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Gas welding
- Thread starter gto57
- Start date
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Most every thing is safe. The question is what kind of torch and welding are you attempting?
Dual stage regulators seem expensive compared to their cheaper counterparts parts but if your welding thin steel with aircraft torches they will pay for themselves in short order by being able to withdrawal more gas from a nearly empty bottle and do so much much more stable.
With cheap regulators as you near the end you have to constantly tweak the reg to keep the mixture correct which is not only annoying but can cause defects and you will stop way before a good dual stage will become unstable.
Smith/miller dual stages are probably second but airco/concoa dual stages are supreme. They have infinite life unless crushed as they can be rebuilt and the main parts (brass/bronze casting and machined parts) are very high in craftsmanship and quality. You can save money by buying second hand that have been or can be rebuilt
Dual stage regulators seem expensive compared to their cheaper counterparts parts but if your welding thin steel with aircraft torches they will pay for themselves in short order by being able to withdrawal more gas from a nearly empty bottle and do so much much more stable.
With cheap regulators as you near the end you have to constantly tweak the reg to keep the mixture correct which is not only annoying but can cause defects and you will stop way before a good dual stage will become unstable.
Smith/miller dual stages are probably second but airco/concoa dual stages are supreme. They have infinite life unless crushed as they can be rebuilt and the main parts (brass/bronze casting and machined parts) are very high in craftsmanship and quality. You can save money by buying second hand that have been or can be rebuilt
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Get the Victor SR 350 / 360 and pick up a 9 inch welding handle.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Most people in their shop are not cutting 8” of steel or welding 1/2”. Grossly over sized. Insanely over sized for any reasonable weldingGet the Victor SR 350 / 360 and pick up a 9 inch welding handle.
I have a medium duty torch handle (100FC and 1350 cutting head) and it will still cut 6” but is some what usable as a welding torch. Much more manageable than a 315 handle. I only use it to cut with or a rosebud anymore due to its weight and size.
However even an aircraft torch like a smith airline will cut 2” thick metal and is a joy to weld and braze with. While you can’t cut with it a Meco midget is also a very nice welding torch.
Stick-man
Well-known member
Even the harbors are safe. How much will you use it? Are you just wanting to do it occasionally and as a hobby? I know many guys that just use the harbors and they work fine. But if you are looking for better quality, I would look into Victor, Smith/Miller, of Harris.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
With Kent White's death a couple of weeks ago, anything Meco is going to be harder to find. Until the estate is settled out, it appears that Kent's company is temporarily closed.While you can’t cut with it a Meco midget is also a very nice welding torch.
Firebrick43
Well-known member
Missed that he passed. Great guy and completely responsible for my love of gas welding.With Kent White's death a couple of weeks ago, anything Meco is going to be harder to find. Until the estate is settled out, it appears that Kent's company is temporarily closed.
cvairwerks
Well-known member
Firebrick: Kent was a great resource. He was doing some landscape work around his place and took a fall that resulted in a fatal head injury. I'm sure it hit his family extremely hard, as it has the metalworking family as well.
I've had an HF set for 30+ years. No issues. After ~10 years the hose started cracking externally, so I replaced it with a goodyear, which is still fine.
If I was buying today, I'd also look at a Victor and Harris.
The HF I have looks something this, but mine could've been from 10 vendors ago.
If I was buying today, I'd also look at a Victor and Harris.
The HF I have looks something this, but mine could've been from 10 vendors ago.