Old arc welder and acetylene torch set.

[CTyankee]

My boss was cleaning out his basement and gave me this stuff.

An old Miller arc welder, auto darkening helmet, acetylene torch set and a book.

The welder and torch set is pretty dirty from sitting around for years., but his father tried both out last year and said it all works. I didn't catch what brand(if there is one) the torch set is, he's dropping that off tonight.

I know nothing about welding or cutting, but wouldn't mind trying learn to do some simple stuff. Is it worth spending some time cleaning it up and trying to use it? Any safety tips? Thanks.

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[Zeke]

Well, it looks like the boss installed flashback arresters so that's good. The Miller is a very usable tool but not very sophisticated. You might get some good practice in with it.

But on to the safety tips you asked about. YES, there is a LOT to learn about high pressure gasses that are flammable. At the very least go to Youtube and look at some vids on torch safety. Here's a partial list. Watch more than a few because some bring up points not covered by others. That having been said, there's not much conflicting info.

Your gauges may be OK but they look like they were stored under pressure which is not a good thing. If you have any doubts, drop them by a welding supply for testing. If they say they have to be rebuilt that might be the case. But if you know someone that welds you might ask for a 2nd opinion. By the time you fully rebuild a smaller gauge like those you can buy new ones.

Get a new hose, old hoses are not something to trust.

There's more, a lot more so I'll let the others chime in.

 

[CTyankee]

Thanks Zeke..

Good eye on the gauges...I'd be the guilty one who pressurized them :tard:
Wanted to see if there was anything in them. Boss released it after I took the pic.

Flashback arresters? .....Me thinks some video watching is a good idea..

 

[Zeke]

I don't care for the design of that cart so much. It could tip sideways fairly easily. It wasn't designed for that tall of a bottle and you can see that by the cut in the handle. Best to keep it in a safe place so that doesn't happen. And/or put a wider axle or wheels on it.

If the boss brings the set over and the bottles have been laid down, don't open the acetylene valve for a few hours. You have to let the liquid acetylene mix settle back to the bottom. Acetylene is dissolved in acetone and there is a porous inert filler inside the bottle that can keep the acetone up high for awhile if the bottle is laid down. If that acetone comes out of the gauge it will be toast. Overnight and you will be sure.

Both of those bottles have their dangers and they aren't the same.

 

[just a noob]

Watch these videos by Steve Bleile:

He's kind of goofy and it looks like the videos are subtitled in Russian but they're pretty good.

 

[dr_clyde]

That's a very generous gift. You can do a lot with those. Everything Zeke says is legit, but ill add my 2 pennies anyway.

I would send the regs and torch in to the welding supply and have them reconditioned. Its not very expensive, and in exchange you get a practically brand new torch with all new seals and o-rings. My Victor set was like $80 to have done.

Oxyfuel stuff is perfectly safe if used correctly, but in the hands of the uninformed, it can be downright dangerous. Do lots of research and reading. Make sure you are being safe. That **** can kill you if you're not doing it right. However, a torch is an absolute essential in a fab shop, so its definitely worth having. Its in my top 10 most essential tools in a shop.

The welder is probably good to go, just get some fresh rod, gloves and a jacket. Some tools you may want will be a chipping hammer and wire brush as well.

That's Miller's version of the buzz box and will outlive you. Its AC, so get the appropriate rod for AC current. Stick welding is super versatile, and unfortunately most guys will set it by the wayside and grab a MIG, but stick certainly has its place. You can weld just about anything with a stick welder.

 

[Advan]

A good old 225 amp buzzbox, a complete set of torches with bottles, and a brand new miller shield? I'd say you did pretty freaking good!

 

[Hal]

Find out who actually owns those tanks before you trot off to the welding supply to get them re-filled. You could be in for a surprise.

 

[lilredex]

Find out who actually owns those tanks before you trot off to the welding supply to get them re-filled. You could be in for a surprise.

Just what I was thinking when I saw those. Many times around here, similar tanks show up for sale attempting to snare the unaware.

 

[CTyankee]

Watch these videos by Steve Bleile:

He's kind of goofy and it looks like the videos are subtitled in Russian but they're pretty good.

Thanks for the links...very informative videos.

Find out who actually owns those tanks before you trot off to the welding supply to get them re-filled. You could be in for a surprise.

Just what I was thinking when I saw those. Many times around here, similar tanks show up for sale attempting to snare the unaware.

Not following you guys...you thinking they might be stolen? Do they have some type of registration number on them or something?

They were owned by my boss. I've know him over 40 years and worked for him over 15. His father owned some type of fabrication shop during his working years and bought them for him. They've been in sitting in his basement at least since I started working for him. I'm more concerned if there could possible be any condition issues.

 

[taumac]

I agree with a lot of what the about said. Take the regs to a welding shop to check out and new set of hoses are good idea. While at the shop you could see if O rings in the torch are good and if so its good to get a extra set the that torch. Check the dates on those tanks also. Tanks have either a 5 or 10 year certification if I remember right. I know it seems like to have checked out but this is something you have to do from time to time wether you bought a new set or someone gave you a old set.

The arc welding I would just check the leads for cracked wires, see it connections are good at machine and at end.

You did very well with boss giving them to you and even though stick and O/A aren't the newest thing like migs and tigs but the are very very useful to have. Good luck.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

 

[HMCFab9]

What he's saying is that some tanks are leased, not owned.
Also, if the welding supply place doesn't know you as the owner, they may not want to exchange them for you.

 

[CTyankee]

What he's saying is that some tanks are leased, not owned.
Also, if the welding supply place doesn't know you as the owner, they may not want to exchange them for you.

Gotcha... as I mentioned, I know nothing about this stuff. Our plumber has a smaller setup, I'll ask him to look it over and see what he has to say.

