AIRCO oxy/acy regulators - HELP!

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Can someone please shed me some light on AIRCO oxy/acy regulators?I purchased these regulators from a guy and never realized until I got home that the two "mickey mouse" style regulators were BOTH for acetylene.  No oxygen regulator! The other problem is, I need this type of fitting on the acetylene regulator.  Can it be changed?My mickey mouse acetylene regulators are 806 - 9602.Is there a certain oxygen regulator that I need?  I am seeing some AIRCO oxygen regulators that are 806 - 8306 and 806 - 9206 and more.What do the AIRCO regulator models mean?
Reply:I can't help you on the Airco numbers. I can tell you you can not make an acetylene reg into an O2 reg and vise versa. It is possible to change the CGA fittings on one style of Acetylene reg, say a CGA 510 to a CGA 300 or in reverse. They even make adapters to allow you do do so easily.  Looks like your 2 regs are CGA 300's and the one you want to go to is a CGA 510.If I'm understanding what you want to do, this should be the correct adapter you need.http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.co...cRpxoCyYHw_wcB.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 DSWI can't help you on the Airco numbers. I can tell you you can not make an acetylene reg into an O2 reg and vise versa. It is possible to change the CGA fittings on one style of Acetylene reg, say a CGA 510 to a CGA 300 or in reverse. They even make adapters to allow you do do so easily.  Looks like your 2 regs are CGA 300's and the one you want to go to is a CGA 510.If I'm understanding what you want to do, this should be the correct adapter you need.http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.co...cRpxoCyYHw_wcB
Reply:Can I use an 806 - 8306 OXY regulator with an 806 - 9602 ACY regulator?Are they both heavy duty?  Are they single stage or dual stage?Any info you be greatly appreciated.
Reply:You can pretty much use any oxygen regulator.  Doesn't need to even be same brand.   Just make sure it's for OA and measures output in PSI and not CFH .  You want a secondary gauge that reads at least 100psi.  EBay is a great source.  I just ordered 2 regulators to use with my gas mixer for $85 shipped.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Is there any advantage to the mickey mouse style over the older style gauge in the picture?  Since I have to pick up an oxygen regulator anyway, should I get the mickey mouse style or older inline style?
Reply:Originally Posted by Heilman181Is there any advantage to the mickey mouse style over the older style gauge in the picture?  Since I have to pick up an oxygen regulator anyway, should I get the mickey mouse style or older inline style?
Reply:How funny...I JUST had this conversation over on Garage Journal.The "Mickey Mouse," or modern style of regulator is just the common style of regulator now.  I don't know ANYTHING about the two you have, but they are generally single stage (goes directly from the higher pressure to the pressure you select).  For most folks, that doesn't matter and it is the less-expensive way to go.  Reasons you might want a double-stage regulator (which goes from the high pressure to an intermediate pressure, then down to the final pressure--i.e. two stages): You are welding ALL day and you don't want the pressure to creep while the bottle empties (for welding where being 'exactly neutral' or just a 'little lean' on the mix is important).  You might also like the dual-stage regulators with tiny torches, like the Meco Midget I use.I use the Airco regulator like you have.  I just randomly got them on the first set of bottles I bought.  I did a little research, and now, they are the regulators I look for intentionally.  YOU might not like them, though.  They are 'industrial' regulators and set up to read higher pressures used in industrial settings (i.e. the needle barely moves for the 5-or-so PSI I use on my torch.  That doesn't bother me, because I set my torches by sight, not by a table of pressures.  If you don't know how to do that, you are going to have a hard time setting '5 PSI' with that Airco.  The more modern regulators do usually read the lower pressures used by the average home user.  If you are just using your setup to cut large chunks of steel, then who cares...get the Oxygen Airco.I like the Aircos for several reasons: - They are dual-stage. - They are well-built and built specifically for rebuilding, when they need it. - They have a special feature to show you when they do need to be rebuilt (no guessing). - The gauges are turned to the side (they make it natural for you to stand in the safest place, when opening the valves). - They are readily available on eBay for around $50 plus shipping.You DON'T need to 'match' regulators, though.  Get any decent oxygen regulator and you will be fine.  The regulators sure don't care what the other one looks like.Your LWS should be able to set you up with whatever fitting you need to adapt the regulators to the bottles you have (and, more importantly, set you up with the adapters you need to attach your regulator to the refill bottles you are going to get from that LWS).  They shouldn't be that expensive and it is a one-time expense.Kev.Kevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:One note on adapters. Make sure they stay with the regs. I've seen a couple of guys who use adapters leave the adapter on the cylinder and then exchange them. In several cases it's not until a week or so later that they realize that they no longer have the adapter and the cylinder has been sent out for refills and the adapter is gone for good..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:Thanks for all the input guys!
