School me on cutting torches

[fury9]

I want one but have no clue as to who makes quality, what the different tips are for, who makes good regulator/gauge sets, what to watch for when buying used, etc...

I would like to try to gas weld at some point and want the capability to cut off stubborn bolts,nuts,1/2 steel plate,etc.. I'm working on a 52 Chevy deluxe which needs some "persuasion" with fire to get to what I need to.

I know google is my friend but you guys are the ones I trust when it comes to tool related things!

 

[Farmall450]

I'd go with a Smith Toughcut setup.
When I get the coin I will be getting one...

 

[zkling]

Victor or Smith brand wise.

If you want to cut and heat only, look into propane oxy. Cut, heat and weld stay with acetylene oxy.

There are a multitude of tips
A cutting attachment has a large body with a built in blast valve for cutting.
Rosebud/heating tip, used for heating
Welding tip, used for welding.

Tip size depends on material thickness and the torch body you have.

Use caution when purchasing used gas handling equiptment. I personally wouldn't purchase well used or dirty equipment. Leaking flammable gas just doesn't sit well with me. If you do purchase used, try to find a set in good condition that you can test out.

 

[Farmall450]

Yes, oxy propane is what I have looked into...far cheaper than acetylene, which is what we use now, but only for cutting & heating.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Harris, Smith, or Victor. I got my Harris used for cheap and got it rebuilt for 75 bucks. Thing is From the 60s, don't make them like that anymore!

 

[Piles]

Yes, oxy propane is what I have looked into...far cheaper than acetylene, which is what we use now, but only for cutting & heating.

I was under the impression that with propane, you require MUCH more oxygen and fuel to get the same heat. Basically just much less efficient. Yes it is cheaper if you are just buying the bottle once, but if you are gonna be using this set up for a while, acetylene is smarter as it is much more efficient (though higher cost to buy) not to mention the capability to weld.

I only read about this briefly many years ago, and we do run propane at home, and acetylene at work. Seems we are changing bottles at home more, despite less use (though that could be because I have to pay at home)

Again I could be wrong but from what I understood acetylene is higher upfront costs, but propane is just as bad when looking at the full picture.

 

[logixjock]

I have a Harris and a Victor, I like the Harris better. Switched to Propane in 1998, much cheaper and haven't had any problems gas welding.

 

[sberry]

Torch sets are fairly competitive new even at real dealers. Like the 240V mig everyone has made a good small setup ideal for this, the Victor Super Range class, Smith and Harris. Shopping used for the novice is hit and miss, the stuff lasts a long time.

 

[sberry]

You can save a ton on bottles shopping used and for cut/heat have used LP for years, less with the advent of the plasma but still have a set in my pickup with 20# bottle.

 

[gtermini]

Just buy a set off CL with owner bottles. Hold out for a Victor Journeyman size (3XX torch handle model number) with a bunch of tips. Victor is the industry standard. Any welding shop can get parts for it if anything screws up.

Greyson

 

[sberry]

I bought this first one the other day with full gas for 160, one working head after I fixed the tip and 1 working regulator. The 02 went south. Second pic is my shop cart for long time. At one point had a gang of bottles, a head and 100 ft hoses, one from LP but 99% of the cutting can be done plasma, cost of gas not such a concern and I now wheel the cart a little as needed, to the hoist etc.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I use a Smith with propane at home, and a Harris with propane at work.

 

[sberry]

This pic is where the operator slashed a light sheet off, didn't need to be perfect but no need for a gob of slag either. No grinder fabrication.

 

[theknurl]

Just buy a set off CL with owner bottles. Hold out for a Victor Journeyman size (3XX torch handle model number) with a bunch of tips. Victor is the industry standard. Any welding shop can get parts for it if anything screws up.

Greyson

better yet.....

get a Victor J28 handle, its 5 3/8" long and weighs 6.2 oz AKA "The Aircrafter"

then a 550J cutting head it weighs 1# 1.2oz with a #6 tip it will cut 6 INCHES of steel plate@6-8 IPM

you must remember this is the smallest Victor

buy J17 tips, chrome if you can find them.....

buy a package of the 2 sizes of O-rings and you're good to go for the rest of your life......and that of your grandkids too

I've been using mine since the '50s......for cutting and heating

now if you want a REAL just welding torch...... Purox OO there is no other.....nothing even comes close

interchangeable mixers for running different gases try that with ANY other torch

 

[Farmall450]

I was under the impression that with propane, you require MUCH more oxygen and fuel to get the same heat. Basically just much less efficient. Yes it is cheaper if you are just buying the bottle once, but if you are gonna be using this set up for a while, acetylene is smarter as it is much more efficient (though higher cost to buy) not to mention the capability to weld.

