Scored a oxy acetylene kit

[Tracs]

My coworker knows I like building and fabricating and told me he has a oxy acetylene cutting setup from his days working on the railway gangs. He said I could have it for free.

It's probably about 15 years old but the regulators are new in box and the hose is never used. The torch is a Harris model 85 that has been used.

With the cost of tanks I think I'll look into using oxy propane. I don't need to weld with it. Another friend works delivering medical oxygen tanks. If the regulator will connect to it he said he will get me one.

Any idea on value of this?

 

[Tracs]

The picture didn't work the first time. It's there now.

 

[jhn9840]

Nice score.

jhn9840
John

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Up here somewhere around $200-300 for newish.

 

[theundermount]

when you guys are setting up your torches do you use Teflon tape on the threads?

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

 

[MagKarl]

You are missing out if you go propane instead of acetylene.

 

[rustyjames]

when you guys are setting up your torches do you use Teflon tape on the threads?

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

I never did, don't think it's necessary. One could argue that Teflon tape is unnecessary on any brass to brass connection.

 

[FloydShine]

Skip the tape and skip the propane

 

[sberry]

No tape on the hose connections. That stuff is ok, no welding tips and would need a different one for L.P. which does work. Got a bud in auto repair, all he used for 25 years. He didn't weld with it though and since the advent of wire feed last time i did was demonstration. Used it when we were kids.

 

[sberry]

If the tip is well used replace it. I can usually feel them cleaning but a guy can spend a lot of cleanup due to a tip you can never fix, same for one too large. A torch can be precision but don't get the real practice since plasma.
Cut these channels due to broke plasma.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Good looking set, You ****.
Don't go with propane.

 

[Tracs]

Another free score today. A 120 cu. Ft. full Oxygen tank. It's 3.37 m3 so I assume it's 120 cu. Ft.

I wanted to go propane because it's $10 to fill a 20lb BBQ tank vs $250 for the pre-filled acetylene tank and then $90 for refills.

80% of my intended use is heating metal to bend it and 20% cutting. For my limited use I can't justify spending $250 on acetylene.

 

[sberry]

You will need a different tip. I still use prop on a portable set and used it extensively before we went to plasma. The hearing cone in the flame is farther away. Yes, it's a lot cheaper and a good way to start. They use it a lot in scrapyards.

 

[Tracs]

You will need a different tip. I still use prop on a portable set and used it extensively before we went to plasma. The hearing cone in the flame is farther away. Yes, it's a lot cheaper and a good way to start. They use it a lot in scrapyards.

I've been researching tips online. Are propane and natural gas tips interchangeable/one in the same? I see 5 different natural gas tips online at my local store but no listing for a propane one.

 

[Cue]

I use propane and it works great for what I need which sounds like what you need it for as well. I only use it for heating with a rosebud for the most part, I cut mostly with a plasma but did try cutting with the torch and it did fine. Its nice to be able to go 2 miles up the road to the convenience store and get a tank filled on a Sunday if needed. :0

I think the hoses were different for Propane as well.

 

[Tracs]

I use propane and it works great for what I need which sounds like what you need it for as well. I only use it for heating with a rosebud for the most part, I cut mostly with a plasma but did try cutting with the torch and it did fine. Its nice to be able to go 2 miles up the road to the convenience store and get a tank filled on a Sunday if needed. :0

I think the hoses were different for Propane as well.

Is a heating tip/rosebud tip a wise investment for just heating? Can a cutting tip be controlled well enough to be used for heating metal red hot?

 

[fourjeepin]

Curious why everyone says propane vs. acetylene? I inherited my grandfathers propane torch setup. I don't use it often, but does fine for occasionally bending or cutting of steel. I have a couple of brazing projects sitting on the bench, but have never tried it.

 

[Jason280]

Propane is significantly cheaper than acetylene, and a lot easier to refill/exchange tanks. Salvage/scrap yards use it almost exclusively, you'll rarely see oxy/acetylene setups in a junk yard.

 

[earthmover1980]

I'd say the torch setup is valued at $125. You can buy a new Harris basic set for under $250.
If the ones you have work, use them. Harris torches are good, we have always used em, the nice thing is all you need to do to change gas is swap out the tips. The 6290-1 is what I use. I have tried propane, and it's not for me. Acetelyene is much faster, and hotter. Once you buy tanks, they are in your arsenal of tools for ever. I paid full price for my bottles when I was young and poor. Then two years ago, I was looking at a job and the customer gave me a whole pickup truck load of oxygen and acetylene bottles free.Now I have several bottles, and spares. I traded 2 extra oxygen bottles for spare ultra mix bottles for my might welder. High pressure bottles are able to be exchanged for oxygen, argon, ultra mix, helium etc. I suggest buying 2 oxygen's and 1 acetylene. Then you will have a spare, and your arsenal is ready to go. Whip up a cart of some kind, and you are in business! Here is my cart I traded a brick of .22 ammo for! Put A little paint on, and viola! Oh yeah, I use Airgas as a supplier, and with success.

 

[Ranchermech]

If you just want to cut with it go propane. I think it makes a nicer cut and significantly cheaper. If you want to braze with it you want to go acetylene.

 

[Cue]

Is a heating tip/rosebud tip a wise investment for just heating? Can a cutting tip be controlled well enough to be used for heating metal red hot?

I would say it is, you can heat something faster and a larger area than using a smaller tip.

 

[Tracs]

Can Oxy/propane be used to gas weld aluminum? If so what welding tip would you use for 1/8"-1/4" plate and occasional cast repair?

 

[Tracs]

I went and picked up a propane cutting tip today from princess Auto, Canada's equivalent to harbor freight.

To my surprise in doesn't fit.

I will check a real welding shop tomorrow.

 

[sberry]

It's got to be for the same brand, that kind of looks like a Victor style tip. I am not familiar with Harris but a lot of welding stores carry them.

 

[Tracs]

It's got to be for the same brand, that kind of looks like a Victor style tip. I am not familiar with Harris but a lot of welding stores carry them.

I watched a YouTube video and the propane tip they used had a flat mating surface same as I have. I guess I should have checked before going to the store.

While I was there I picked up a 800lb hand truck for $60 to turn into a cutting tank cart.

I work as a brakeman at a railway in the switching yard. Tomorrow I'll try and talk real nice to the welders. Maybe they will let me take a acetylene tank home.