Craftsman acetylene regulator service

[vdotmatrix]

Craftsman model#313.20281 regulator.
When the gas is turned on, the need pegs over into the red an is adusted somehow through the torch. I can’t find anything on this regulator anywhere so is it or would it be worth it to have it serviced? It seems pretty beefy.

also, does anyone know what adapter to use for this small settling bottle? It’s definitely smaller than the oxygen.

 

[rlitman]

Craftsman had really good regulators and pretty good torches. My two-stage regulators were made by Harris. I'm not sure about yours, but using it in the situation where the needle pegs isn't good. Rebuilding an acetylene regulator is potentially a DIY job, and if you can find an affordable rebuild kit NOS on eBay or something, it might even be economical. However, I will warn you that rebuilding an oxygen regulator is NOT a diy job, and in both cases, it's usually cheaper to buy new than rebuild.

That acetylene cylinder is an MC type (10CF capacity) with a CGA-200 valve. Your regulator is a CGA-510 (AKA "POL"), and yes, you can find an adapter to make it work. I suggest you pick it up where you get your acetylene and support your LWS, but in any case here's one:

Amazon.com

 

[Beerhippie]

Your regulator is a bit of a puzzle to me, as the high-side gauge is for oxygen--if the acetylene pressure even registered on that gauge, it'd be a very powerful bomb!

If it is an O2 reg w/acetylene gauge on the low side, it has the wrong spring to work with the low pressures of acetylene--15 psi or less. The threads for the cylinder fitting-to-regulator will probably be left-hand thread.

Acetylene is a powerful and highly sensitive explosive at pressures above 15 psi.

Oxygen at high pressure is highly explosive and sensitive in the presence of any organic material--hence the USE NO OIL warning on the high-side gauge.

 

[PCustoms]

Your regulator is a bit of a puzzle to me, as the high-side gauge is for oxygen--if the acetylene pressure even registered on that gauge, it'd be a very powerful bomb!

If it is an O2 reg w/acetylene gauge on the low side, it has the wrong spring to work with the low pressures of acetylene--15 psi or less. The threads for the cylinder fitting-to-regulator will probably be left-hand thread.

Acetylene is a powerful and highly sensitive explosive at pressures above 15 psi.

Oxygen at high pressure is highly explosive and sensitive in the presence of any organic material--hence the USE NO OIL warning on the high-side gauge.

Looks like both gages are for oxygen?

 

[Beerhippie]

Looks like both gages are for oxygen?

No. The low-side is proper for acetylene--notice it just goes to 15 psi?

 

[PCustoms]

No. The low-side is proper for acetylene--notice it just goes to 15 psi?

What's your logic the high pressure side is oxygen again?

 

[whateg01]

What's your logic the high pressure side is oxygen again?

The pressure is too high and it says use no oil

 

[PCustoms]

The pressure is too high and it says use no oil

The low side said "use no oil" too, that's what made me post in the first place. What am I missing (been a long day...)?

 

[whateg01]

The low side said "use no oil" too, that's what made me post in the first place. What am I missing (been a long day...)?

Pretty sure that's an oxygen regulator. Note the right hand threads.

 

[dscheidt]

Your regulator is a bit of a puzzle to me, as the high-side gauge is for oxygen--if the acetylene pressure even registered on that gauge, it'd be a very powerful bomb!

If it is an O2 reg w/acetylene gauge on the low side, it has the wrong spring to work with the low pressures of acetylene--15 psi or less. The threads for the cylinder fitting-to-regulator will probably be left-hand thread.

Acetylene is a powerful and highly sensitive explosive at pressures above 15 psi.

Oxygen at high pressure is highly explosive and sensitive in the presence of any organic material--hence the USE NO OIL warning on the high-side gauge.

that gauge goes to 400 psi, which is pretty standard for acetylene gauges. acetylene cylinders are ~250 psi at 70F when full, and over 300 at 100F, so that seems like a sensible range.

 

[PCustoms]

Pretty sure that's an oxygen regulator. Note the right hand threads.

 

[whateg01]

Ya got me. Looks like that's not uncommon after all

 

[Beerhippie]

that gauge goes to 400 psi, which is pretty standard for acetylene gauges. acetylene cylinders are ~250 psi at 70F when full, and over 300 at 100F, so that seems like a sensible range.

I may be wrong. My acetylene regulator is single-stage and doesn't use a high-side gauge.

 

[PCustoms]

Ya got me. Looks like that's not uncommon after all

I haven't touched a torch in probably 15yrs, Soni took a post at face value. Seems that the OP gages are pretty normal.

If he spiked the "low" side my guess is the guts are blown and it needs a rebuild. I'd also bet the hoses are rotted, so maybe a new setup is cheaper in the end?

 

[rlitman]

Your regulator is a bit of a puzzle to me, as the high-side gauge is for oxygen--if the acetylene pressure even registered on that gauge, it'd be a very powerful bomb!

No, it's right. You may be confusing kPa with PSI. Acetylene gauges normally go to about 400 PSI, while oxygen gauges usually to to about 3000 PSI.

The low side said "use no oil" too

Not uncommon on gauges. Especially when there's a risk of oxygen being back-fed via an obstructed cutting torch tip.

Pretty sure that's an oxygen regulator. Note the right hand threads.

The notches on the centers of the hex corners indicate it is a left hand thread. If you look really closely, there are similar notches on the nut at the end of the red hose where it goes into the regulator.

The stem is a POL fuel gas thread, as used to be seen on barbecue tanks before the external square threaded tool-less type became the norm. Note that some fuel gas threads ARE right handed.

