just bought oxy acly torch set. maco anyone

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bought the torch set 2 bottles 2 gauges hose and torch. the brand on the guages are maco?anyone heard of the quality of these.im also trying to buy new guages and torch. anyone selling any?]thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by moneymaker17bought the torch set 2 bottles 2 gauges hose and torch. the brand on the guages are maco?anyone heard of the quality of these.im also trying to buy new guages and torch. anyone selling any?]thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by kevinjAre you sure it isn't MECO???
Reply:Meco, Was at one time a top of the line manufacturer, bought out by Victor ( thermadyne ) in the 1980's and quality went downhill, the line was killed off except for the jewlers torch by 1998. Parts can be found on Ebay for some of the torches, parts for the Aviator and Aviator Jet handle are NLA and as fas as I know, I am the only person making repro parts, which may be avaialble through a popular matalworking catalog in the future. The weldmaster handle is the larger brother to the Aviator, and parts seem to be easier to get. A couple things to watch out for on the Meco designs.1) The valves seat on ALUMINUM, this means if they dont seal dont force them, it only gets worse.2) the mixer seats on the handle with a flat copper/asbestos gasket, so it needs to be a snug, but not over snug wrench fit. This gasket at times may need to be replaced, if you can find one. This is an easily damaged part 3) Goss used to make tips, but I believe they dropped them in the last couple years. 4) Meco handles are die-castings, and if abused can crack around valve fittings, head fittings, and hose connections, check it over very carefully, and leak check the handle with standard procedures.Most shops wont handle Meco anymore, a few of us specialists do, but its not the cheapest.  Some of the Meco regulator designs are still maintained by Victor, so parts and overhaul service are available. So which handle do you have??-Aaron
Reply:Originally Posted by moneymaker17bought the torch set 2 bottles 2 gauges hose and torch. the brand on the guages are maco?anyone heard of the quality of these.im also trying to buy new guages and torch. anyone selling any?]thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWGauges should be easy to find. Just be sure it's marked for O2 service! Those gauges are cleaned and use O2 compatible lubriciants. I get mine from the LWS since it's simpler, but I've bought them from Graingers, McMaster and MSC in the past.
Reply:Originally Posted by moneymaker17Its a harris torch
Reply:New an import reg/hose/torch set will run you $100-200 alone. Top end kits $400 or more. The small "B" bottle $125 or so, the O2, $145-165 If I remember what the last sale flyer had listed right.I'd say the price was fair if everything works, but it will get pricy if you have to start replacing stuff. You might PM OAdoctor here, He can probably give you a good idea on what it would cost you to have the regs looked over/rebuilt as well as the torch. Thats what he does.For me the bottles are a bit small, but better than the tiny ones that come with the porta torch rigs. You might want to think about upgrading to the next size larger bottles when you swap out if you plan to cut and heat a lot.Oh, pay attention. There's an adapter on the acet bottle shown in the picture. When you go to exchange it be sure you keep that with the regulator, not on the cyl, or you will not be able to hook up the reg. It changes the "B" bottle nipple to fit the standard size reg if I'm right. Forget it and don't notice right away and you will be SOL until you get a new one..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWNew an import reg/hose/torch set will run you $100-200 alone. Top end kits $400 or more. The small "B" bottle $125 or so, the O2, $145-165 If I remember what the last sale flyer had listed right.I'd say the price was fair if everything works, but it will get pricy if you have to start replacing stuff. You might PM OAdoctor here, He can probably give you a good idea on what it would cost you to have the regs looked over/rebuilt as well as the torch. Thats what he does.For me the bottles are a bit small, but better than the tiny ones that come with the porta torch rigs. You might want to think about upgrading to the next size larger bottles when you swap out if you plan to cut and heat a lot.Oh, pay attention. There's an adapter on the acet bottle shown in the picture. When you go to exchange it be sure you keep that with the regulator, not on the cyl, or you will not be able to hook up the reg. It changes the "B" bottle nipple to fit the standard size reg if I'm right. Forget it and don't notice right away and you will be SOL until you get a new one.
Reply:You need to be more patient and study up more on the equipment your looking to buy.  The set you bought is a nice size and will be easy to move around but if your looking to learn to weld using those they are on the small side.  I would be looking at tanks for O2 in the 200-250 cuft range and acetylene in 149 cuft range and even though these are alot bigger they are cheaper to fill in the long run.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jay OYou need to be more patient and study up more on the equipment your looking to buy.  The set you bought is a nice size and will be easy to move around but if your looking to learn to weld using those they are on the small side.  I would be looking at tanks for O2 in the 200-250 cuft range and acetylene in 149 cuft range and even though these are alot bigger they are cheaper to fill in the long run.
Reply:I guess you have no idea of how much gas your going to be using just to learn and practice.  Sometimes that is why taking a class has its benefits because if you take advantage of the the class you will use more in their supplies then what tuition cost you.
Reply:just be careful cutting with that little b tank, you will quickly run into the 1/7 rule...
Reply:Originally Posted by weldbeadjust be careful cutting with that little b tank, you will quickly run into the 1/7 rule...
Reply:The 1/7th rule is that you don't draw out more than 1/7th the volume of the acetylene cyl in one hour. Acetylene is disolved in acetone in a binder in the cylinder and the gas collects at the top. Draw off more than 1/7th the volume and it can not replenish the gas fast enough and you will have issues. 1/7th is the older rule, today most mfgs recommend no more than 1/10th the volume in an hour. For the same reason you need to keep the acet cyl upright in use, and store it upright for at least an hour if you have to transport it laying down for some reason, so the gas can work its way to the top.As far as cutting, usually most will use 3 to 4 times as much O2 as they do Acet. Welding/ heating the number is closer to 1 to 1 in gas usage.Most torch manufacturers have some good basic safety tips on their web sites on working with torches, tables for settings for various size tips, and cutting tip info. Look at Victor's or  Harris's web sites and you will find quite a bit of good info for someone new to this..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan