Let's talk oxy/acetylene setups

[va aviator]

I've been saying it for a while... "im going to buy a torch this time" after trying to do something with my MAPP torch or my little bernzomatic oxy/mapp setup. I'm ready to take the plunge now.

Not so much worried about the torch/regulators as I am the TANKS.

I've read that the portable models don't last that long. As in 15 minute burn time... Is this true? I'd like to have at LEAST an hour of burn time on a regular cutting tip.

So with that in mind, I did some shopping around and I found 40CF oxygen and acetylene tanks for aorund $220 total. I was thinking that this would be "kinda portable" in that I could get a cart and it wouldn't be a huge deal to throw in the back of my truck if I needed to.

I guess what I'm wondering is should I buy the el cheapo tanks, then go to northern and do the gas pony exchange? Should I go to a welding supply and get a fill/exchange? What's the most cost effective way of going about this?

I've only ever used (other people's) BIG tanks so I never put much thought into owning your own tanks...

 

[tcsalvage]

one thing to keep in mind is you will go through twice as much oxygen as acetylene. i puchased all my tanks at auctions over the years and most of them with no paperwork. this avenue takes time as most of the tanks you purchase will belong to a supplier (stolen) so make sure you get and KEEP all reciepts and sales tickets in case someone shows up asking were you got them. once you find a set thats yours keep a copy of the paperwork in a safe place and cut away. large tanks last quite awhile but hurt your wallet when you fill them.

 

[va aviator]

one thing to keep in mind is you will go through twice as much oxygen as acetylene. i puchased all my tanks at auctions over the years and most of them with no paperwork. this avenue takes time as most of the tanks you purchase will belong to a supplier (stolen) so make sure you get and KEEP all reciepts and sales tickets in case someone shows up asking were you got them. once you find a set thats yours keep a copy of the paperwork in a safe place and cut away. large tanks last quite awhile but hurt your wallet when you fill them.

I read a bit about this... I thought the problem with stolen tanks were mostly limited to the larger ones?

 

[slip knot]

In my area the rental bottles are typically a different color or neckband than the owner bottles. I dont know about the cost of the larger bottles vs the gas pony bottles because i've always owned my bottles and never looked at gaspony costs.

I would recommend the smaller bottle size unless you plan on using the torch a lot. Since I've got a chop saw and plasma cutter I very seldom use my torch setup . When I refill the bottles the inspection date is usually expired and I pay extra to re certify the bottle

 

[va aviator]

my main concern is NOT running out over a weekend LOL. I get very little time during the week to take care of something, and the nearest welding supply place to my knowledge is across town.

Exactly how much time can you get out of a portable?

 

[tcsalvage]

all my tanks are large ones because when i start cutting its all day sometimes. and yes it is the larger tanks that get stolen or left behind when someone moves (got a pair that way because the people didn't know what to do with them and were afraid they were stolen) they were free and clear and mine. refillers WILL confiscate stolen tanks and they WILL ask you were you got them and sometimes the owner (in my case baltimore gas and electric) will send their own detectives to track down who stole them. thats why you keep all paperwork if you buy them or someone ''gives'' them to you.

 

[Gerbil]

I've got the little plumber's tanks and as much as I hate filling them, they are nice to move around and get the job done. I can't say how long they really last cutting but I have cut the axles out of a burnt jeep in the woods with probobly half a tank of acetylene. It doesn't seem to use oxy as fast but I actually used them most for welding till I got the Mig. It's a very versatile tool and makes things so much easier. I would get the biggest size you can that is still portable, cause running out ***** and happens often when you try to use them for multiple projects and don't check.

 

[28rrod]

I bought mine from a local Welding Supply. They are considered Customer Owned tanks, my receipt states just that when I purchased them, about $150 back in 1980. He refills on an exchange bases so I don’t have to worried about expiration dates on the tanks (pressure test). His label is on every tank I get. If I move he will give me a new receipt with serial numbers of the tanks. He also supplies me with my mig welding gas. My Acetylene tank is ? cu. Ft and my Oxygen is 122, both are about the same size and cost me $65 to fill both tanks.

 

[WILD-BILL]

If you look closely you can see my torches between the drill press and the tool box.

I don't recall exactly what size these bottles are (I could measure them tomorrow) but I think it's about perfect for a home garage.

I've had this set up for years.

 

[Neura]

I just purchased a bunch, take a look around for used tanks or sometimes shops closing craigslist etc are good places but of course be careful of rental tanks...

I paid $120 for a 244cuft oxygen bottle used, and costs $45 to fill here.

I just purchased a bunch of other bottles as well. I paid $70 for a 40cuft bottle for acetylene, and then a few days later I paid $170 for a 150cuft acetylene (full) and a 244cuft Oxygen, the second 244cuft oxygen had the valve broken, but I called my local welding supply house and they said $35 to revalve it. They do exchanges so I traded the 244cuft with the busted valve down to a 122cuft of oxygen and the 40cuft acetylene up to a 75cuft of acetylene he didnt charge me for the revalve, just the fills on the bottles and took the old ones for the trade up/trade down value.

Fills looked like this:

Oxygen 244cuft $45
Oxygen 122 Cuft $38
Acetylene 75 Cuft $70
Acetylene 150 Cuft $144
Argon/Co2 122 Cuft$78

The 122 and 75 bottle of oxy/acetylene are going to dads shop and he wanted something smaller that he could carry when they needed to be filled. The 244cuft and the 150 cuft are sitting in the corner of the garage and will have a hose reel with a 100ft house on it so I dont need to move them around the garage at all.

On another note I put an ad up on our local kijiji here and just got contacted today to pickup 2 oxygen bottle and an acetylene bottle for free. So there is deals to be had if you look around.

 

[Neura]

in wild-bill's picture the acetylene is a 40cuft also known as a "B" Tank and needs an adapter to use regular regulator, local welding supply has the adapter. It would also need a key wrench to turn on and off, most of the time people loose the keys and they use vise grips. The oxygen bottle is a 80cuft bottle. uses a standard connection.

 

[va aviator]

If you look closely you can see my torches between the drill press and the tool box.

I don't recall exactly what size these bottles are (I could measure them tomorrow) but I think it's about perfect for a home garage.

I've had this set up for years.

Looks perfect.... Think ill call around to some welding shops for some prices.

 

[WILD-BILL]

in wild-bill's picture the acetylene is a 40cuft also known as a "B" Tank and needs an adapter to use regular regulator, local welding supply has the adapter. It would also need a key wrench to turn on and off, most of the time people loose the keys and they use vise grips. The oxygen bottle is a 80cuft bottle. uses a standard connection.

Sorry, it took me so long to get back here, Neura is correct on my bottle sizes.