Teach me about cutting torches...please!

[MotorSeven]

In order to get my dozer back together I need to torch 6 3/4" bolts that are snapped off in the track rails. I have been kicking around a cutting torch to compliment my Millermatic 210 Mig. So, I went into my local welding store....two tanks-$400, a set of gauges/torch set anywhere from $200 to $600. I see sets on fleabay for under $100. My neighbor uses propane for one of his tanks, so that is a $200 savings on the second tank right? What is the difference between a two stage gauge & singles? Can any gauge run propane?

So for a guy that is going to do some light cutting a dozen times a year, what do the wizards of acetylene say I should buy? Used, new, chinese, ??? I really have no clue..............

RD

 

[Scooby074]

Avoid the china crap. Buy a good brand like Victor or Smith. Whatever your local supply house sells, so you can get consumables. When your just getting started your likely going to go through a couple tips, till you get the feel for it

I recomend buying local. Get to know the guys at the local welding supply. They can be an invaluable source of assistance and they will remember you , and where you buy!!! There's some "intangibles" in buying local. Like loner bottles if they dont have your size instock that day.

You can run propane. its cheaper than acet, but it makes less heat and you'll use more gas for a given cut. You will require a special tip and hose thats rated for propane. The regulator can be used, but requires an adaptor.

Id recomend buying your bottles if possible. I have to pay$100/yr lease on mine as i cant own the larger bottles here.

Single stage regulators are cheaper than 2 stage. Single stage will work fine for your use. 2stage are usually used for higher draw / longer duration usage.

 

[mbohuntr]

To the best of my knowledge, the guages are NOT compatable. Neither are the tips. I would get a friend to show you the first time, it's pretty easy. If you use acetylene, DO NOT,... read... NEVER ....exceed 12-13 psi on the acetylene working guage .... BOOM!!!!!! It becomes unstable at 14 psi and will self ignite. I won't go into instructions as I feel you should get expierenced help first. Good luck

 

[Reg]

For your use propane is adequate and much SAFER !
Same tank fitting for propane and acetylene, same regulator, LEFT handed - don't forget that.
Two stage regulators (not gauges) only give a marginal benefit, again for cutting and rough cutting at that, not something worth the additional dough.
Just take good care of your hoses, I admit to leaving mine out in the weather, but don't do as I do.

Have you considered a plasma cutter ?
I got a 1/2 inch machine this year that could "sever" 3/4 inch with no problem.
Might be similar money but nicer cutting on the thinner stuff and you probably already have 220 for the m'matic

 

[MotorSeven]

I appreciate the info. I did consider a plasma, but reach might be a problem as the dozer is D.R.T. about 30' away from a 220 outlet.
Ok, so propane & oxygen is safer and cheaper, so I will look into that set up. How much of a crap shoot are used gauges? There seem to be a ton of them floating around local pawn shops. I picked up a used 026 stihl the other day while shopping torch set ups....$60. Cleaned it up, reset the carb & it runs great. The Victor gauge sets were priced from $100 to $200.

RD

 

[Scooby074]

Local welding supply can rebuild gauges if theyre a good brand (like victor). Problem buying a used set is you have no idea on the condition of the hose, tip, torch valves, regulators...... and so on. If you have to replace those, then your savings are gone. Add to the fact that the hose will likely be approved for Ace only, theres another expense. Dont forget about the goodwill factor in buying from the local supply house. Mine have bent over backwards for me.

I wouldnt write off acetylene. If you know the rules its safe. The problem happens if you got the pressure up too high and draw the acet out too fast. This is marked right on the regulator. Respect that and its perfectly safe. IMHO propane is just as dangerous or maybe even more so. Its just people are more familiar with propane because its alot more common.

 

[automech]

I have a Victor OA set and a Victor import set. Both sets work fine and have been in use for 20+ years. The Victor is definately better quality then the import. It was twice the price though. We use them quite a bit and have never had problems with either set. If you are "sawing off" a bolt or heating, the torch is the thing. Removing a broken bolt from a blind hole is another matter. Read your instructions, pay attention to the pressure settings and tip sizes.

 

[Bird]

When I bought my first rig, I did buy from the local welding supply house, but of course at that time I was living in town and would be keeping it in the attached garage. So the guy recommended I go with mapp gas and oxygen instead of acetylene. He said if I ever had a leak mapp gas would be easy to smell before it became explosive and the same was not true of acetylene.

And like rookies at a lot of things, the first time I tried to weld with it, after reading a book and all the instructions, I was getting nowhere and thought maybe I'd bought the wrong thing. So I took it back to the welding supply house and that salesman and I went out in their shop and he welded as pretty a bead as I ever saw. Like Scooby074 said, it helps when you have a good source of information and help.

But living out in the country, one of my neighbors had an oxygen/propane rig on a trailer; a 100# propane bottle. I never used it myself, but I've seen both him and my brother do some pretty work with it. And I do believe he could cut half inch steel as pretty and fast as I've seen others do with acetylene.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

quick reply...

you'll love your torches......

i kept looking at flea markets and swap meets.......i wound up rounding up many parts, etc........buy a good torch and everything is rebuildable very cheaply.......

make sure the hoses are cracked....

watch your local classifieds and craigslist for a better deal on the tank (make sure they papers or verify that YOU can fill them wherever you get them filled......i'd even ask some of the local welding shops who has a set for sale......sounds like you are bit more in a hurry......

it's just me, but for the heat difference, i'd go with acetlyne.......even if you cut a lot, you won't go through that much more $$ that you'd even notice.....try to buy the biggest tanks you can afford.....most places will let you trade up later, however........harder to handle but very few trips to the gas shop and gas is cheaper this way........AND invest in a good cart....they are all over flea markets, hot rod parts swap meets, etc......

 

[redneckexplorer]

Propane is my choice for cutting torch setup. I've used it for over 15 years.
Same regulator, same fitting, and as far I'm concerned same hoses I've always just bought a set of hoses and never thought of it. The main advantage of propane is cost of fuel, but the other advantage is how long a bottle will last, you'll get way more mileage out of propane than acetylene because propane is liquid. The only disadvantage for me is you can't weld with the propane setup, but you can cut and braze just fine.