman set years ago and have since replaced every one of the pieces in it, kinda' making me wonder why I bought the set in the first place.
 
honk said:
For brazing, heating, and cutting single stage regulators are OK but if you envision using your set to actually weld with 2 stage regulators are much better. They don't vary in output to the torch because of flow rate or remaining tank pressure.

It's nice to buy a set but piecing one together from used or new single items can tailor the setup to your needs. I bought the Victor journeyman set years ago and have since replaced every one of the pieces in it, kinda' making me wonder why I bought the set in the first place.
Click to expand...

I do plan to weld with it, not a bumper or any other large project but there have been many times were it would have been very helpful to be able to lay down a few 1" long welds on a small project like repairing/making/modifying tools making brackets household stuff etc.

I had read a little about the 2 stage vs 1 stage in the Hobart forum Junk linked above, 2 stage seams the way to go but a new pair of 2 stage regulators from a known manufacturer cost three to four hundred $, witch is more than most sets (witch seam to come only with single stage regulators)

I have read that many people doing production O/A welding, mainly aircraft and bike builders, like the small easy to handle torches. Especially the small Smith and the Meco midget. The Meco is a dedicated welder only (but does a good job of it) the Smith although larger and less handy has the advantage of also having a cutting attachment. So I was thinking about getting this kit

http://store.cyberweld.com/vereandairco.html

Seen it elsewhere for as low as $318, and gets me the small torch and will weld or cut anything I would need too, problem is the small tanks are useless and would have to be replaced, the small regulators are single stage and would not fit larger tanks so those would have to be replaced the hose is short and I would need to add more welding and heating tips,


In comes Evilbay and here is a start of a set.

Sniped these old style Meco regulators a few minutes ago ~$30 for the pair + shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320180835882&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320180837317&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011

They appear to be beefy US made 2 stage regulators; or at least the pic of the Acetylene regulator that shows the back is, he did not show the back of the 02 regulator but it appears to be of a similar style,

I don't have much faith in EBay regulators if they work on arrival there is no grantee for how long, so I am probably going to pick up another set also, any specific recommendations on regulators for welding?

There are a lot on there most going cheap, of course there are a ton of no name import regulators there, staying way from those, Victor seams to be the hot name on Ebay even the lower end import victors are high as long as they are shiny looking, the older lesser know US made regulators seam to go relatively unnoticed I am trying to pick these out,
 
Last edited:
I bought both my Harris 2 stage regulators in ebay. They were NOS, never used and in their boxes. Both from the same seller who ran them in seperate auctions. I was able to snipe the first one for about $50. but the other guy bidding was on his guard after losing and it took $130. to get the second one. I remember having to watch for about two weeks until they showed up.

I'd be real hesitant to buy any old well used regulators. While most can still be repaired it can get expensive and slow to have it done. There ARE some old brands still out there whose makers have long since gone out of business and parts are just not available.

I also have one of those tote sets by Victor. Bought it at least 15 years ago. I use it now with a Smith minitorch on 3/16" hoses. It has little bitty tips for little bitty HOT acetyline flames that I use mostly downstairs for fine gunwork. As a walkaround welding set using the Victor torch set it was pretty nice to be able to easily take the whole thing with me when needed.
 
honk said:
I bought both my Harris 2 stage regulators in ebay. They were NOS, never used and in their boxes. Both from the same seller who ran them in seperate auctions. I was able to snipe the first one for about $50. but the other guy bidding was on his guard after losing and it took $130. to get the second one. I remember having to watch for about two weeks until they showed up.

I'd be real hesitant to buy any old well used regulators. While most can still be repaired it can get expensive and slow to have it done. There ARE some old brands still out there whose makers have long since gone out of business and parts are just not available.

I also have one of those tote sets by Victor. Bought it at least 15 years ago. I use it now with a Smith minitorch on 3/16" hoses. It has little bitty tips for little bitty HOT acetyline flames that I use mostly downstairs for fine gunwork. As a walkaround welding set using the Victor torch set it was pretty nice to be able to easily take the whole thing with me when needed.
Click to expand...

I agree. I would not buy used regulators on flea bay. It can cost more to repair a regulator than buying a new one. Not worth the risk to me.

I also have one of those Portatote O/A torch kits. This is real nice for any work requiring portability. I use it silver solder copper tubing (buried underground requires it).
 
FJBEAR said:
For the occasional use, I would consider the "harbor frieght" special!

I bought their set when I did my solid axle on my tacoma and it worked very well for that. I also used it to braze a power steering pump reservior and it did very, very well for that.

since then I have not used it going on two years. So for $70 or so bucks I got my money worth out of it so far. I just need to bite the bullet and buy me some tanks, I am sure I could use it more since I am fabbing up junk for the tacoma on a daily basis now and those cut off wheels are starting to add up. Not to mention I am about to start surgery on the FJ's in the near future.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't trust harbor frieght anything with one of the most flamable and explosive gases in the world...acetyline. Especially when I just picked up a tank of oxygen, a tank of acetyline, two victor regulators and a craftsman torch with welding tip for $200. Now, I got this from a friend and he gave me the friend price for sure, but craigs has so many quality o/a torches for sale.
 
I got mine at home depot 5 years ago and they work great. they have a complete kit for around 150.00 plus another 200 for bottles. Unless u use small bottles. I have a small set i carry in my rig for trail rides. Only i use propane instead of acetaline propane is less volitale and u can get in a real small bottle for cheap. Although it is not as hot it still works great for small trail repairs.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom