Flatheadyoungin
Veteran Member
never use an oily glove on the shut off valve of you oxy tank.....can (key word here) combust without an ignition source...
Teach me about cutting torches...please!
- Thread starter MotorSeven
- Start date
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Flatheadyoungin
Veteran Member
i'm pretty sure acetylene is liquid too.........in the tanks there is a honey comb towards the top (not just a hollow tank) and there is acetone on top of the acetylene......this helps to keep the liquid from coming out.......this is why you are supposed to use acetylene tanks laying down....liquid can come out.....so if you lay your tank down, you're supposed to let them set upright (don't know how long, but i use 24hours+ to be safe) this give time for the acetone to separate from the acetylene.......
if i remember right.....it has been a while.....
if i remember right.....it has been a while.....
schmism
Super Member
there are 3 or 4 major welding supply shops in St Louis metro area. I visited most when trying to set up my new mig welder.
From my experience, the big shops that are going to be able to provide all those cool services, loner bottles, rebuilding gauges etc, arnt interested in dealing with the small hobby guy that comes in for a single refill once a year. They have way more to do than mess with such insignificant sales.
My advice, shop online, buy online. ITs going to be a fraction of the price for the exact same products. Your not going to miss out on any "services" that the local shop MIGHT provide if you bought the torch, and supplies there.
The reality is your still going to have to go there for gas.
watch local craigslist for older large bottles you can buy outright. avoid the leases.
as for torch recommendations i own a HF torch. Does everything ive needed it to do. I dont make a living with it. I need to torch off the occasional bolt or heat up a stuck nut and it keeps up with my sorry arse brazing skills just fine.
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
i own this torch
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
interchangeable with victor tips.
From my experience, the big shops that are going to be able to provide all those cool services, loner bottles, rebuilding gauges etc, arnt interested in dealing with the small hobby guy that comes in for a single refill once a year. They have way more to do than mess with such insignificant sales.
My advice, shop online, buy online. ITs going to be a fraction of the price for the exact same products. Your not going to miss out on any "services" that the local shop MIGHT provide if you bought the torch, and supplies there.
The reality is your still going to have to go there for gas.
watch local craigslist for older large bottles you can buy outright. avoid the leases.
as for torch recommendations i own a HF torch. Does everything ive needed it to do. I dont make a living with it. I need to torch off the occasional bolt or heat up a stuck nut and it keeps up with my sorry arse brazing skills just fine.
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
i own this torch
- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices
interchangeable with victor tips.
Scooby074
Super Member
Like alot of things, tractor and otherwise, it comes down to the dealer. The OP should visit his local dealers and feel them out. Most dealers ARE interested in helping. They know you'll be back when it comes time to upgrade and want that future business. My local supplier knows me by name, has many large contracts (they're by far the largest in the area), and im still treated fair when i visit and get the "extras".
They do have a good laugh when people who buy cheap china welding helmets and torches try to take them there for repair/parts though. You get what you pay for.
A good dealer is a good dealer , no matter what they're selling.
OP
MotorSeven
Elite Member
I always try & support my local dealers....but....for the frequency of use, it is just hard to swallow a minimum of $500 for a new import set & one tank, or $800 for a Victor set & one tank. I am thinking of a good used set of gauges, then buying a tank and whatever accesories I need from the dealer. One reason is that when I moved here I had a brand new welding tank I had bought in FL with my Millermatic 210. I went into this same dealer(here in TN) & was unable to get it filled on the spot(yes I was in the middle of an important welding job) because I couldn't prove ownership. Apparently crossing state lines with a welding tank falls under some Lindenburg kidnapping statute setting off all type of Homeland Security & Nato claxons. I ended up having to later contact my original dealer, have a letter sent stating that "yes, Mr M7 is the rightfull owner of said new welding tank...blahblahblah". Next I had to stencil my name and ph # all over the tank before bringing it in for a fill. Needless to say, I had to buy another tank before all this could take place so I could finish that job............wait...!......can I use that tank I already pruchased for this cutting set up, or am I going to get the "No Sir, this here tank is "special" for cutting"...?? Oooooh, I might be onto something here.......
RD
RD
Flatheadyoungin
Veteran Member
when i bought my used ones, i went to a place that was a hole in the wall.....they did all the torch rebuilding, etc. for a large steel plant in ashland ky......they had the parts....i asked a few questions and the guy in the back was a bit quiet but willing to show me.....i bought him a pop and he wound up showing me more, and gave me a couple of used parts.....he had buckets and buckets of used ones......might try to find a place similar to this.....
Scooby074
Super Member
I dont know if you have Air Liquide in your area, but they have a Medium duty torch set on sale for $269 canadian. http://airliquide.dirxion.com/Springpromo09/english/WebProject.asp?BookCode=spe09flx# I have a similar setup and it works excellent.
I dont know the specific rules in the states about tanks. But here all we can own are the small tanks 9L or less. You can take them to another brand, but they usually want proof of ownership. I know of no restrictions if you go other places, but keep within the same brand.
Keep an eye on the local barter type magazines. 8&9 size bottles come up all the time here for $200.
Id still recommend a new set of torches though. When i started out, i bought a $50 setup. It was nothing but trouble. I ended up just buying a complete set, rather than trying to keep that leaky, bent old set running. Its still hanging on the wall
.Wis Bang
Gold Member
Propane is the method of choice for big Demo firms. I watched a guy take down sections of an old chemical plant w/ a 100# propane bottle and a Dewars bottle of O2 and he was cutting 7 - 8 hours a day.
Small time use would be better w/ acetylene. The poster above about keeping the bottle upright is correct. The bottle is a honeycomb w/ acetone inside because they can get more acetylene stored in the acetone making this method more efficient.
Name brand regulators will always be rebuildable So will a name brand torch. Tips get clogged and there are cleaning wires that will extend the time you get b/4 having to replace the tips.
Fire marshalls always look at the torch set to make sure backflow preventors are installed when they inspect a commercial shop! You need them too!
I'd suggest getting someone experienced to show you a few tips and how to adjust your regulators -or- check the adult ed classes at the VocTech...
you'll find thousands of uses for your new Hot Wrench!
Small time use would be better w/ acetylene. The poster above about keeping the bottle upright is correct. The bottle is a honeycomb w/ acetone inside because they can get more acetylene stored in the acetone making this method more efficient.
Name brand regulators will always be rebuildable So will a name brand torch. Tips get clogged and there are cleaning wires that will extend the time you get b/4 having to replace the tips.
Fire marshalls always look at the torch set to make sure backflow preventors are installed when they inspect a commercial shop! You need them too!
I'd suggest getting someone experienced to show you a few tips and how to adjust your regulators -or- check the adult ed classes at the VocTech...
you'll find thousands of uses for your new Hot Wrench!
nunyabinis
Gold Member
I bought a Miller Plasma Cutter. It's a perfect complement to my 220volt MIG Welder.
I cut the plug off the electric cord and replaced it with the same plug as the welder uses so they would both plug into the same outlet. I then made a 30ft extension cord out of heavy gauge flexible cord. I already had a 100 ft reel of hose for my air compressor so I have no problem getting the air to the plasma cutter.
With everything stretched to the max I can get about 50ft from the electric outlet.
escavader
Veteran Member
Ipicked up my VICTOR setup at TRACTOR SUPPLY,came with larger tanks ,wheeled cart,and whole 9 yards,It works really good.Icut some 1/2 by 8 the other day,did it real quick and smooth.For what im using i got acc.amd oxygen.
ALAN
ALAN