Oxy Acetylene torch

[Zack1978]

Hi everyone,
In the future I would love to start on my dream project....A complete swap of running gear into a rust free frame and body from my 79 4x4 Short bed Toyota p/u. As the truck sits now EVERY nut and bolt has major rust on it, and I know that I will never get them off, even if the truck sat in liquid wrench for a year. So it seems that a torch would be the best tool for this project. I have a few questions below....

1. What am I looking at in terms of price to buy a complete set-up?
2. Will it work well to blast out rusty bolts?
3.Is a torch like this hard to use?
4. Is there a good chance that I could blow myself up using a torch set-up?
5. What are the pro's and con's to a torch?
6. What other uses will I find for a torch?
7. Is there a good chance that I could blow myself up using a torch?

Thanks,
Zack

 

[Lake Rat]

Zack, if you've never used O/A set up, you may need to read up on it a little, it does take a little practice you use one. You can probably find the torch, regulators and hose kit for a pretty resonable price, I got mine at Lowe's, it is a Harris (Victor) for I think around $179.00 5 -6 years ago, I don't think they have gone up much since then. They come set up with the tip that will cut up to 1" thick steel, although you probably will not use it on stuff that thick. It will blast out the rusty bolts, but you need to keep your aim to the bolt, unless you don't care about the metal piece around it. The some of the pros and cons are pro:, not only can you burn through metal, you can use it to heat the metal to re-shape it, one con- you run out of gas. Typically, if you adjust your torch correctly, you will use two bottles of acetylene to one oxygen (oxygen will last longer as the oxygen is for the cutting and the acetylene is for the heating in the cutting process). With a little proctice, they are not hard to use.

Yes, it can explode...if you are careless, however, I have been around these things all my life and I know numerous other users of these rigs and no one has blown them selves up yet. Just be careful when handling the oxygen regulator, do not touch the part that taps the bottle with you fingers, or any type of oils and make sure it stays clean. Oil + high pressure oxygen = explosion. Use a good degreaser to clean if you are not sure. Although the acetylene needs to be clean also, it is not as sensitive as the oxygen.

I have been taught and always told, and still do, when starting your torch, open the oxygen bottle completely and adjust your regulator to 15 lbs., open the acetylene bottle a little more than a 1/4 turn and adjust regulator to 5 lbs. Like wise, open the oxygen feed at the bottom of the torch all the way, open the acetylene one quarter turn, light the torch and adjust the knob at the top until you see good sharp blue points on the flame and your good to go. Cutting is just a matter of practice, heat the metal until starts melting a little bit, push the level with your thumb and sparks fly.... Then to turn off, reverse the procedure.

I'm sure there will be more replies to your thread. Best thing is, go to a welding supply shop and ask questions and if you know of any welders, speak with them.

 

[Pin_Head]

1. What am I looking at in terms of price to buy a complete set-up?

$250-500

2. Will it work well to blast out rusty bolts?

Yes. Getting out broken ones with OA takes some skill

3.Is a torch like this hard to use?

Depends on what you are doing with it.

4. Is there a good chance that I could blow myself up using a torch set-up?

Has been known to happen.

5. What are the pro's and con's to a torch?

Pros: Versatile process. You can cut, weld, braze, heat, silver solder. Cons: It is a slow process that puts a lot of heat into the weld. Approved proess for welding 4130 aircraft tube.

6. What other uses will I find for a torch?

Kids like to play with it.

 

[BellyDoc]

I've got two words for you:

1) Plasma

2) Cutter

A plasma cutter is to an oxy-acet torch what a MIG welding machine is to... an oxy-acet torch... except for it cuts.

That didn't come out as crystal clear as I'd hoped. Let me explain.

Plasma cutters use electric arcs for heat and regular compressed air to oxidize and blow out the metal that you've melted. Since you don't have explosive gasses on hand and old cracked hoses for them to leak out of, they're MUCH safer. They also happen to cut a lot better too.

I learned oxy-acet basics in high school and at a trade school/community college over 25 years ago. The circumstances were ideal. The shop space was big, all the tools were maintained, safety was supervised, and clean up was enforced.

