Setting up O/A - who the heck is ESAB?

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Hey all.  I just finished a "Welding for Yard Art" class at a Technical College and am starting to set up a metalshop in my garage.  I bought full size O/A tanks on Craig's List (no, they aren't rentals) and a classmate had won a torch setup at the Welding Rodeo http://www.weldingrodeo.com that I bought off of him.  Bad thing is that it's made by ESAB so my one lowly Victor tip won't fit.  It's the W-300 and W-400 welding torch with CW-300 and CW-400 cutting attachments.So my questions are:  Is ESAB any good?  I had only heard of Victor in my wealth of welding experience (haha).  If ESAB is janky then maybe I should resell it and get a Victor setup.Also, do I need a special table just to do Oxy?  In class we welded on firebrick so I wonder if I need a metal table if I'm not going to do electric (yet).And any general tips on welding found objects is welcome - I've been amassing quite the junkyard in hopes of making some fierce robots and farm animals out of car parts.
Reply:I think I read that Jessie James uses ESAB exclusively now.
Reply:Well that settles it.  Who wants this thing?  Incidently, I read on Amazon that the Monster Garage's "How to Weld Damn Near Anything" book is a total ripoff of Finch's book - all they did was change the title.  Lame, but I imagine they sold lots more books.METAL DOGShttp://metaldogs.groups.live.com
Reply:Originally Posted by greasergrrlWell that settles it.  Who wants this thing?  Incidently, I read on Amazon that the Monster Garage's "How to Weld Damn Near Anything" book is a total ripoff of Finch's book - all they did was change the title.  Lame, but I imagine they sold lots more books.
Reply:Actually,The best victor torch can't hold a candle to any Esab torch made.  AKA pureox/prestolite.   The design of the torch regulators are the safest on the market and the little biddy things handle much larger volumes of gas. They are made of billet brass and entirely machined.  Victors are stamped.  Also the Vics are now Chinese.  If you went through welding school and never heard of ESAB, get your money back.  They didn't do you a good job on teaching.Finch is wrong on soooo many levels.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweld...If you went through welding school and never heard of ESAB, get your money back....
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldActually,The best victor torch can't hold a candle to any Esab torch made.  AKA pureox/prestolite.   The design of the torch regulators are the safest on the market and the little biddy things handle much larger volumes of gas. They are made of billet brass and entirely machined.  Victors are stamped.  Also the Vics are now Chinese.  If you went through welding school and never heard of ESAB, get your money back.  They didn't do you a good job on teaching.Finch is wrong on soooo many levels.
Reply:ESAB makes very high quality stuff. Their welding machines are superior products.
Reply:Thanks - you are correct that the school I went to was lame - it was just a saturday class and the instructor was more into BSing with the returning students than teaching the beginners.  Won't be going back.So cool - now I just need some EASB tips and to get rid of this Victor METAL DOGShttp://metaldogs.groups.live.com
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepEsab?Didn't he write fables, or something like that?
Reply:Originally Posted by greasergrrlThanks - you are correct that the school I went to was lame - it was just a saturday class and the instructor was more into BSing with the returning students than teaching the beginners.  Won't be going back.So cool - now I just need some EASB tips and to get rid of this Victor
Reply:Originally Posted by JC'sWeldingI wouldn"t get rid of it. You ARE allowed to have 2 torches.
Reply:ESAB is buying out and replacing the Miller/Lincoln stuff at Pickens Tech; Aurora Colorado (Denver).9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:I may digress but you did say you are starting a shop in your garage?Attached garage?..........Do you own many fire extinguishers?If you don't get some.And check through your insurance policy carefully.Might be better off to rent space when you can afford it.Good Luck.
Reply:All of my "ESAB" torches say Purox, or Union Carbide on them.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:ESAB also has a very informative website:http://www.esabna.com/us/en/educatio...university.cfm
Reply:the founder of ESAB is oneof the guyswho invented stick electrodes in teh 30's. i think they also were pioneers in tig welding.