I only read about this briefly many years ago, and we do run propane at home, and acetylene at work. Seems we are changing bottles at home more, despite less use (though that could be because I have to pay at home)

Again I could be wrong but from what I understood acetylene is higher upfront costs, but propane is just as bad when looking at the full picture.

It does use somewhat more oxygen, but it is still far cheaper than that damned expensive acetylene.

 

[fury9]

Thanks for all the great info!!

 

[sberry]

Only here,,, one guy wants him to buy a Journeyman and the next the smallest one they make.

 

[hallboyone]

Don't mean to hi-jack this thread but what type of o-rings are safe for oxy-acetylene weld set up. All of mine are missing and so I haven't used it in a while. Would generic o-rings work or would you need to buy special o-rings?
As a side not have any of ya'll heard of IOxygen? that is the brand that I bought new and I can't find anything about it online. Thanks for any info.

 

[vga]

I have both a new Victor FC 100 ( below pic) which is a mid sized torch and reg kit along with 2 rose buds and a few different size tips(4), and the Smith portable kit which I have owned for 20 + yrs. The Smith is my main go to kit as I can take it anywhere,( rooftops) when I work plus I like the way it feels in my hand when I am using it.. I have many tips for this small set up but I find myself using the mini rose bud most of the time just to save time. It all depends what you plan to use this tool for. 98% of my hot work involves brazing copper pipe and copper tubing of every size they make so I go from one extreme to the other as to the heat/ flame size req'd. I love both brands and have never been let down by either. Do not buy a clone. It not worth the trouble. Get the real thing, Victor, Smith, Harris

 

[RedneckWelder]

Most of your Chicomm clones are clones of the Victor, with some Harris and Smith clones too. You can find these all over the place, from EBAY to Harbor Freight to even Hobart makes a Victor ripoff. I would advise against these clones, if for no other reason than finding replacement tips that fit might be hard. Sizes tend to vary widely.

I would strongly suggest sticking to Victor, Smith, and Harris as far as your makers go. Generally Victor will have the widest availability as far as parts, tips, etc go. I use the big Victor 315C. There is the caveat that Victor is now made in China but they seem to be keeping tighter on the QC than many companies.

Smith makes a very nice torch, with a lifetime warrenty even. Smith is owned by ITW which also owns Miller. I think a lot of the Smith branded stuff is becoming Miller branded. Smith is still made in the US.

Harris also makes great torches. Owned by Lincoln.

I would suggest for you to go with the Medium Duty setup offered by any of the three makers. The smaller handles on the Medium Duty stuff is generally easier to weld with and move around. I can weld fine with the big victor but it does get cumbersome.

If you'll go to your local welding supply shop you can see these torches in person and that's the best thing.

You'll probably want to stick with O/A since you'll be welding as you said in your original post.

Personally I would also suggest going for bigger tanks instead of the burglar bottle packs but then again I do quite a bit of O/A work.

 

[BreeStephany]

Just out of curiosity, outside of buying an LP regulator, are there any different equipment requirements for LP that are different from acetylene?

 

[rhuff86]

I have a Smith and love it I will have to check on the model tomorrow at work. Oxy/Acetylene with smith "Hard Hat" regulators. The torch is designed to be used as a hammer if you flip it over. With the right tip hose and tanks it can cut up to 12". With the size if tanks and hose I have now I can get to 6-7" But I would never need to get that thick. Thickest I have used it for was scrapping out an old road grader at about 4.5". Great brand and guaranteed for life. I was told it does not matter if you run it over with a truck or what happens to it they will replace it, also if they bring out an updated version of your model you can upgrade for free. IIRC I payed about 1,400 for it a few years ago. It has payed for itself with all the iron I cut and I love it.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Just out of curiosity, outside of buying an LP regulator, are there any different equipment requirements for LP that are different from acetylene?

T grade instead of R grade hose, IIRC. Some torch designs also different tip. Sorry that I couldn't tell you more, I don't have an Oxy/Propane setup.

 

[pete379]

I run oxy-propane- have since I bought my victor 100 set in 1980 ( junior in high school) regular acetylene regulator, but the "T" hose still works fine, but now with plasma, it is delegated to mostly heating and very small cutting jobs. propane is very economical compared to ace. except it is not hot enough to weld
pete

 

[Thumper68]

I would go with Victor or Smith, I personally don't like Harris.

I got my Victor Journyman set up back in 91, I told the guy at the Northern airgas that I would buy the Lincoln sp250 if he threw them in with it, Funny part was that I went in there to buy a new torch set not a mig, oh well I got what I needed that day and I still use that mig too.