Now, I have a hobby garage. The space is cramped, I never spend enough time cleaning up, and I use tools until they fall apart. Right now, there's a 42" spare tire leaning up against my fire extinguisher. My bedroom, complete with wife, kids, laundry baskets, and flat panel TV is right on top.

Quite frankly, I'll use my oxy-acet torch on a very limited basis right now... only for rosebud heating, and only after rolling it OUT into the driveway. I may be paranoid, but I've got a lot to lose if I screw up.

The plasma cutter, however, is MUCH safer... and MUCH more effective. I'll use it in the garage, I'll use it out of position, I'll use it overhead, I'll use it in cramped corners. I just have to worry about where the lava shower goes that spits out of the cut. Sometimes if I'm working into a corner, the spray of molten metal whips back at me. I can usually tell if that's going to happen, and if I think it's unavoidable, I'll prepare accordingly.

Get a plasma cutter.

I always advocate for getting the most possible tool you can house... not the most you can afford. The pain of over-spending eventually passes. The pain of UNDER-spending NEVER GOES AWAY.

Here's a plasma cut on quarter inch plate, using a "drag tip" and a 2x4 as a straight edge.

This was cut free-hand using the standard tip. This is 1 inch thick plate steel.

A good plasma cut has a small amount of "dross" which taps off using a chipping hammer or snaps off with a pair of pliers. The metal is basically weld-ready, but I'll usually hit it with a flap wheel sanding disk in my grinder before welding, just to remove any impurities.

 

[My4x4FJ40]

Torch

I agree with the plasma and I'm in the market for a new one now also, but they are not cheap for a good one. If you are interest in getting a O/A set up I have a extra one w/heavy duty torch that I traded for with everything but the tanks for 125.00 shipped. I want to hook them up to my tanks and make sure everything a go and I will post a pic after I do this.

thanks
lee

 

[Zack1978]

Will a plasma cutter do well with rusty bolts? I guess the oxy acetylene idea came from the exhaust shop I was in a few months ago with my Pathfinder. It needed some new exhaust brackets, and the old bracket bolts were all rotted. It seemed like in seconds all the bolts were gone....The 79 plow truck is a sea of rust.

Zack

 

[Mace]

oxy is better on rust.

 

[BellyDoc]

It could be that if you rust out a bunch of metal SO MUCH that it's no longer conducting electricity... a plasma cutter would be rendered ineffective.

That's totally theoretical in my world.

Here in Arizona, rust is a decorative surface finish for rustic looking outdoor furniture. I've never actually seen it in my garage.

 

[Mace]

It could be that if you rust out a bunch of metal SO MUCH that it's no longer conducting electricity... a plasma cutter would be rendered ineffective.

That's totally theoretical in my world.

Here in Arizona, rust is a decorative surface finish for rustic looking outdoor furniture. I've never actually seen it in my garage.

It's a reality in Vegas for me.

I have a plasma and a oxy. I LOVE the plasma, But the Oxy is backup when things get stupid.

 

[madinal]

Zack, this is what community college is for...before I bought my welder and torch I spent a couple of seasons of Saturday mornings at the community college and got trained on their use. I also linked to a manual on welding/cutting in another thread that you should look up.
It's worth the education so you don't "blow yourself up."

 

[ar2stp48]

Zack, A good Victor 100 kit will run $400+; good torch and will do the things you want. I started with a Sear (Harris) which was larger and harder to manage; quickly sold it and got the Victor.

Have you checked on expense of bottles? Torch is the only the first of your expenses. Will you rent them? Or do the companies still offer a lifetime lease? They may call it purchase now, and the cost is based on size of bottle..

I would also suggest looking into a plasma cutter. Certainly have one on my want list and hope to have a small Miller in a couple of months.

 

[tgreening]

Plasma cutters are nice, but a bit more problematic than a torch when it comes to support equipment. With a plasma you need a good high output compressor with very very good filters. Nothing eats up consumables on a plasma like wet dirty air, and consumables are not exactly cheap.

I have small plasma and relatively large plasma. I've got small Harris torches, heavier victor torches, and some big torches that would cut a solid steel building in half.

