Prest-O-Lite W-250 Torch

[YardBikeBob]

Scored an Oxy-Acetylene rig to compliment my wire welder. Motivation was to be able to heat & bend metal besides just welding.

It came with a Prest-O-Lite W-250 torch with a #6 tip as well as a cutting attachment.

What it did not come with was a rosebud for heating metal.

Alas, the HF Rosebud is not compatible with this torch.

So now my questions:

1. Anything special about this torch? Is there some 'industry standard' verbiage for specifying tips compatible with it?
2. Should I buy another torch to be compatible with a 'standard' rosebud? I suppose HF has torches, too.
3. For welding wire, I bought some from HF labeled for Tig welding. But it'll be fine for gas, right? (Little short on metal coat hangers.)
4. Regulators are labeled 'Wika' and I don't know anything about that brand either.
5. Should I expect any surprises (on providence) when I eventually have to refill these tanks?
6. How much should I expect refills/exchanges to cost?

The rig came from an estate sale within the family. Thanks in advance!

~Bob

 

[YardBikeBob]

I guess I need less heat or more patience....

 

[RNeumann]

I don’t see a cutting torch in the photos. Did I miss something

 

[YardBikeBob]

I don’t see a cutting torch in the photos.

Here it is. First time I hooked it up.

Perhaps it will make a fine rosebud?

 

[YardBikeBob]

Another question.....

With the Acetylene set at 6psi and the tank gauge showing 210psi (of 400 max) I can hear sputter, see droplets, and smell acetone. Is it time to refill the tank?

Also, the Oxygen tanks is showing 900psi (of 4000 max). Is it also about done?

~Bob

 

[radios1]

I can get tips for my victor torch on ebay for $5 a piece, the rosebud is like $10. these are all "compatible tips" not the expensive Victor tips.. your brand seems to be too old to get tips.. unless it's used for soldering or brazing that is.. that is what that company is known for.. and YES, I did a lot of searching trying to find a rosebud tip for that torch..

 

[YardBikeBob]

YES, I did a lot of searching trying to find a rosebud tip for that torch..

Thanks for feedback. I also failed in the search. Didn't know if the Prest-o-lite W-250 was an off brand, just too old, or Google didn't feel helpful today.

~Bob

 

[radios1]

Another question.....

With the Acetylene set at 6psi and the tank gauge showing 210psi (of 400 max) I can hear sputter, see droplets, and smell acetone. Is it time to refill the tank?

Also, the Oxygen tanks is showing 900psi (of 4000 max). Is it also about done?

~Bob

DANGER! what you are describing is what happens when you try to get too much flow from an acetylene tank! you really don't want an explosion, or damage your setup right?. you can only draw 1/7 of the cu ft at most from the acetylene tank, it must be a small one!!..

 

[YardBikeBob]

DANGER! what you are describing is what happens when you try to get too much flow from an acetylene tank! .... it must be a small one!!..

The 8.5" diameter tank is 32" tall. The gauge is showing 210psi in the tank and the torch was drawing 6psi on the gauge. Hence my confusion.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have the same torch gotten from CL. It came with a #4, #9, and #15 tip plus same cutting torch you have it looks like. For bending and heating I use the #9 or cutting torch w/o Ox. works fine. Your so called #6 might be a #9 which is a standard. Read the number with the tip pointing up. The numbers are cubic feet of Acetylene per hr. Make sure you know your tank size and understand the 1/7 to 1/10 withdrawal rate of the Acetylene limitation. It doesn't sound like the tanks are empty. you might want the regulators checked out.

gg

 

[Big Barn]

I’d suggest reading up on proper operation of oxy-fuel torches before proceeding further.

This is good:

 

[YardBikeBob]

I’d suggest reading up on proper operation of oxy-fuel torches before proceeding further.

A book published before I was born. Huh.

However, eBay is amazing thing.

Done!

~Bob

 

[Big Barn]

A book published before I was born. Huh.

However, eBay is amazing thing.

Done!

~Bob

Excellent. Way safer than YouTubing it!

 

[Gordon Gould]

Here is another one that is on-line. Not as complete as the book

http://www.esabna.com/eu/literature...ing, cutting and heating_en_mex-es_fr-can.pdf

gg

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

To answer your filler question, tig filler works fine with oxy/acetylene welding.

But gas welding rods often do not work nicely for tig welding.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

You may be in for a surprise when you take your tanks to exchange. They appear to be the size and type that are about the only ones left that are still leased tanks. They will either refuse to fill/exchange or confiscate if it is one of their brand of gas.

Ron

 

[radios1]

The 8.5" diameter tank is 32" tall. The gauge is showing 210psi in the tank and the torch was drawing 6psi on the gauge. Hence my confusion.

Acetylene is always filled to 250 PSI. yours is nearly full!. Oxygen is filled to 2500 PSI. so, yours is nearly half full.. about the Acetylene tank, they are measured with the cap screwed on. measured with the cap off, you could have anything from a WC 111 cu. ft. up to a WS or WSL tank, 130 cu. ft. you should see one of these markings on it. remember to only use a tip that at most, uses 1/7 the cu. ft. capacity of the tank, I have a WTL tank, 390 cu. ft. customer owned, so I can weld 1/2" steel.. it came from an Air Force auction, and has no company name on it..

 

[WranglerX]

Suggest you stop by local welding supplier and get this booklet.... Its basic but it will help you understand gas flow and consumption of torch gasses and give pretty much industry standard setting for most work you want to do with torch set....

I believe it's a free publication, but even if not it's worth the few bucks it costs...

It would appear ESAB is owner of Prest O Lite brand...

https://www.esabna.com/shared/documents/litdownloads/pol20000bcatalog122012email.pdf

As for Prest-O-Lite torch body , it probably has a rosebud tip (multi flame) available but being it is not one of the 3-4 major brands so it may take some searches to find what you want.... It may also be a option to upgrade torch body and tips to Victor, or Smith or Harris which enjoys more popularity therefor more accessories available....

Best answers to your quest for "rose bud" tip may be direct query to ESAB (Prest-O-lite) tech support...

HF in many ways is not your friend....

Dale

 

[YardBikeBob]

I have the same torch gotten from CL. Your so called #6 might be a #9 which is a standard. Read the number with the tip pointing up.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Yup - Looks like a 6 to me too