Henrob DHC 2000 Welding and Cutting Torch

[pirate]

I went to the swap meet on Saturday morning looking for car parts but in addition they have a lot of vendors selling everything from car parts to car wax. There was a company there demonstrating their product called Cobra which is an oxygen/acetylene system that was doing amazing things. Some of the weld beads looked like they were TIG welded. After getting home I did a Google search and found there is an identical system called the Henrob DHC 2000 Welding and Cutting Torch which sells for $369 shipped. I'm sure someone could probably get similar results using a regular torch but this thing looked very user friendly both welding and cutting. Instead of a traditional torch type arrangement this system used a smaller gun type handle which they said was easier to control. I didn't buy one but would like to hear opinions of anyone who knows about the system, owns or have used one.

Not sure how to attach links to websites?

 

[Professur]

I've heard great and awful reports on the Henrob. Those who like it, love it. Those who don't, hate it in the extreme. Very little fence sitting on this one.

 

[Ben Iv]

Ive used one for oxy/acetylene welding and liked it. You can also cut steel with them if you have the proper tips. But depending on what you are welding id just find a good used mig welder for cheaper. gas and tig have their place for welding large patch panels since they make a softer more workable weld. I picked up my miller used for 300 bucks with a cart regulator and a 50ft cord so theres sompthing to think about.

 

[pirate]

any other feedback?

 

[RM209]

Pirate: Funny that you mention seeing the Henrobs at a swap meet; that's the only time I've ever seen one. They used to be at the Carlisle, PA swap meets, but I haven't seen them in a couple of years. Wondered if they were still around. With those little tips, they madea very hot flame.

RM209

 

[fordcragar]

Here is some information on the Henrob/Dillon/Cobra/DHC2000 torch:

http://www.fournierenterprises.com/W3000.html

I remember years ago when they first came out, they were supposed to be really great and all I ever heard was how hard they were to weld with. So I never looked at them again.

Several years ago, while at a MetalMeet there was a guy selling them and I had a chance to try one.

What I liked:
1) the torch is supposed to be able to use less gas.
2) the cutting torch works great, they claim to be similar to using a plasma.
3) I used it to gas weld some aluminum, but in fairness never tried it with my old Victor torch. It did a nice job though.

What I didn't like is the pistol grip on the torch.

Looking back, if I bought one of them years ago, I'd be used to it by now and probably wouldn't have bought my TIG welder.

I've always been a fairly good gas welder, but all I ever heard about these torches were how hard they were to weld with; which wasn't my experience, just the opposite.

I bought one of the Henrob/Dillon/Cobra/DHC2000 torches about four years ago and use it all of the time. Actually I probably use it more that my old Victor; which I've had for over 40 years.

BTW, Henrob/Dillon/Cobra/DHC2000 torches are all the same, just different names that they have been sold under. My understanding is all of the parts are interchangeable.

 

[doug.j]

The cutting is done with 2 tips. One for heating and a second for O2. It takes a little practice to get good at keeping the O2 following in the heated area. They weld good. I had mixed results with aluminum. I think the alloy is important. Just remember the guy doing the demo at the show has a lot of practice. If cutting is not important check out the Meco torches

http://www.tinmantech.com/html/meco_midget_torch.php

There are some good youtube video of the tinman

http://www.nationaltorch.com/index.html

 

[KenS]

In the early episodes of Monster Garage you could see Jesse James using a Henrob to weld gas tanks. Here are some videos that will give you a good overview of a Henrob-Cobra-DHC-Dillon (all the same) in action.

My Henrob is well built but, in my opinion, over-priced. Example: a small brass dust plug on the front of the torch that prevents dirt from getting into the torch's oxygen outlet when not being using it for cutting costs $20. The same part at an auto parts store-- a brass plug used in brake line work, for instance to plug an unused hole in a proportioning valve, costs about 75 cents.

Probably the best feature about the Henrob is its low gas consumption-- 4 psi for both gas and acetylene. (Note that it can be tricky to get some regulators to produce smooth gas flow a such low rates.)

Like gas torches in general, the Henrob produces a soft, malleable weld that is easier to work than the harder weld of a Mig. It can be a very good solution for autobody sheet metal work.

In general users either like or hate the pistol grip. In fact, some have removed the grips and prefer the lighter skeletonized unit that is left.

Here are several helpful videos. Tom Gingrich uses a Henrob for virtually all of his art welding, and those videos will give you a good idea of torch performance in a down-and-dirty real-world environment.

Brand new user explores Henrob (Cobra, DHC 2000, Dillion) torch:

Cobra torch (Henrob 2000) oxygen acetylene welder cutting...

Cobra torch (Henrob 2000) oxygen acetylene cutting plate...

Cobra torch (Henrob 2000) cutting thin sheet steel...

Cobra torch (Henrob 2000) welding steel...


Fusion welding using the Henrob 2000...


Interesting way to hold a Cobra Torch...


Shorter instructional videos using Henrob torch.

How to weld Thin metal to thick PART 1 using the Cobra Torch (Tom Gingras)...

How to weld Thin metal to thick PART 2 using the Cobra Torch (Tom Gingras)...


Lengthy instructional videos using Henrob torch.

Art metal lesson by Tom Gingras Part 1 of 6...

Art metal lesson by Tom Gingras Part 2 of 6...

Art metal lesson by Tom Gingras Part 3 of 6...

Art metal lesson by Tom Gingras Part 4 of 6...

Art metal lesson by Tom Gingras Part 5 of 6...

Art metal lesson by Tom Gingras Part 6 of 6...