I need some welding/welder advise.....

[Ray-CA]

I'm current enrolled in a welding/autobody repair class and have found that I "need" a gas welder/cutting torch set. But, I certainly don't need or have use for a set with large cylinders. Lowes.com has the Lincoln port-a-torch set for $199 so that one looks better due to price.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-torch-kit-with-oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-65818.html This link isn't working, don't know why.....

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/tools-...lincoln-electric-port-a-torch-kit-132079.html

What do you think?

Thanks,

Ray

 

[ForceFed70]

Hi Ray,

The harbor freight link isn't working for me.

I don't have any experience with the Lincoln Port-a-torch, but lincoln makes quality equipment and I'm sure you'd be happy with it.

Having said that, what do you need the torch for? For autobody, you'll need a seperate mig welder, so you won't be welding much with the torch (or at all). If you're just going to use the torch for cutting, I'd strongly reccomend a plasma cutter. It's more money, but will pay for itself with a much faster cutting time and a cleaner cut.

From what I can see: The only reason for having a gas torch would be for brazing, but I don't think you'd do a lot of that with autobody work.

 

[Ray-CA]

Thanks. I already have a mig set up and am looking at a plasma cutter as a future purchase.

Ray

 

[ForceFed70]

OK. If you wern't so far from me, I'd offer to sell you my victor torch set.

Bought it almost brand new from a guy in your predicament (he took a professional welding course and felt he needed one). He only used it about 3 times in 3 years and decided to change careers so he sold it to me. I've had it for 3 years myself but haven't even taken it out of it's case

Oh, and on that note; Look into the Victor torches/equipment if you haven't already. They were the #1 brand to have for a long time and probably still are. As i'm sure you know, you can buy the bottles seperate and get whatever size is best for you.

Good luck on your search!

 

[metalmagpie]

Lots of guys buy those sets and then find out two very disquieting things. First, it costs nearly as much to fill that oxygen cylinder as it does to fill a 251 cubic foot cylinder. Second, that tiny MC acetylene cylinder can only source 1 cubic foot per minute of acetylene safely, and runs out almost immediately and *it* costs a lot to fill too! Then they try to sell them on craigslist and find out that they're a whole lot easier to buy than to sell.

I recommend at a very minimum a 92 cf oxygen cylinder paired with a 75 cf acetylene cylinder. If you put those on a nice little welding cart it's almost as compact as the portatorch setup but you can do real work with it.

I've been in this game a long time. I learned to run a cutting torch in 1969 and have owned cylinders almost continuously since the early '80s. I'm also a certified welder.

As for the torch kit, Victor stuff is fine. But make sure it's real Victor, and not their latest version either, which is made in China. Other torch equipment that will serve you well is made by Airco, Smith or Harris. Tips and parts are readily available for these.

metalmagpie

 

[cafyrman]

Second, that tiny MC acetylene cylinder can only source 1 cubic foot per minute of acetylene safely,

+1 Remember the 1/7 rule. You can only withdraw 1/7th the capacity of a cylinder in cubic feet per minute. So if you have a 70 cu ft cylinder, the most you should pull is 10 CFM of acetylene. That's around a 2 or 4 rosebud tip if you were planning to use it for that.

 

[Bernie Mac]

Ray-CA
For me there's another choice. Look at this link: www.cobratorches.com
DHC 2000 WELDING TORCH
I've had this torch for 12 years and have not needed a plasma cutter or anything else for welding light Alum. I do have a Miller 185 mig which gets lots of use but I really like the flexability of this torch. More $ but buying one good tools vs. 2 or 3 cheap tools has made sense for me. I'm in the Temecula Valley send a PM if you have questions
Bernie

 

[sberry]

Lots of guys buy those sets and then find out two very disquieting things. First, it costs nearly as much to fill that oxygen cylinder as it does to fill a 251 cubic foot cylinder. Second, that tiny MC acetylene cylinder can only source 1 cubic foot per minute of acetylene safely, and runs out almost immediately and *it* costs a lot to fill too! Then they try to sell them on craigslist and find out that they're a whole lot easier to buy than to sell.