 

[Zeke]

Don't worry about the tanks. They're free so until it's fill time you have a welding set up.

 

[sberry]

Back the screws out on the regs, open valved slowly and turn them back in, if they work use them till they don't. Get some 7018 AC in 3/32 and 1/8 and 6011 in 1/8. I agree,,, that is a super gift,,, the bottles are always good to come by cheap. Read a set of instructions to a torch set.
Those are owner bottles,,, it wont be a problem.

 

[taumac]

Tanks are leased then disregard what ivsaid about them. I was speaking if he now you owned them.

5 Stitches Garage
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899
Florida GJ Group
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=117

 

[Zeke]

Back the screws out on the regs, open valved slowly and turn them back in, if they work use them till they don't. Get some 7018 AC in 3/32 and 1/8 and 6011 in 1/8. I agree,,, that is a super gift,,, the bottles are always good to come by cheap. Read a set of instructions to a torch set.
Those are owner bottles,,, it wont be a problem.

Sberry, if you're gonna give advice about the gauges, do it completely. IOW, the O2 bottle is double seat valve and should either be all the way open or closed. The acetylene is typically opened 1 1/2 turns. Definitely stand to the side of the face of the O2 valve and open slowly. It's harder than you think. The ace is not really a problem as it doesn't have anywhere near the 2000 lbs plus pressure.

 

[Murphy4570]

That buzzbox is an awesome gift. AC only it looks like. I have a Lincoln one, you can weld a LOT of stuff with them if you practice a lot. Like has been said, get some 7018 and 6011 rod for it. Be aware that that is a 220V single phase input welder. You can use the dryer plug in your house in a pinch (30A), but you'll want a dedicated 50A receptacle if you want to use that thing anywhere near its limits. You would need at least 5/32 or bigger rod for that though. At max amps with 1/8 rod, you will find that the rod will be glowing orange-red very quickly!

The torch setup looks alright, though the cart looks like ****. Build a new one with that stick welder, make yourself a simple little shop project. Use 3/32 7018, 1/8 would be too thick for the thin metal involved in such a project.

 

[Zeke]

Make sure that any 7018 is rated AC for that welder. 6011 is for AC. 6010 is for DC. Some 7024 rod will make you look like you are pretty good. It's easy to use and fast. For flat work mainly. You may have a little trouble with the rod sticking on the other 2 but that's the learning curve.

 

[dodgemike]

What a great gift. All advice was
spot on and accurate.
The one caution I will throw out is
be very aware of your surroundings
The sparks from welding or cutting
can fly into areas you did not even
think of. (Don,t ask how I know).
A five lb. fire extinguisher should
be on your list if you do not have
one already.
Everyone has thrown all these pre-
cautions out but one.
HAVE FUN! Stick welding is one of
the most basic forms, But the rewards are instant. Gas welding
may take some time to master as
well. But it can make TIG welding
a lot easier to learn.

Sent from my SCH-S720C using Tapatalk 2

 

[ttpete]

Don't let a welding supply BS you about whether or not you own those cylinders. Some may try to scare you into giving them up. Leased or rented cylinders are almost always larger than those. I have a similar set that I acquired that were found in an old barn and given to me by the owner. The name on the collar of the oxy cylinder doesn't denote ownership, either. If they don't want to fill or exchange them, just go to another supplier. You'll eventually find one you can deal with.

To check the regulators, set the pressures with the torch valves open. Then close them and wait for 15 minutes. If the pressure remains the same, the internal valves are seating OK. If the pressure creeps up on either, it's time to get them overhauled.

 

[sberry]

I had a reg head north a while back. I was near it and something gave and the pressure went up but I caught it before it hit relief. I agree with standing to the side, its a habit but didn't feel like writing a book, feel free to carry on.

 

[WWIIjeep]

Leased or rented cylinders are almost always larger than those.

This ^^^

The name on the collar of the oxy cylinder doesn't denote ownership, either. If they don't want to fill or exchange them, just go to another supplier. You'll eventually find one you can deal with.

And this ^^^

Those look like a #3 acetylene and a 122CF oxygen.

#3 acetylene cylinders are considered to be customer-owned cylinders now. Wasn't always the case, but is now.

122CF oxygen cylinders can be either customer-owned or asset (leased or supplier-owned) cylinders. All by itself, some companies might question ownership of the oxygen cylinder. Alongside the acetylene cylinder, they'll just treat it as a customer-owned cylinder.

The name on the collar just tells you that the cylinder is probably at least 25 years old, and who the original owner or manufacturer was. Most new cylinders are no longer marked that way except for the larger sizes that are used in rental or lease service.

When they need refilling, you take them to your welding supplier, and they exchange your empty cylinder(s) for a full cylinder(s), and charge you just for the contents and a modest service fee.

The preceding description will apply to the vast majority of welding supply companies in the US. There are some exceptions by company or location, or sometimes even, who happens to be at the counter when you walk in off the street (in which case, you go somewhere else, as already suggested).

The cylinder truck is a tandem style. It's meant for use in narrow aisles or tight quarters, where normal side-by-side cylinder trucks won't fit. There's nothing wrong with it,** and in fact, for use at home in a garage or small shop, it will be easier to use than a side-by-side. The caution is that you have to be careful when moving it around, because it's not as stable as a side-by-side truck, and you should never use that style on rough or soft terrain.


**Edit: Just took a look at the photo again and saw that the PO cut the handle to make it easier to load/unload the oxygen cylinder. Dumb. Fix that. Good first welding job for you.

 

[CTyankee]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions...and trust me, I take all the safety info provided here and elsewhere seriously. I'm a wuss when it comes to potentially dangerous situations. I'm more likely to be the one holding the beer....