Welding tanks/torches/etc

GManBart · May 30, 2013

sd455dan said:
I have a set of Victor gauge/regulators and hose torches, been using them for over 30 years still working great - IMO good equipment,

Excellent....that's what I was hoping to hear. I really don't want new, made in China stuff! I'm sure China isn't happy with me, so it works out well that way...lol.

Arc weld · May 30, 2013

A lot of the brand new Victor equipment is made in China! Some is made in Mexico and some is still made in the US. Prepare to spend $500 and up if you want the made in US set, which you don't need.

GManBart · May 30, 2013

Arc weld said:
A lot of the brand new Victor equipment is made in China! Some is made in Mexico and some is still made in the US. Prepare to spend $500 and up if you want the made in US set, which you don't need.

That's part of why I'm looking at used equipment! When I went to buy a new bench vise, I learned that the two good companies left in the U.S. (Wilton, and Yost) only make their best vises here. The low end are made in China and the mid-level in Taiwan. I bit the bullet, and bought the U.S. version...buy once, cry once.

sd455dan · May 30, 2013

Arc weld said:
A lot of the brand new Victor equipment is made in China! Some is made in Mexico and some is still made in the US. Prepare to spend $500 and up if you want the made in US set, which you don't need.

I wondered about that , that's why I edited the (made in America) out. Looking at the picture the acetylene gauge does say Made in USA, so the Oxygen should be USA to ? with tanks -looks like a good deal...

Ken45101 · May 30, 2013

Those are small tanks. Acetylene is limited in the withdrawal rate and your cutting will be limited to fairly thin stock with that tank.

I strongly agree with the propane approach for heating and cutting. Cheaper, easy to get a refill (standard 20# BBQ tank), and you are not limited to the withdrawal rate like you are for acetylene. However, you need propane specific tips and hose, which is why it's better to start out with a propane setup.

I also agree about verifying that the tanks are owned, not leased although I believe the small tanks like that are more likely NOT to be leased tanks.

GManBart · May 30, 2013

Ken45101 said:
Those are small tanks. Acetylene is limited in the withdrawal rate and your cutting will be limited to fairly thin stock with that tank.

I strongly agree with the propane approach for heating and cutting. Cheaper, easy to get a refill (standard 20# BBQ tank), and you are not limited to the withdrawal rate like you are for acetylene. However, you need propane specific tips and hose, which is why it's better to start out with a propane setup.

I also agree about verifying that the tanks are owned, not leased although I believe the small tanks like that are more likely NOT to be leased tanks.

The Oxygen tank looks to be a pretty standard 4ft high or so. The angle is terrible, but there's about 2ft of tank above, and below the chain around the middle. I had to look a couple of times because of the weird angle. There are a number of similar setups being sold from $300-500 locally, so I figured these were a reasonable example to get a gauge on pricing.

I'm going to look at propane as well.