Harris or Smith propane/oxygen torch set

[MJPetersen]

Originally Posted by bota7800

I did??? If I said propane it was a mistake. I am looking at O/A

Sorry if I confused anyone.

Opps sorry--I was wrong--the OP said that he wanted Propane to cut. I confused you with the OP. Sorry about that.

Mike

[chvet73]

I have had all 3 major brands. Sold my Smiths as no one in California seems to carry them.
All 3 work great.
But without a doubt I like my Victor 100 set the best. I also have the heavy duty victor and harldy ever use it.

[Sundanno]

I like the victor brand the best. I agree with what has been said earlier, the small portable torch bottles are for convenience, I have 2 sets of them plus a larger set of bottles, 75 aceteylene and 125 oxygen. I have also found it costs almost as much to fill the small bottles as it does the larger sizes. I have found you generally use almost twice as much oxygen as acetylene if you're cutting. I tried cutting with propane before using the propane tip and never did get very good at it.

[dbdartman]

Don't know about the A O Smith torches, I'm a Victor fan myself as their parts are easiest to find around here, but the best regulators I've ever used were Smith (dual diaphragms)They maintained more consistent outlet pressure, especially when the tanks get low, than even the Victor dual diaphragms. You'll likely end up with single diaphragm regulators, & they will work OK (especially for hobby/infrequent use), but I'd suggest you get in the habit of checking your gauges ofter during use. Don't expect to get more than 5-6 years out of the regulators either.

I picked up the Victor look-alike knock-off kit from one of the mail order catalogs (JC Whitney, Norther, etc, don't remember) 16-18 years ago for something like $89.95 on sale. Everything except the torch & tips has been replaced at least once (& this thing sees very little use). The torch however, has been bullet-proof.

I saw that torch kit in the Craftsman catalog just yesterday (when it came in the mail). I didn't think it was a bad deal, & didn't look into S&H costs (if any), but I think I can do better piecing a "kit" together.

[dirt ditch]

My dad's is a Victor set. It older than I am, but I have not found a Victor oxy/propane set. Think I will go with a Smith set. Maybe just the medium duty set, it's a tad smaller and cheaper. Most of my cutting will be 3/8 or less anyway. Just saw Orscheln carries Smith propane tips and I'm sure there are other dealers around.

[Iron Horse]

I sold my new Harris set for half what i paid to purchase a CIG Comet 3 set . It was money well spent .

[dirt ditch]

Found a picture of a CIG Comit 3 set on ebay. neat looking torch. I am sure they are good, but probably manufactured to Australian standards not US standards. The real kicker for me would be the kPa thing. Guss if I kept the gauge needles out of the red......

[Iron Horse]

The Harris is of high build quality but the Comet 3 is more refined , and somehow mix the gasses better . Its a pleasure to use , If you can't get one with imperial gauges you could allways use a conversion chart to go from PSI-KPA . My set is in imperial as ive had it a while .

[mred]

Not being an expert I wonder if your comparing the right things. I have done my share of torch cutting and welding. I grew up a power plant welder as a father so I have been around welding all of my life. I was tought that you needed a good set of gauges for welding but cutting expecially with propane it didn't really matter that much. From what I remember, your talking about top end sets here. Do you really need them for cutting with propane is my question ? Just a reference I have Harris, Victor, and Airco sets. I have never seen a difference cutting but welding I have. Then again I have never used propane.

[dirt ditch]

When I buy quality tools I look at it as an investment. Have not found any cheap oxygen/propane torch sets. Could buy a cheap oxygen/acetylene torch set, then go buy propane tips and propane rated hose. The face of the fuel gages would be calibrated for acetylene not propane. For a little more up front Ill have a good torch set that is setup ready to go when it arrives.