Steevo
Well-known member
As much as I dislike the concept of "tool polishing", there are some rare instances where I am drawn like a moth to a flame and feel it is justified, or at least warranted.
A few years ago, my mother-in-law gave me my deceased father-in-law's oxy-acetylene cart, with gauges, hoses and torches, gloves, etc.
I have been using the cart, with my gauges, hoses, torches, etc. ever since then.
I knew there was an older torch and tips in the bin under the other stuff, but until I dug around in there looking for some spare back-flow suppressors, I hadn't really paid much attention to it ( I have quite enough torches, handles, tips, etc.).
Once I gathered up all of the pieces, I discovered that it was a pretty complete older (Large/Heavy Duty) National welding/cutting set. I also liked the looks of the torch. It has that classic, quality build, and an excellent fit in the hand, if a little large overall.
I should have taken some "before" pictures, but the components all looked about like these tips that I haven't yet cleaned up and polished:
Here is the "after" of the handle, mixers, tips, cutting torch, etc.:
This thing is huge. That handle alone is just over a foot long, before you put a mixer or tip on it.
I dis-assembled all of the valves, cleaned them, and the seats, checked the packings, etc. and re-assembled.
The "o-rings" on the cutting torch and on the mixers are all pretty hard, and I am going to start searching for replacements. They seem most similar to old Airco or Concoa o-rings, and I may risk the cost to order some of those to see if they fit.
If anyone has any ideas for sources on these o-rings, please let me know!
A few years ago, my mother-in-law gave me my deceased father-in-law's oxy-acetylene cart, with gauges, hoses and torches, gloves, etc.
I have been using the cart, with my gauges, hoses, torches, etc. ever since then.
I knew there was an older torch and tips in the bin under the other stuff, but until I dug around in there looking for some spare back-flow suppressors, I hadn't really paid much attention to it ( I have quite enough torches, handles, tips, etc.).
Once I gathered up all of the pieces, I discovered that it was a pretty complete older (Large/Heavy Duty) National welding/cutting set. I also liked the looks of the torch. It has that classic, quality build, and an excellent fit in the hand, if a little large overall.
I should have taken some "before" pictures, but the components all looked about like these tips that I haven't yet cleaned up and polished:
Here is the "after" of the handle, mixers, tips, cutting torch, etc.:
This thing is huge. That handle alone is just over a foot long, before you put a mixer or tip on it.
I dis-assembled all of the valves, cleaned them, and the seats, checked the packings, etc. and re-assembled.
The "o-rings" on the cutting torch and on the mixers are all pretty hard, and I am going to start searching for replacements. They seem most similar to old Airco or Concoa o-rings, and I may risk the cost to order some of those to see if they fit.
If anyone has any ideas for sources on these o-rings, please let me know!