 

[whateg01]

....
The notches on the centers of the hex corners indicate it is a left hand thread. If you look really closely, there are similar notches on the nut at the end of the red hose where it goes into the regulator.

I was referring to this post/picture.

 

[PCustoms]

Let's move on, sorry I derailed

 

[rlitman]

I was referring to this post/picture.

Right. Also an acetylene regulator. That CGA 300 stem is the competing style valve used on many large acetylene cylinders. IIRC it was popularized by Linde, while the competition used CGA 510. You can also see the notches for the left handed hose connection on the left side of that picture.

 

[whateg01]

Right. Also an acetylene regulator. That CGA 300 stem is the competing style valve used on many large acetylene cylinders. IIRC it was popularized by Linde, while the competition used CGA 510. You can also see the notches for the left handed hose connection on the left side of that picture.

Ah, thanks for the correction

 

[The Cobbler]

you have an MC ( Motorcylce) acetylene tank and need a cga-520 to cga 200 mc adapter
As far as the regulator, if you can identify the needed kit, it should be an easy rebuild

​

 

[Lwel9226]

Take it to your local welding supply.... ask the price to rebuild vs new and make your decision from there...........

LynnW

 

[vdotmatrix]

Your regulator is a bit of a puzzle to me, as the high-side gauge is for oxygen--if the acetylene pressure even registered on that gauge, it'd be a very powerful bomb!

If it is an O2 reg w/acetylene gauge on the low side, it has the wrong spring to work with the low pressures of acetylene--15 psi or less. The threads for the cylinder fitting-to-regulator will probably be left-hand thread.

Acetylene is a powerful and highly sensitive explosive at pressures above 15 psi.

Oxygen at high pressure is highly explosive and sensitive in the presence of any organic material--hence the USE NO OIL warning on the high-side gauge.

I apologize for the confusing post where I slipped in an additional question to confuse……first question is about the craftsman acetylene regulator 313.20281. I called Harris and they made them for Craftsman, but Craftsman wanted parts specific for their product to be made and Harris, one way or another couldn't fulfill this and discontinued it…. My regulator is 20-30 years old.

Just asking whether it would be worthwhile, safe to have it checked out and restored ?

Can you guys recommend an equivalent acetylene regulator?
******************
The other question was answered about the adapter. My friend in NH uses MC bottles and uses an adapter when he doesn't need to lug the big stuff around.

 

[vdotmatrix]

Craftsman had really good regulators and pretty good torches. My two-stage regulators were made by Harris. I'm not sure about yours, but using it in the situation where the needle pegs isn't good. Rebuilding an acetylene regulator is potentially a DIY job, and if you can find an affordable rebuild kit NOS on eBay or something, it might even be economical. However, I will warn you that rebuilding an oxygen regulator is NOT a diy job, and in both cases, it's usually cheaper to buy new than rebuild.

That acetylene cylinder is an MC type (10CF capacity) with a CGA-200 valve. Your regulator is a CGA-510 (AKA "POL"), and yes, you can find an adapter to make it work. I suggest you pick it up where you get your acetylene and support your LWS, but in any case here's one:

Amazon.com

The torch is terrific.

 

[vdotmatrix]

Looks like both gages are for oxygen?

NO! I wanted to show the acetylene gauge and the model number for help identifying it ….

 

[PCustoms]

NO! I wanted to show the acetylene gauge and the model number for help identifying it ….

Yes, we are well past the confusion. Sorry

 

[vdotmatrix]

I wrote Harris and they told me they have no parts available for this regulator and promptly close the ticket so I guess that’s that.

 

[rlitman]

The torch is terrific.

I have no complains about the torch quality. It's right on up there with the very best of American made (Smith, old school Victor, etc.). But on the two I've owned (I sold the torches and kept the regulator sets), the hose connections were too close together to be able to add on flashback arresters. For ME, that was something I wasn't happy about, but it's all a compromise. The close connections make the hose bend better than the wide set connections on my favored Victor 100FC.

I wrote Harris and they told me they have no parts available for this regulator and promptly close the ticket so I guess that’s that.

Take it to your LWS. If they're an old school shop that's been around and isn't a big chain, there's a chance they have the parts collecting dust on the shelf. If you want to order a part, I would steer you to https://www.billswelderrepair.com But as I said above, the rebuild kit is almost certainly more expensive than a replacement regulator.

 

[vdotmatrix]

I have no complains about the torch quality. It's right on up there with the very best of American made (Smith, old school Victor, etc.). But on the two I've owned (I sold the torches and kept the regulator sets), the hose connections were too close together to be able to add on flashback arresters. For ME, that was something I wasn't happy about, but it's all a compromise. The close connections make the hose bend better than the wide set connections on my favored Victor 100FC.


Take it to your LWS. If they're an old school shop that's been around and isn't a big chain, there's a chance they have the parts collecting dust on the shelf. If you want to order a part, I would steer you to https://www.billswelderrepair.com But as I said above, the rebuild kit is almost certainly more expensive than a replacement regulator.

Thank you! I went to my local welding shop, Roberts Oxygen. When Nathan saw the Craftsman acetylene regulator he said they don’t make them like they use to and recommended I leave it. It will be rebuilt for about $100. A similar single stage Harris is about $120…I am very happy…..I wasn’t happy with the needle ******* over or the fact that the black knob was on the fritz. My wife would be pissed if I blew myself up…..thanks for responding! OH btw, i have quick connects and flashback arrestors already on mine!

 

[The Cobbler]

nice job on the save !