Speaking of cheap tools...
- Thread starter Spark_man
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Brad_Blazer
Veteran Member
It looks like the same Chinese set sold by harbor freight ITEM 36983-4VGA$99.99 and Homier 01224 Welding Kit $89.99.
I don't know how good they are. HF has the best return policy of the bunch if you can check it out within 30 days.
I don't know how good they are. HF has the best return policy of the bunch if you can check it out within 30 days.
HomeBrew2
Banned
How exactly does a torch get worn out, or seen better days, or whatever?
Torch valves trashed? I'm still using an old PuerOx that my dad got from somewhere used in the 40's. Just curious ...
Torch valves trashed? I'm still using an old PuerOx that my dad got from somewhere used in the 40's. Just curious ...
KYErik
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That ebay pic looks exactly like the set I bought 2 years ago at TSC on after christmas clearance for $90 (except my plastic case is red instead of black). I have used it quite a bit (I have burned half of the largest sized bottles of ox/acetylene). I am very pleased with its perfermance for the small investment I made. The regulators are still working well and I bought a larger cutting tip for it at TSC for about $10 and a 25ft hose extension set. The only issue I have is when I have it turned all the way up cutting thick metal or old arc welds with the tip close to the work. Under these conditions the tip will overheat after about 5-10 minutes and the flame will "go out" and it will hiss (I assume its burning internally). I have to shut it down for about 5 minutes to cool and then it will work fine again. When doing light cutting (3/8" or thinner) it can cut all day without this malfunction. The oxygen mixing valve by the cutting handle is a bit sensitive when you set the flame mixture, but as long as your hands are pretty steady, its not a problem.
The bigger investment will be the gas tanks...
The bigger investment will be the gas tanks...
DieselPower
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Best advice for buying a O/A tourch set is to buy the best you can afford. Like most thing's in life if it's cheap it's cheap for a reason.
OP
Spark_man
Bronze Member
HomeBrew2 said:
Well ...
The hoses are getting a bit stiff and at this point they really should be replaced. The torch handle has been dropped and stepped on more times than I can count - still works but the valves seem to be awfully sensitive now and they were less so before. The oxygen lever on the cutting torch has been bent and bent back several times now but still works - just looks crappy. The glass on two of the gages are cracked. Basically, I'm at the point that almost everything should to be replaced, which if purchased individually, would cost far more than one of these cheap kits. I got this set used over 20 years ago, so it doesn't owe me a thing. I just haven't had to think about buying a whole kit in a long time and was wondering if anybody has had any direct experience with one of these "cheap" kits. Why spend $150 if an $80 set works equally well? It has been my experience that sometimes it is worth it, sometimes it isn't.
patrick_g
Elite Member
I'm not sure what happened but the other day I was "helping" a neighbor weld on a pond drain and while I was using the cutting torch a hole appeared in the side of the unit just behing the threads where the tip screws on. I shut everything down and loaned them my torch. I intend to braze the hole shut and give it back. The hole is in the brass body so it shouldn't be too tough. ------- - - - - - - - Pat
Soundguy
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I don't think I'd be standing in line to use a 'farm-repaired' set of torches.
Soundguy
Soundguy
slowrev
Elite Member
Soundguy said:
Me neither, the question is why did it burn a hole in itself. Not a good thing to have fire back up in the body of the torch at all....
HomeBrew2
Banned
patrick_g said:
Just curious, are you going to braze the "brass" body with brass or with a silver-alloy that flows at something below "brass"? If brass brazing, hopefully you'd take a video of the process.