Reply:Speaking of adapters, let me run this past you for feedback.Here is a picture of my current tank.Here is a picture of my tank with this adapter.Is it safe to use this current adapter and also a 510 CGA to 300 CGA adapter so that my ACY regulator will attach?
Reply:Looks like  "B" size cylinder valve. If so it's a CGA 520 valve ( CGA number should be on the valve itself). Unit looks too large to be a CGA 200 MC cylinder valve.You should be able to get an adapter to go straight from your valve to the reg and not have to go thru 2 different adapters. I find big regs on small cylinders to be a bit awkward to begin with as they want to tip the cylinders over. Adding more length with multiple adapters will just make this worse.I'm not sure what you plan to do with this. If I am right and this is a B size cylinder, just remember that it's quite small ( 40 cf) and almost all tips exceed the withdrawal rate on a B cylinder in continuous use unless you have one of the micro torches..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 DSWLooks like  "B" size cylinder valve. If so it's a CGA 520 valve ( CGA number should be on the valve itself). Unit looks too large to be a CGA 200 MC cylinder valve.You should be able to get an adapter to go straight from your valve to the reg and not have to go thru 2 different adapters. I find big regs on small cylinders to be a bit awkward to begin with as they want to tip the cylinders over. Adding more length with multiple adapters will just make this worse.I'm not sure what you plan to do with this. If I am right and this is a B size cylinder, just remember that it's quite small ( 40 cf) and almost all tips exceed the withdrawal rate on a B cylinder in continuous use unless you have one of the micro torches.
Reply:If the cylinder is an 80 cf of acetylene ( probably a 75cf but no matter), then the valve should fit the two acetylene regs shown at the top with out any adapters. Look on the side of the valve and see what CGA number is marked on the valve.There are 4 CGA valves you find on most acetylene cylinders.CGA 200 used on small 10 CF MC cylinders.CGA 520 Used on mid sized 40 cf B size cylindersCGA 300 and CGA 510 valves used on the larger size cylinders. The CGA 510's are also used on propane cylinders.If you have a large aceylene cylinder, I'm betting you have a CGA 300 ( If I'm not mixing the two ones up thins morning with out looking at my regs)If your question has to do with the older style valve that needs the OA wrench to open/close the cylinder, that's easily solved when you go and exchange the cylinder. I haven't gotten a valve like that in ages. I think my supplier changes out all those old valves when they do hydros as a matter of course. The only valves I see like that are usually on the small cylinders, and even those, more and more are coming with hand wheels attached vs the style needing the special wrench most never use.Personally I wouldn't waste the acetylene just because I needed to use a wrench to open the valve. I would try and get a new one with a hand wheel when I exchanged it for simplicity. If all they had to give me was a wrench type valve, I'd take it ( it would take me a bit to hunt down where I put the old OA wrench though). In fact you might simply ask your supplier if they have cylinders with the CGA valve you want, and simply skip adapters all together. Some places keep only one type of valve in stock in a certain size, usually because that's what most people use. Other places I've seen keep both valve types in stock, and often ask which one you have/want. As long as the cylinder size is the same, most don't care which one they give you. All they really want is to have the same number of cylinders come in as go out unless they can show a new lease or sale..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:So the adapter in this picture is labeled 300 CGA where it attaches to the tank, and it screws right on the tank.  Why would my 300 CGA regulator not screw on easily?  Are the threads normally tight the first time you put them on?
Reply:Yes, that was my point. Your CGA 300 equipped regs should attach directly to the cylinder with no need for an adapter.Threads make a metal to metal fit. You should need to snug them up solidly with a wrench, but you don't need to make them mongo tight. A bit of snoop or soapy water will help tell you if you have a small leak. If so, give the reg nut another 1/8th or 1/4 turn and check again for leaks.the only time I've had any real issues with leaks has been when someone went at the valve with a mega wrench and distorted the valve seat. Tightening your reg that tight can in turn, distort the reg seal, ad you'll fight that forever after unless you change out the nut and nipple. If I can't get the reg to seal with a standard size wrench ( no cheater) then I'll take the cylinder back as having a "bad" valve. They always swap them out no question at that point. Note you don't need teff tape or thread sealant on these. They should be clean and dry. This is especially true with O2 cylinders..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 DSWYes, that was my point. Your CGA 300 equipped regs should attach directly to the cylinder with no need for an adapter.Threads make a metal to metal fit. You should need to snug them up solidly with a wrench, but you don't need to make them mongo tight. A bit of snoop or soapy water will help tell you if you have a small leak. If so, give the reg nut another 1/8th or 1/4 turn and check again for leaks.the only time I've had any real issues with leaks has been when someone went at the valve with a mega wrench and distorted the valve seat. Tightening your reg that tight can in turn, distort the reg seal, ad you'll fight that forever after unless you change out the nut and nipple. If I can't get the reg to seal with a standard size wrench ( no cheater) then I'll take the cylinder back as having a "bad" valve. They always swap them out no question at that point. Note you don't need teff tape or thread sealant on these. They should be clean and dry. This is especially true with O2 cylinders.