If you can only have one, I'd go with the oxy torch. While plasma with cut nicer and easier, that's pretty much all it can do. An O/A torch on the other hand will cut, braze, solder, weld, and it just might get a bunch of those rusted bolts out leaving the threaded holes more or less intact.

 

[Zack1978]

Well I mentioned to the g/f that I wanted a torch, so "Santa" (aka g/f told my mom what I wanted and mom got it for me) dropped this under the tree. Now I need to get the gas cyl's. Whta do you think of my new Oxy torch? Is it good quality?

http://www.smithequipment.com/products/pdfpages2010/page08.pdf

Zack

 

[fj40charles]

Well I mentioned to the g/f that I wanted a torch, so "Santa" (aka g/f told my mom what I wanted and mom got it for me) dropped this under the tree. Now I need to get the gas cyl's. Whta do you think of my new Oxy torch? Is it good quality?

http://www.smithequipment.com/products/pdfpages2010/page08.pdf

Zack

That is a nice set. Smith makes very nice O/A torches and gauges.
I'd say the quality is as good or better than Victor and Harris.

Mainly, it comes down to preference.

Plasma cutters have their place, but will not replace an O/A torch. There are just too many things an O/A will do.

Ideally, you want 2 sets of O/A torches and tanks. One portable for when doing plumbing or AC work and a larger O/A set for everything else.

Believe or not, but you can get VERY good cuts using the cutting torch. It comes down to the operator skill.

 

[Zack1978]

That is a nice set. Smith makes very nice O/A torches and gauges.
I'd say the quality is as good or better than Victor and Harris.

Mainly, it comes down to preference.

Plasma cutters have their place, but will not replace an O/A torch. There are just too many things an O/A will do.

Ideally, you want 2 sets of O/A torches and tanks. One portable for when doing plumbing or AC work and a larger O/A set for everything else.

Believe or not, but you can get VERY good cuts using the cutting torch. It comes down to the operator skill.

Well I think that I am going to enroll in a course at the County tech school. The class is expensive at $550, but it sounds like it will be very useful. The only thing is that it meets twice a week for three hours a class, for the semester. It might be hard to make every class....


Zack

 

[lowtops]

Take the class before you buy bottles. For several reasons.

The class will teach you the proper way to handle and store the bottles, how to hook-up the connections, proper settings for the gauges, and various other do's and dont's. Not to mention how to actually cut, weld, and braze metal.

The school I went to would let you order a bottle of gas through them, using their discount. Which was considerably less expensive than retail.

What kind of class are you going to take? Is it part of a welding program? You should be able to take just a cutting class and save money.

About the torches. Smith makes a quality product. I prefer Victor because I liked the way it fit my hand and I thought the balance was better. That's all subjective though. If Santa had brought me that set you got, I would be very happy.

Pay attention during the welding portion of the oxy/fuel class. Although welding with torches is an arcane way of joining metal, it shares some techniques with TIG welding. If you can oxy/fuel weld you have a solid foundation to learn TIG.


Once you start classes you won't skip. You will be enjoying it too much.

 

[Zack1978]

Take the class before you buy bottles. For several reasons.

The class will teach you the proper way to handle and store the bottles, how to hook-up the connections, proper settings for the gauges, and various other do's and dont's. Not to mention how to actually cut, weld, and braze metal.

The school I went to would let you order a bottle of gas through them, using their discount. Which was considerably less expensive than retail.

What kind of class are you going to take? Is it part of a welding program? You should be able to take just a cutting class and save money.

About the torches. Smith makes a quality product. I prefer Victor because I liked the way it fit my hand and I thought the balance was better. That's all subjective though. If Santa had brought me that set you got, I would be very happy.

Pay attention during the welding portion of the oxy/fuel class. Although welding with torches is an arcane way of joining metal, it shares some techniques with TIG welding. If you can oxy/fuel weld you have a solid foundation to learn TIG.


Once you start classes you won't skip. You will be enjoying it too much.

Yes, the class is Part I of the welding program, and it includes oxy/acetylene welding/cutting. Part II of the welding class (another $550) covers MIG welding, which I have as well.

Zack