O/A sets at the local box stores

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I am looking to get a O/A setup for my shop.  My primary use would be for heating rebar and other rod materials for bending.  Would one of the O/A kits sold at the local Lowes/Home Depot suffice for this?  I am not looking for production runs or anything.  This is for a home shop.Thanks!
Reply:It would work...but those little tanks only last for about 20-30 minutes of flame time.  You'ld be really surprised how fast that goes, especially with a cheap regulator set.  Refills arent cheap either, compared with any of the larger tanks.  I guess it really depends on how much and often you intend to use it, but once you have it, I bet you will want larger tanks.  You could rent for a while from a gas supplier to try things out and see which size is best for you.As for the torch, there are several discussions about no-name/off-brand torch kits.  Some like them fine, others don't.  I really don't know there myself.  I have been tempted to get an off-brand just to see.  I use the least expensive victor I could find, just cause I have experience with the brand.  No-names often lack safety features, but some cheap kits I have seen on ebay are pretty full featured.Last edited by smithboy; 09-30-2005 at 01:43 PM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:If you want a cheaper (but still name brand) option, the 'Firepower 150/250/350'  kits are rebadged victor torches. Don't be afraid to look into a used kit either. Besides regulators and hoses there isn't much to break on these things, and many come with decent sized tanks.