Reply:No you shouldn't really need a wrench until you get it almost all the way down. I've seen a few valves that were tight because of valve damage though. Does the adapter thread on easily, or does it need a wrench as well? It does look like someone used teff tape on the valve in that one picture. That might be enough to make the threads snug. I hesitate to say use a wrench just to make sure you don't accidentally cross thread the valve/nut, or something doesn't match for some reason.Check everything for markings and list what they say. The reg nuts, the valve, every thing. I want to make sure it's not something stupid 1st, like you have an odd valve for some reason, or some one changed out the fittings on the regs to something they shouldn't have.The only other thing I could think of is to check the regs with a known good valve. I'd just take a run over to my supplier and see if I couldn't just hook up the regs real quick to check the regs hooked up. They wouldn't have any issues with me doing that, but I've done business with them for years. If you know some one else with similar cylinders, you might either see if you can't try their regs on your cylinder, or your regs on theirs..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 DSWNo you shouldn't really need a wrench until you get it almost all the way down. I've seen a few valves that were tight because of valve damage though. Does the adapter thread on easily, or does it need a wrench as well? It does look like someone used teff tape on the valve in that one picture. That might be enough to make the threads snug. I hesitate to say use a wrench just to make sure you don't accidentally cross thread the valve/nut, or something doesn't match for some reason.Check everything for markings and list what they say. The reg nuts, the valve, every thing. I want to make sure it's not something stupid 1st, like you have an odd valve for some reason, or some one changed out the fittings on the regs to something they shouldn't have.The only other thing I could think of is to check the regs with a known good valve. I'd just take a run over to my supplier and see if I couldn't just hook up the regs real quick to check the regs hooked up. They wouldn't have any issues with me doing that, but I've done business with them for years. If you know some one else with similar cylinders, you might either see if you can't try their regs on your cylinder, or your regs on theirs.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWNo you shouldn't really need a wrench until you get it almost all the way down. I've seen a few valves that were tight because of valve damage though. Does the adapter thread on easily, or does it need a wrench as well? It does look like someone used teff tape on the valve in that one picture. That might be enough to make the threads snug. I hesitate to say use a wrench just to make sure you don't accidentally cross thread the valve/nut, or something doesn't match for some reason.Check everything for markings and list what they say. The reg nuts, the valve, every thing. I want to make sure it's not something stupid 1st, like you have an odd valve for some reason, or some one changed out the fittings on the regs to something they shouldn't have.The only other thing I could think of is to check the regs with a known good valve. I'd just take a run over to my supplier and see if I couldn't just hook up the regs real quick to check the regs hooked up. They wouldn't have any issues with me doing that, but I've done business with them for years. If you know some one else with similar cylinders, you might either see if you can't try their regs on your cylinder, or your regs on theirs.
Reply:Originally Posted by Heilman181So I took the ACY tank and regulator to the Welding Supply place.  I explained the situation and we took my regulator and tested it on a different tank.  It screwed right on with my fingers.  My guess is someone along the way torqued the heck out of that tank and adapter which distorted the threads equally together.  So while I was there, I went ahead and swapped out the tank.It turns out that was a #4 tank (145 cu.ft.) and I am NOT even allowed to own it in North Carolina.  He said that it must have came from up north because you cant even get them below West Virginia.  However, they did take it on an exchange for a new 100 cu.ft. tank with the newer style hand valve, which is plenty for the little amount that I will use it.The OXY tank is about a 125 and I am not allowed to own it either, but I can own a 150 so I will swap it out when it runs empty.Thanks for all your help!
Reply:Originally Posted by Heilman181It turns out that was a #4 tank (145 cu.ft.) and I am NOT even allowed to own it in North Carolina.  He said that it must have came from up north because you cant even get them below West Virginia.  However, they did take it on an exchange for a new 100 cu.ft. tank with the newer style hand valve, which is plenty for the little amount that I will use it.The OXY tank is about a 125 and I am not allowed to own it either, but I can own a 150 so I will swap it out when it runs empty.Thanks for all your help!
Reply:Originally Posted by vwguy3So he is telling you that the state of North Carollina has a law about the size of cylinder you can own?.......step lightly there man because that is a field full of BS!State governments don't make rules on cylinder ownership.......gas companies do.The good thing is that he is going to give you a free cylinder up size.