Torch refurbishing companies?

[sdeeter19555]

Are there any companies that will take Oxy/Acetelyene torch heads/bodies/regulators and go through them? I have a set of Marquette that still work, but my guess is they are close to 50 years old and things are probably needing attention.

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[oldwino]

Check with your local welding supply. If they don’t, they probably know somewhere that will service/repair your torch

 

[rlitman]

If you strike out at your LWS, you can try here:
http://www.billswelderrepair.com/Torch_Reg.html

Or join the forum at weldingweb.com and seek out OADoctor.

 

[sdeeter19555]

Perfect, thanks!

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[bonneyman]

Bills Welding is top notch. Had them do a 20+ year reg for me - good price, fast turn around, cust service sweet as apple pie!

 

[BroncoAZ]

My buddy borrowed my torch a few months back and found the seals were bad. He purchased a rebuild kit and rebuilt the regulators so he could use it. I offered to pay him for the rebuild kits but he wouldn't hear of it. I think they are pretty straightforward to do at home.

 

[rlitman]

My buddy borrowed my torch a few months back and found the seals were bad. He purchased a rebuild kit and rebuilt the regulators so he could use it. I offered to pay him for the rebuild kits but he wouldn't hear of it. I think they are pretty straightforward to do at home.

They are, but the gotcha is that if you get contamination in the oxygen regulator, you may not live long enough to know what you did wrong.

 

[rharman]

These guys have been mentioned a few times on GJ.
https://regulatortorchrepair.com/about/

I have a ~45 year old Victor set I need to have rebuilt. I'll have to check Bill's as well.

 

[dr_clyde]

I've had 2 torch sets minus regulators refurbished. A small Victor set I bought off craigslist and a Smith heavy duty set that went through a fire.

I had them done through my LWS, not sure who they sent them to, but they did a great job.

The Victor set was nothing special, just really dirty and needed some seals. I figured that it was worth the money to basically have a brand new torch for half the money.

The Smith set had gone through a structure fire at a friend's shop, and was badly damaged. I got it for free, so I had nothing to lose. They replaced the valves (melted), bead blasted and cleaned the whole thing, checked all the joints and replaced all the seals. It cost me about half the price of new. Works beautifully now, I use it as my primary torch.

I wouldn't bother repairing regulators, they are inexpensive compared to rebuild costs. Just buy new ones.

 

[rlitman]

These guys have been mentioned a few times on GJ.
https://regulatortorchrepair.com/about/

I have a ~45 year old Victor set I need to have rebuilt. I'll have to check Bill's as well.

I'm pretty sure that's the OADoctor from weldingweb that I mentioned above. I just couldn't remember his site off the top of my head. Thanks!

edit: As for rebuilding old torches, here's something to think about. Nowadays, you can pick up a quality torch that comes with built in check valves and flashback arrestors. Your 45 year old Victor set probably doesn't have those features. Would you have your family car without seat belts and air bags?

I have two Victor torches (a 100FC and a 315FC) that are probably 20 years old now, so still USA made, but they're new enough to have the built in safety features. If yours predate the FC version, you could always attach external ones, but they really bulk up your torch in a bad way. If you have a nice old Victor J series aircrafter torch you want to use for jewelry work, then by all means, rebuild it. But if you have a 100 or 315, and plan to do some cutting, then it might make more sense to just replace it.

 

[rlitman]

I've had 2 torch sets minus regulators refurbished. A small Victor set I bought off craigslist and a Smith heavy duty set that went through a fire.

I had them done through my LWS, not sure who they sent them to, but they did a great job. ..

I wouldn't bother repairing regulators, they are inexpensive compared to rebuild costs. Just buy new ones.

I think I'm spoiled by having TWO great INDEPENDENT LWS by me that I frequent (and there's a third good one not far out of my way). I feel like I'm always reading horror stories online about people forced to go to big chain welding supply houses, and being treated like a number.

If you've got a decent LWS that is willing to put up with hobbyists, treat them like the golden goose that they are and bring your business there! Just have some patience when their large commercial customer shows up at the counter.

As for rebuilding regulators, some nice regulators may be worth rebuilding. Most are not. I know that my LWS has said that rebuilding costs make it never worthwhile, but the rebuilding price if you send yours away to a shop that specializes in the job could tilt the scales.

In any case, rebuilding regulators is not a DIY job for the untrained amateur, because of the risks involved. Rebuilding a torch is FAR less dangerous, and if your LWS is willing to sell you a torch rebuild kit, it may be worth a shot. A bucket of water makes checking for leaks easy.

 

[BD1]

Check out WELDERS SUPPLY for a new MADE in USA Smith setup. $232. 60
https://www.weldersupply.com/P/317/SmithCompleteMediumDutyO

 

[Handyfarmer]

for what it worth, when I checked out having some regulators rebuilt, it was lower cost to replace than to rebuild,

 

[rlitman]

Check out WELDERS SUPPLY for a new MADE in USA Smith setup. $232. 60
https://www.weldersupply.com/P/317/SmithCompleteMediumDutyO

Smith does have the best torches in the market today.

for what it worth, when I checked out having some regulators rebuilt, it was lower cost to replace than to rebuild,

To replace with cheap single stage regulators, perhaps.

 

[dr_clyde]

I think I'm spoiled by having TWO great INDEPENDENT LWS by me that I frequent (and there's a third good one not far out of my way). I feel like I'm always reading horror stories online about people forced to go to big chain welding supply houses, and being treated like a number.

If you've got a decent LWS that is willing to put up with hobbyists, treat them like the golden goose that they are and bring your business there! Just have some patience when their large commercial customer shows up at the counter.

As for rebuilding regulators, some nice regulators may be worth rebuilding. Most are not. I know that my LWS has said that rebuilding costs make it never worthwhile, but the rebuilding price if you send yours away to a shop that specializes in the job could tilt the scales.

In any case, rebuilding regulators is not a DIY job for the untrained amateur, because of the risks involved. Rebuilding a torch is FAR less dangerous, and if your LWS is willing to sell you a torch rebuild kit, it may be worth a shot. A bucket of water makes checking for leaks easy.

Yep. This.

I am very lucky my welding supply house is OUTSTANDING. The big chain places can go F their hat.

 

[930dreamer]

Smith does have the best torches in the market today.



To replace with cheap single stage regulators, perhaps.

What other setup would you recommend?

 

[rlitman]

What other setup would you recommend?

Well, I'm happy with my USA made Victor torches. I use OLD Craftsman branded two stage Harris regulators that I found for cheap. If I ever have problems with them, I'll pull out of storage the second set that I also found for cheap. They're quite a bit smoother than the single stage regulators that came with my Victor 100FC kit.

I can't say I know much about changes in quality after Victor moved off shore, but I wouldn't touch any imported Victor clones, or Victor clone brazing or heating tips (cutting tips, maybe).

I had a Harris (Craftsman) torch that came with my regulators. The hose fittings were too close together to attach flashback arrestors, but otherwise, it seemed nice. I'm not sure if their current models have the built-in safety features, but a long time ago I traded my torch off for an SDS drill which I use to this day.

I know that Smith's current gear does have built-in flashback arrestors and check valves. I think they call it Dual Guard IIRC, and they make some of the best torches money can buy. If only I had money...

Oh, and just to squeeze it in here, Grade T hose.

 

[dr_clyde]

What other setup would you recommend?

If I couldn't get a Smith setup, I'd be looking at Flametech. They're a smaller American torch maker that has some pretty nice gear.

They're really popular with the heavy equipment mechanics and rig welders.

 

[bonneyman]

I think I'm spoiled by having TWO great INDEPENDENT LWS by me that I frequent (and there's a third good one not far out of my way). I feel like I'm always reading horror stories online about people forced to go to big chain welding supply houses, and being treated like a number.

If you've got a decent LWS that is willing to put up with hobbyists, treat them like the golden goose that they are and bring your business there! Just have some patience when their large commercial customer shows up at the counter.

As for rebuilding regulators, some nice regulators may be worth rebuilding. Most are not. I know that my LWS has said that rebuilding costs make it never worthwhile, but the rebuilding price if you send yours away to a shop that specializes in the job could tilt the scales.

In any case, rebuilding regulators is not a DIY job for the untrained amateur, because of the risks involved. Rebuilding a torch is FAR less dangerous, and if your LWS is willing to sell you a torch rebuild kit, it may be worth a shot. A bucket of water makes checking for leaks easy.

Patronizing local shops and suppliers is one thing we can all do to help keep business alive. A good local welding shop would be a real blessing!

 

[Al Borland]

My office just "Blessed" us with new torches, a Harris set and a Victor set.
Could not get a consistent neutral flame out of the Harris setup, and then it blew the o-ring between the head and the handle.
The Victor wouldn't burn evenly. Took it apart and poured out a bunch of brass filings from in the handle part. Cleaned out, it worked, but was a short head setup and put the sparks too close to my hands.
Managed to snag one of our old Concoa torches, (Before the dolts got a chance to throw it out). Happy days.

 

[Handyfarmer]

I have used both single stage and dual stage regulators, on my cutting rigs and torch rig,, and I have three rigs had 4 but my son took one of them,, I have mostly smith equipment, I have had smith regulators, victor regulators (dual stage), and a marquet unit, most last a long time, 20+ years or so, but on the truck they do not last as long, and the ones my son has had has had a shorter life on the welding truck,

but as far as use, I could not tell any difference between the units, (when they worked they worked well, and they worked for many many years),