O/A regulators for small torches...

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Hey everyone,If you have a small O/A torch, what regulators do you use?  When I mean small, I'm thinking along the line of Smith AW1A, AW10A, Meco "N" Midget, Victor J28, Harris Model 15, etc...  I'm currently using my Esab R-76 Trimline regulators with my new Smith AW1A torch and finding it difficult to keep a neutral flame.  So, whats the best regulator to get?Thanks,DanEsab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:Dan - for Oxygen on my Smith AW1 and my Henrob, I use a regulator made especially for the Smith Little Torches. It works great, and doesn't hunt around (i.e. the flame is stable at low pressures).There used to a be thread on the Hobart Weldtalk forum and metalmeet as well,  from aerometalworker that told how to modify a full size Smith to make it more stable. Apparently there is a spring that qualified regulator shop can remove to make them stop hunting. I will see if I can find the thread again. For acetylene, most any regulator works ok, since they are designed for low pressures on the output side in the first place. I got my Little Torch regulator with a little torch off eBay. The cost of the regs and torch was pretty cheap that way. This is the regulator. It has a nice 30 psig gauge on the low side, so you can see things like 5 psi easily.http://www.weldfabulous.com/Cutting-...-p4543472.htmlI also have a set of the single stage Cobra regulators made especially for the Henrob, but they don't work any better for me than the above mentioned regs. These regulators are made by National Torches for Cobra, and are pretty reasonably priced if you buy them from National, instead of someone that pushes the Henrob stuff. http://www.nationaltorch.com/Series2500.htmlLast edited by smyrna5; 09-16-2009 at 01:58 PM.Lincoln 175HD Miller AC/DC ThunderboltSmith AW1, Dillion (Henrob) Mark III, & Smith LittleTorch
Reply:Dan here is the old thread I was talking about. Its pretty old now (I didn't even have a torch then), but still good info. http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtal...tor#post262256Lincoln 175HD Miller AC/DC ThunderboltSmith AW1, Dillion (Henrob) Mark III, & Smith LittleTorch
Reply:Thanks for the info!  My regulators work, but they do hunt around a bit more than I care for..Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:For my "little torch", I use Craftsman dual stage regulators (made by harris), and they're rock solid.  The dual stage can be much more steady with oxygen.  For the acetylene side, just about anything will work.The only thing, is that on large oxygen regulators, they assume you will be doing large scale cutting, and so, include a low-side gauge that goes up to 200PSI.  I just changed my gauge to something with a finer scale (I don't really torch cut much, so even 30PSI is enough), and viola, perfect oxygen adjustment.