Reply:I thought that electrode welding was invented in Detroit 189?For sure, it was in widespread use well before the 30's.The Detroit inventor held a lot of electric patents, and had a memorable name, but the name slips my mind this minute.Good Luck
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepThe Detroit inventor held a lot of electric patents, and had a memorable name, but the name slips my mind this minute.Good Luck
Reply:From Wikipedia:Oscar Kjellberg was a Swedish inventor and industrialist. Founder of ESAB, in 1904, and Kjellberg Finsterwalde, in 1922. He invented the coated electrode used in manual metal arc welding (Swedish Patent: 27152, June 29, 1907), by dipping a bare iron wire in a thick mixture of carbonates and silicates. The purpose of the coating is to protect the molten metal from oxygen and nitrogen present in the atmosphere. His pioneering of covered electrode development paved the road during the next twenty years in the research of reliable flux coated electrodes.
Reply:Doh.  I can't weld at home because my insurance doesn't cover it.  I guess they have a point.  I'll probably rent time where I'm taking my next class (Pratt).  Well, I may have a welding set for sale............METAL DOGShttp://metaldogs.groups.live.com
Reply:Originally Posted by greasergrrlDoh.  I can't weld at home because my insurance doesn't cover it. .
Reply:Originally Posted by MX727ESAB also has a very informative website:http://www.esabna.com/us/en/educatio...university.cfm
Reply:Originally Posted by ahoroncoffin
Reply:Originally Posted by Craig in DenverESAB is buying out and replacing the Miller/Lincoln stuff at Pickens Tech; Aurora Colorado (Denver).In my HO, that sounds weird. LOLIMHO victor and harris are really good torches.  I think I'd go to either brand.Denreps stuff dates back to when they layed the keel for the Arc. But, he's probably the best torch man on the board.  Worth a listen to what he's sayin'.ho ho ho ho (pre Xmas Santa)"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:..........Last edited by farmersamm; 06-15-2009 at 10:36 PM.Reason: cause it was a post in poor taste"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammI remember Pickens Tech from a former lifetime.I forget where it was.  I'm thinking either Buckley, or Tower roads, and I'm probably way off.Man it's been a long time.
Reply:The ESAB torches you have are Purox medium duty line of torches.   Very high quality & will last a lifetime with any sort of reasonable care. Repair if ever necessary should be widely avalible. If not mistaken Lifetime warranty against material & workmanship as well as normal wear & tear.   That should tell you all you need to know. I use ESAB/Oxweld exclusively.    I have owned Harris & Victor.   Both also very fine equipment.  I have always ended up with the Oxweld back on the end of my hoses.   My hand torches are W-17 barrels with CW23 cutting attachment & use W17-XXX welding tips. the XXX denotes tip size.     As to durability The ones I use daily were made by the Linde division of Union Carbide. Were used when I bought them in 1975.The torches have been used pretty much daily since 1979 & have only had to replace (rebuild exchange) the Ox reg 1 time.   In my opinion on this particular model of torch combination. ESAB/Oxweld are world class & take a second seat to none.  There may be equals but  in my opinion none better.Shown below is a small sample of the handle with straight cutting attachment. A second cutting attachment with gouge tip. A couple welding tips & a rosebud heating attachment. This is 1 of 3 sets of these I own. I've had the same kind of service & durability from all.  Even in this world of cheaper, lighter, lets put price first world. ESAB still builds the exact same quality torch that Union Carbide did when EVERYTHING USA made was quality product.Oxweld manufactures a cutting tip for every fuel as well as standard tips for hand torches to High speed tips for machine cutting & all have the same rear seats so innerchangability is completely non issue. Attached ImagesLast edited by millman52; 06-16-2009 at 11:12 PM.IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:Essop's Fables.... had nothing to do with ESAB welding equipment.I have a set of Union Carbide Purox regs and torch with cutting head by them too, all vintage stuff, probly from the 60's or earlier, I imagine.  Look to be very well made.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33Essop's Fables.... had nothing to do with ESAB.  welding equipment.
Reply:I always preferred "Fractured Fairytales".........Esab.....now the owners of the Oxweld line as mentioned, and some of the pioneers of O/A welding equipment. Oxweld had the high and medium pressure torch designs finished before Victor was on the scene. Fine equipment, too bad all the really neat stuff is no longer made by them ( The W-29 and W-45 come to mind ).
Reply:I would hazzard a guess that you can do your welding at home so long as it's not for commerical use.ESAB make some great welding machines-that's the yellow ones.  The oldman bought a caddy in the mid eighties and it's still going.I'd rather be hunting........USE ENOUGH HEAT.......Drifting around Aussie welding more pipe up, for something different.....wanting to get home.
Reply:Babe abanoned us, and left with nothing more than a faint scent of perfume"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/