Cutting torch

[Oldpath05]

One would expect on a welding forum that there would be a thread on cutting torches, acetylene etc. guess not, after going through ten pages and the search button, I gave up. My cheap Chinese Ebay cutting torch stop working with only being 2 weeks old. I like to replace it with a USA made brand, good luck with that right.
So far I looked at Smith brand, on the big/long and expensive side, $400.00, not practical for garage use, going to give UniWeld and AmeriFlame a look see, I want a short/small-ish torch, and something I can depend on for more then two weeks and I can buy without a house mortgage.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Uni-Weld and Victor are of the same quality and most parts will interchange. Either of them are great torches and gauges. I have used both on construction jobs for years with no problems. The 100 series Victor / Uniweld is plenty of torch for the hobbist. That is what I bought for my shop and it works great.

 

[Budweiser John]

Another endorcement on the Victor Torches.
My set is over 30 years old and works great. Always careful to shut off the tanks and purge the regulators after using in addition to removing all tension on the regulator settings between uses.
B. John

 

[CCWKen]

Victor cutting torches are NOT small! They seem like they're 5 feet long when you're trying to cut some detail.

The best small cutting torch I had was from a Sears map-gas kit I bought about 30+ years ago. I used it with A/O. That thing cut angled V-notches in 3/4" plate. I still use the plates for bearing removers/press plates. It finally gave up the ghost a couple of years ago when the mixer area deteriorated. Most likely my fault (overheated) but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if they sold them separately. It got a lot of use and paid for it self many times over. About all I use A/O for now is heating or preheating. Hard to find a good small cutting torch without a major investment. I would just soon invest in a budget plasma cutter and dump the tanks.

 

[George2615]

Victor cutting torches are NOT small! They seem like they're 5 feet long when you're trying to cut some detail.

The best small cutting torch I had was from a Sears map-gas kit I bought about 30+ years ago. I used it with A/O. That thing cut angled V-notches in 3/4" plate. I still use the plates for bearing removers/press plates. It finally gave up the ghost a couple of years ago when the mixer area deteriorated. Most likely my fault (overheated) but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another if they sold them separately. It got a lot of use and paid for it self many times over. About all I use A/O for now is heating or preheating. Hard to find a good small cutting torch without a major investment. I would just soon invest in a budget plasma cutter and dump the tanks.

I have several Victor cutting torches. The smallest is this WH270FC=V with a CA270-V cutting attachment and #0 0-3-101 tip (I have different size tips). It is about 16" long. I see a similar new one on Ebay for $125.
I bought this one in new condition at a flea market for $50. Its a good size for homeowner use.

 

[Big Barn]

I've always had Blueshield brand from Air Liquide. Not certain who manufactures them. Perhaps Concoa or Airco...?

Anyhow, excellent quality but if I was starting out or had to do it over again I would probably go GENUINE Victor.





Terry

 

[Rustyiron]

One would expect on a welding forum that there would be a thread on cutting torches, acetylene etc. guess not, after going through ten pages and the search button, I gave up.

Yeah, plasma cutters are the "cool tool" now. Fine, great for cutting. IMHO a good set of torches is step #1. Then graduate to a plas. if you have that much cutting to do. Seems so many either don't know or have forgotten the usefullness of heat, and lots of it(rose bud) for a wide variety of heating, bending, straightening and loosening frozen or stuck parts.
Check with Maine Oxy, they will have several "grades" of o/a torches and be able to service them if needed.:thumbsup:

 

[Scooby074]

Victor is widely available, which is a plus. Good quality.

I have a Air Liquide torch at home thats been excellent, problem is consumables , like tips, arent readily available away from AL. Excellent quality though.

Consider getting Oxy/Propane setup right out of the box. Propane is much more reasonably priced, and available everywhere.

 

[Oldpath05]

Excellent feed-back, more then expected.
I was at a 2 welding shops yesterday, one was where I have my refill contracts, he sell's Uniweld torches made in USA, with various sizes, and Victor $100.00 cheaper, I think they are made China now, Victor is what I had 20 years ago, lasted well and was replace 3 times in the past 3 years by cheaper Chinese Victor STILE torches, had enough of them.

Before I buy I wanted to check out Maine Oxy, he carried Smith brand and Victor, the Smith torch set up he had was way to long, I don't know if they make shorter torches or not but he didn't have one. I showed the (M.O. dealer) Victor stile torch I had, he took it apart to see what was wrong with it, and in a Christian way he said "yup your Blanked", he tried to fix it but on the acetylene side it was block up with something and that's why I was only getting a small flame, he also said if I could get a deal on the size Uniweld torch I liked, buy it he said they make a great torch, most unpressurized salesman I ever seen.

 

[Oldpath05]

Yeah, plasma cutters are the "cool tool" now. Fine, great for cutting. IMHO a good set of torches is step #1. Then graduate to a plas. if you have that much cutting to do. Seems so many either don't know or have forgotten the usefullness of heat, and lots of it(rose bud) for a wide variety of heating, bending, straightening and loosening frozen or stuck parts.
Check with Maine Oxy, they will have several "grades" of o/a torches and be able to service them if needed.:thumbsup:

You took the words right out of my mouth, plasma cutting is the best,$2 or $3000.00 and your all set to cut 1"+ inch steel and anything metallic, but not good for heating up rusted bolts, and everything you said is what I need to do.

