What Torch?

admin

I'm looking at buying a torch setup as I gave my dads back to him. I cut anything from 10g to 5/8. I've considered just buying a plasma, but I feel I would still need a torch. Plus plasma isn't very portable. Just too many times I need a way to heat up parts to bend or melt out bolts from farm equipment.I try to buy the best possible. I see prices all over the place and not sure what I should be looking for.Thanks,Matt
Reply:Just about any decent name brand torch will do what you want. My 1st suggestion is to find out what  brands your local supplier stocks parts for. It's a PITA if you buy a Harris torch and your local guy stocks tips and such for Smith and Victor. Smash up a rosebud or foul a tip and you can simply go down and pick up a new one and be back in business.Comfort and feel can also play a roll in choice. It's harder to get a feel for units though if you can't put your hands on them.I'd avoid "cheap" no name imports sets myself. Many are Victor clones, but QC issues means many times Victor replacement parts may not fit. That often leaves you with a unit that is almost impossible to find replacement parts for. It's a crap shoot. I've seen guys buy 4 rigs all at once and only 1 would take standard Victor parts later. Unfortunately there's no easy way to tell until it's too late..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:Victor, Smith, Harris are all good torches, DSW is right about parts and tips. It took weeks for me to get the Chemtane tips though, and my welding store is a Victor distributor and they stock most of the normal pieces parts. If you look around you can buy them used, I bought my Victor 2460, as a complete kit in box ( regulators, all the tips ) almost new for $200.00. I was thrilled it had the manual ( I never had a torch manual and the tip chart in it was just pure bonus ).The old Union Carbide ( Purex, Airco etc) are decent also.
Reply:I love the Smith torches and the better kits with two stage regulators typically have a lifetime warranty, and can be had for about 400 bucks or so. I have had a set for almost 20 years and zero problems. Just love the way they feel, like a quality built precision instrument. "Anybody can talk $h!t behind a monitor, I let the quality of my work speak for itself"Lincoln Square Wave 255 and 355 Tig Lincoln 255 Power-Mig w/ spool gun Koike 5 x 10 CNC plasma Hyd-Mech DM-10 bandsaw Ineco QB-76 NC tube bender
Reply:I plan on visiting my LWS tomorrow and seeing what they carry. Bad thing is their prices are usually allot higher then what I can buy online.
Reply:You don't have to buy it from them, but at least you will know they have parts if you get in a bind.Personally I'm a big fan of buying local vs online as long as the price is close. I'll give them the few extra bucks to cover the convenience of them being there when I need it NOW! If you don't support them, don't be surprised when they aren't there any more and you have no choice but to waste 1/2 a day to get what you need, especially gas which you really can't get "online". I will admit some places will rape the little guy and don't seem to understand they are there to service the customer..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:Any of the name brands are good. Pick whichever one feels the most comfortable. Some torches I feel have an awkward lever placement.IAMAW Local 330Airco 300 AC/DC HeliwelderAirco Dip-Pak 200 with Profax spool gunPowr-Kraft AC225Everlast PowerArc 200stBuffalo Forge No.21 drill pressSpeedglas 9100xxAirco, Oxweld, Purox, Victor torchesLincoln Ranger 8
Reply:Get a kit that is alternate fuel compatible.  For general heating and cutting it is hard to beat the convenience and safety of propane!    It is a PITA to have a kit that is single-fuel.  Most makers offer  Acet-Alt fuel capability today.  The biggest snag is the hose must be Type T for use with propane.  Type T supports acetylene too, but Type R is acetylene only.  Heating and cutting tips are a wee bit different, but many handles and mixers will work with either acetylene or propane.  This brings about another reason to consuilt with your LWS.  They can advise you best.- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:I started out with Union Carbide/ESAX/Porox/Oxweld, I moved on to Victor, now I run Smith. All good torches, I just like to change things up once in a while.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Well stopped in at the LWS this evening and the only thing they had was its house brand (praxair). Medium duty set is on sale for 209. Bottles on the other hand are going to cost me some money. About 600 for the set. I know I bought my CO2 bottle online for my fish aquarium and they didn't have any problems filling it. Is it possible to buy the others online?I really like the sound of the lifetime warranty that come with Smith's. Would really like to look at them first though.
Reply:Originally Posted by MondoGet a kit that is alternate fuel compatible.  For general heating and cutting it is hard to beat the convenience and safety of propane!    It is a PITA to have a kit that is single-fuel.  Most makers offer  Acet-Alt fuel capability today.  The biggest snag is the hose must be Type T for use with propane.  Type T supports acetylene too, but Type R is acetylene only.  Heating and cutting tips are a wee bit different, but many handles and mixers will work with either acetylene or propane.  This brings about another reason to consuilt with your LWS.  They can advise you best.- Mondo
Reply:Originally Posted by trailriderWell stopped in at the LWS this evening and the only thing they had was its house brand (praxair). Medium duty set is on sale for 209. Bottles on the other hand are going to cost me some money. About 600 for the set. I know I bought my CO2 bottle online for my fish aquarium and they didn't have any problems filling it. Is it possible to buy the others online?I really like the sound of the lifetime warranty that come with Smith's. Would really like to look at them first though.
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manSmith torches are lifetime warranty as long as you send it in for repair with a GENUINE, Smith tip.
Reply:No not all have it. I have three of the dual guard lifetime torches. I have used both propane and accetelene.Millermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:" But I have grade "R", and have used them with propane for quite some time now. However, what I do, is not a recommendation for what you should do. "Without doing an engineering survey on this, R grade hose work for a while then begin to break down ( crack, leak etc ) from the inside out which normal guys can't see. So my ASSUMTION is is you used "r" type hoses and replaced them on a regular basis ( 6 months -24 months, maybe more ???? depending on usage ) they work and its just the safety factor your dealing with. I just picked up my Type "T" hose reel and I don't use R type type hose but if your careful, and you don't hand the setup to a meathead, it works.To the original posters comments, I don't think there are really GOOD deals on OXY tanks. Bigger is better, you will use more of it than the fuel gas. Be careful and know your tank marking if you buy used ( craigslist etc ) the good deals are usually not refillable for several reasons ( stolen, too old to be refilled etc. ).Fuel gas is easier, buy a 10 gallon propane tank, home depot is about $55-60 on a big tank, remeber when you go to propane/chemtane/mapgas its cut only NO brazing.Again in your or my situation in the same boat I would look for a set of used torches. An OXy bottle should be $160 to 200 unfilled depending on size, You talked cutting so I did not figure Acet or brazing tips.Since your starting from scratch you need regulators also. Those I have a opinion on; I like Harris, Smith and Victor in that order. None are bad but Harris makes my favorite followed by Smith. Don't get me wrong if you find a deal on a Victor set grab it, I just like Harris regulators the best, and again thats my opinion, and my experience on these is not just welding gases but a bunch of scientific experiments I have mantained and or repaired and calibrated over the years and they work. In my shop I have Harris, on my Truck I run mixed Harris/Victors, the all work.
Reply:I don't think there are really GOOD deals on OXY tanks.
Reply:" Craigslist is my friend. I've not paid over a hundred bucks for a set. Know what you can exchange because that's what matters. "I am not saying don't look BUT in my neck of the woods ( 200 mile radius) on bigger tanks the deals are $25.00 less new. I need two big tanks and have looked for months, one ad, drove 40 miles one way, stamped USAF, non refillable. Went through that circus about ten years ago bought one at Govt surplus auction, even with papers and documentation I couldn't get it filled.How big of bottles are you finding?
Reply:trailrider  -  I've sampled at length all the major manufacturers [and been tortured by the minors] over the decades. Victor Super-Range has no peer.   Opus
Reply:Well my dad came across another torch and he is giving me the other one to use. I'll have to wait until this evening to get it. I do like to try and find things on Craigslist. The problem I'm in right now is I have a brush hog almost completely de-skinned and need a torch now to finish this project.Going to look at another LWS this afternoon.Thanks,Matt
Reply:What's the difference between "medium duty" and "heavy duty" torches?   Is it that they are designed to tackle heavier metal, or just for more steady use day in and day out?Why do torches wear out?   From constant use, or what?What I am asking is:  for just occasional use, is the cost for a middle or top of the line Smith, Victor, Harris torch worth the money or would the less costly big three torches be perfectly adequate for an occasional user?Thanks,Ken
Reply:Originally Posted by TozziWeldingI started out with Union Carbide/ESAX/Porox/Oxweld, I moved on to Victor, now I run Smith. All good torches, I just like to change things up once in a while.
Reply:Originally Posted by k45Do ALL Smith torches have a lifetime warranty?  Ken
Reply:There's quite a size/weight difference in the Victor "medium" and "heavy duty" torches I have.  The real difference is in the flow rates.  If you are cutting/welding/heating extremely thick stuff then a heavy-duty torch may be required.  But you'd have to have a huge acetylene tank or several tanks in a manifold setup to prevent exceeding the draw-down rate.
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumThere's quite a size/weight difference in the Victor "medium" and "heavy duty" torches I have.  The real difference is in the flow rates.  If you are cutting/welding/heating extremely thick stuff then a heavy-duty torch may be required.  But you'd have to have a huge acetylene tank or several tanks in a manifold setup to prevent exceeding the draw-down rate.
Reply:stamped USAF, non refillable.Originally Posted by k45What I am asking is:  for just occasional use, is the cost for a middle or top of the line Smith, Victor, Harris torch worth the money or would the less costly big three torches be perfectly adequate for an occasional user?Thanks,Ken
Reply:If Smith made a medium-duty straight (non-combination) torch, I'd buy it and use it every day. I have standardized on SC229's on the truck and in the shop, but would love an "MC229" -- Smith, are you listening?
Reply:Yeah Farmall, I just hate to stock tips for another type of torch since I happened onto a lifetime supply of Smith cutting tips in both sizes awhile back.Is that one a 2-tube or 3-tube torch?  Couldn't tell by the picture.
Reply:Two tube. The older ones have a slightly smaller head though that one's not large.Let Stick-man (who is wise) take care of that lifetime supply and free up some space for ya!I'll post pics of old and current heads next to an SC-229.Of course, you COULD take a small Smith head and graft it onto an SC handle. Make a slender brass block with three holes in each end to adapt one set of tubes mid-point, choose your overall length, and braze it together.  Tip mix means no inline mixer to deal with.Torches are cheap enough to modify.Last edited by farmall; 06-02-2012 at 10:56 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by fredschrom" ...remeber when you go to propane/chemtane/mapgas its cut only NO brazing.....
Reply:The torch is made by Smith's. I'm trying to find new T grade hose that will fit. After some research it has A size fittings. Where is a good place to buy supplies for this online? Would really like to place one order. Cyberweld has most things but the hose.My LWS doesn't carry anything Smith, but will gladly order it for you. Their price on the B-B T grade hose was more then double what cyberweld has it for. Granted they don't have A-B hose. At least I haven't been able to find it.Thanks,Matt
Reply:The Purox "E"s have heard your call since at least the 1930s! Light, narrow, good reach, comfortable lever location.
Reply:LP brazes fine. Check this guys bend test:http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/...p?f=12&t=87931The torch is made by Smith's. I'm trying to find new T grade hose that will fit. After some research it has A size fittings. Where is a good place to buy supplies for this online? Would really like to place one order. Cyberweld has most things but the hose.
Reply:Here's the pics of an "E" next to a Smith SC 229:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...21#post1296921
Reply:Personally I like Harris.. of course all name brands are good like has been said 100 times already but if i had to choose one its Harris all day!BTW I like oxy/propane
Reply:Been so busy making projects I forgot to update the tread. I ended up buying a Smith. So far I can not complain.My only regret is I wish I would have gotten bigger bottles most of the time. But I do like the portability of the sizes I got.B acetyleneQ OxygenThanks for all of the replies,Matt