I recommend at a very minimum a 92 cf oxygen cylinder paired with a 75 cf acetylene cylinder. If you put those on a nice little welding cart it's almost as compact as the portatorch setup but you can do real work with it.

I've been in this game a long time. I learned to run a cutting torch in 1969 and have owned cylinders almost continuously since the early '80s. I'm also a certified welder.

As for the torch kit, Victor stuff is fine. But make sure it's real Victor, and not their latest version either, which is made in China. Other torch equipment that will serve you well is made by Airco, Smith or Harris. Tips and parts are readily available for these.

metalmagpie

Go with this.

 

[Zeke]

Hi Ray,



Having said that, what do you need the torch for? For autobody, you'll need a seperate mig welder, so you won't be welding much with the torch (or at all).

You don't do bodywork, that's obvious. The OP is in school. At the local trade school, all body shop students have to take a O2/acetylene class. You shrink with heat as well as other uses.

A real good metalman wouldn't need anything else. The top Porsche welder guy in SoCal that installs flares and such uses nothing but gas. He hammer welds as do I. But I tack up with MIG.

 

[malibu101]

Perfect info above about torch qualities and cylinder sizes.
My opinion is if you are going to do anything mechanical a torch is virtually a neccesity. With a few different tips it is a widely useful tool.
Once you have one you will wonder how you did without for so long. I know I did.

Plus, when the need arises, cutting metal with fire is about as cool as it gets.

 

[Ryf]

do you need it for class or do you need it to live? I would rather muddle through without in class if I could and put that money aside for a plasma or something else. I've done home metal fab for a while, if your doing alot of body work at home yeah you should get one, but if your just going to do it for someone else, you might not even need to buy it, set the money aside and watch Craigslist etc, if one pops up for cheap with owned tanks buy it.

the schools around here provide the tools, so not sure why he has to have it?

 

[lotsoftools]

I always thought it would be dumb to weld with an oxy-fuel set-up. Then I learned how to weld with it at school, and can see how useful it really is. I've actually gotten pretty good at it too.

+2 on what metalmagpie said, you need tanks big enough to actually do something with.

 

[Steve from Socal]

Get the bigger bottles you will never regret it. As for torches; on sheet metal I would suggest the small Purox or Victor lines, they were made for sheet metal / body and fender work.

Steve

 

[Ray-CA]

do you need it for class or do you need it to live? I would rather muddle through without in class if I could and put that money aside for a plasma or something else. I've done home metal fab for a while, if your doing alot of body work at home yeah you should get one, but if your just going to do it for someone else, you might not even need to buy it, set the money aside and watch Craigslist etc, if one pops up for cheap with owned tanks buy it.

the schools around here provide the tools, so not sure why he has to have it?

The school has several and I'm retired so it would just be for my use. I've been surfing Craigslist looking for a used set.

Thanks for all the advise.

Ray

 

[wnstwolf]

Zeke and Magpie stated it well. Once you get good with it you will use it more and more. I had the larger tanks but hated trasporting them in the truck so I purchased the "tiny" size ones only to run out two times in the middle of jobs...
I beleive the mid size tanks are "H" size?? build a nice cart with the new torch and you will be using it for the rest of your life!

 

[Falcon67]

Also consider oxy/propane. It's only a little bit colder than regular stuff. You'd need a propane regulator and appropriate tip(s). Cheaper to get propane than acetylene. Even the people I get my GMAW stuff from said propane is a better deal for the occasional/home shop guy. They still said that after I inquired about $500 or so worth of tanks.

 

[BD1]

Like stated, go for a full size set. Save your money and buy it once. Here's
my local site for reference. Smith set up MADE IN USA ! $195.00
http://www.weldersupply.com/products.asp?id=5&cat=Gas+Welding+&+Cutting+Equipment