 

[ModMech]

Has anyone used an O-P torch? I have been looking for a torch, mostly for heating and think O-P is my solution for reasons others have suggested.

There seems to be a lot of conflicting information on "conversion" from O-A to O-P with regard to the regulators and hoses, I KNOW the torch tips are different. Some claim you can use LP with an Acet regulator and hoses, but it seems the "right" way is to get those components designed for Propane. If I need to do that, the savings especially with the option of used torch outfits, is minimal compared to new if you exclude the tanks.

So THE question from the pros is, for the infrequent user (ranch/home), can you use Propane with an Acetylene outfit?

 

[LD1]

Harris is a good brand for home/shop use. Havent researched or priced in awhile, but seem to recall them being a notch below victor and smith, and a little more affordable too.

I have an O-P setup now. Using O-A regulators but a O-P head. I am not a fan of propane. Very picky about being set just right, longer to preheat, tips harder to clean, and drinks the oxygen bottle. I will be going back to O-A when the propane bottle finally runs out. Which is hard to tell how much is left at any given time, since you cannot tell simply by looking at the pressure gauge, since propane in the bottle is in liquid form and will have somewhat constant tank pressure right up until you are out.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I will stick with my OA rig. Only one gas bottle to mess with rather than having to switch out gas bottle if you want to braze or gas weld. I don't find that the acetylene cost is that outrageous. I filled both my Ox and Acetylene bottles recently for only $42. They are small bottles but the last me many months.

 

[Scooby074]

Oxy Propane here

I wont go back to O/A. I still have my bottle but it only comes out for brazing (basically never).

I get a better cut with propane and its way cheaper to run here. Acetylene was something like $60 for the small owned bottle last time I asked.

All you need is a tip and a tank thread adapter (if required). Youre supposed to change hoses and regulator to a multifuel type, but I havent and have had no problems over the last year or two that Ive been using it.

 

[Oldpath05]

I tried a small portable O-P set long time ago, I thought it was slow to pre-heat, slow to cut on 1/4" flat bar.
I gave a glance at a Harris torch, looks like they only make the three tube design. I'm use to a two tube set, but maybe three tube design is better. I have one more welding store near by to check, not sure what brands they sell, most likely Victor is one of them.
There's all kind of places online to buy a torch, but they don't show how long they are in inches, don't want to go over 20", 16"-18" is just right. Then most importantly, if you buy a brand new torch online and it breaks down in 5 weeks, "who you gonna call"......

 

[dstig1]

I am using O-P as I didn't want to get yet another gas cylinder for acetylene. I use my 20lb grill tank. I never run out of propane, but it sucks O2 like crazy. I cannot directly compare to O-A as I only used that in welding classes and they never run out from their huge tank setup, so no way to know if OP uses more O2 than OA by my experience. I am lousy with a torch, and OP does not seem easier than OA, for sure. I lose the cut at times and can't tell why (but then I am lousy at it...) but then I would do the same back in the classes with OA too... (did I mention I am lousy with it?) I realize you can't weld with OP but I think you can braze with it. I have not needed to do either - just heating and cutting, so it works and is saves me the hassle of one more tank. I bought an OP set from the get go. Different hoses and tip was about it. I got a Smith but don't recall the cost from the LWS. They are good folks there and very helpful. It isn't very long, but then you said Smith was pricey in your area so maybe not a good point for you. HTH

 

[dirt ditch]

I have a Smith O-P torch set and run a 2" cutting tip all the time. Preheating is not a problem. Smith Equipment is still made in the USA. Illinois Tool Works has owned Smith Equipment since 1998 and merged it with Miller, that ITW also owns in 2013.

http://www.smithequipment.com - pdf about us

 

[Ed of all trades]

I have a small Victor set and when I got it I made sure that it had the multi fuel regulator and hose so all I had to do was get a tip to change to pro. I have used a torch a lot in the past and the only difference I see is how you light pro. I like it and for my limited use it makes sense. I like my little victor too. Ed

 

[BHD]

I started with O P, and do have an acetylene tank for welding.
with brazing I just use propane.
I just use BBQ bottles, for the most part, did buy a special LP bottle for the shop unit, fits the cart better,
I just refill them my self, from the bulk tank,
I have Smith equipment much of it has life time warranty,

some of the speed of cutting is the tip size, and the O2 pressure,

 

[jwmorris]

I have a bunch of victor 101 torches they are small enough and can cut through 1/8"- 12" of steel with the right regular and tips.

I had a HF ripoff for a few years before some one decided to steal it from me, the finish was poor but it worked as good if you used victor tips.

The smith we have has issues with the style seal they use. The handyauto torches are very nice if you have a job that suits them. The other ones I use are more "wreaking" torches to me.

This is an untouched cut in 1" plate steel with the 101 torch with correct tip and pressure.