Cutting torch

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I am looking at buying a oxy/acetelyne torch in the near future, and have a few questions.  First off, I want to buy new.  It will be for occassional use in a home shop.  Mostly cutting 3/16 to 1/2in.  Little to no welding, and occasional light heating.  There will be a budget of approx. $250 before bottles.  I am mainly trying to figure out which setup I wantShould i buy a prepackaged kit or peice everything together.  The lincoln kit at lowes is a harris torch i know.  Comes with everything and is $200the link- http://www.lowes.com/pd_81283-1703-K...RL=&facetInfo=The tractor supply kit is hobart, it doesnt say the torch brand.  Also 200the link- http://www.tractorsupply.com/hobart-...ch-kit-3810496Any experience with either? also is there any other prepackaged kits that are good?Any advice yall could give me on this purchase will be great
Reply:I personally would choose victor. And nothing else.I honestly can't comment on other brands as victor is all I have ever used.Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/nobigdeal.fabSupport those that support WW.
Reply:Victor Journeyman--- Like these:http://www.bakersgas.com/victor-jour...torch-kit.htmlDoesn't matter how you get it-- as a kit or "one piece at a time". Run yourself an ad on Craigslist for the parts you want. The Victor torch and regulators can be rebuilt locally if they need be. Cutting tips also can be found at swap meets, CL or yard sales. It doesn't take much to clean up an old Victor tip and it will cut like new. You can spend as much or as little as you want on a a setup like this. Lots of times you can barter a deal for something your not using.A brand new torch is not going to give you any better of a cut / weld than one in good shape that is 40 years old.JMHOHoboLincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.
Reply:I have used the harris ones and didn't like them. I use the Victor torches now. That is just purely personal preference in my opinion. I have an older one I had rebuilt and I thought the guy gave me a brand new one when I saw it come back. The Victors really are that good. Look at their pre-assembled kits. So much nicer to have gauges that suite the torch. I prefer new too. Not that it's better, but who wants to marry the town slut? Who knows how she was used and abused? Again, personal preference. You didn't ask, but think about how much you will use it and thickness you want to cut. Acetylene tanks have a draw rate. Meaning that you can draw so much off the cylinder per minute or per hour safely. The rate depends on size of the tank or volume of the tank. Sorry if I didn't use the right wording there.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:You can get a new Smith or Victor medium-duty kit for $200.http://www.weldersupply.com/productd...&ID=14&pID=317http://www.weldersupply.com/productd...&ID=14&pID=332I recently got an old but unused Smith's medium-duty "Big 98" kit for $100. on Craigslist.  I'll bet it's 30+ years old."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I wouldn't pass up a good deal on an Oxweld/ESAB kit either.Example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/OXWELD-Cutti...item3a77827c28or here : http://www.ebay.com/itm/Oxweld-Compl...item3378e077bbLast edited by MX727; 07-23-2012 at 10:51 AM.
Reply:Harris is junk, IMO.  A Victor or victor styled torch with a genuine victor tip works great.  when you buy your torch, make sure you tighten the valve threads on the torch body a smidgen so that they don't twist mid cut if you accidentally bump them.
Reply:Not new but T-bone has a Smith torch set  in the classified section.
Reply:I bought the Chicago welding kit from harbor freight and it has worked very well for occasional home use so far. It's nice to have the carrier for portability. I'm not sure how long the small sized tanks will last though. They usually have the kit with tanks on sale for $290.00 and if you can use a 20% off coupon that really made it worth it for me. Swapping out the bottles was a lot less than buying them separate from what I can remember.   However the coupons usually say they can't be used for welders which the girl at the counter pointed out, so when I told her it was just a portable tank kit that COULD BE used for welding, and Was not an actual welding machine, she understood and let me use the 20% off. It sounded good to me. I'm not sure which style torch it is exactly. Hopefully someone could point that out?I'm thinking it may be Victor Style?http://www.harborfreight.com/portabl...nks-65818.htmlMillermatic 135Craftsman 7 Hp 80 Gallon           2 stage compressor
Reply:I have a couple of Smith rigs and one HF rig. The HF rig is rough but Ok. Certainly a good buy if you catch it on sale and don't mind dinking with it. HF gear is functional, but a little crude IMHO. The Smith rigs have worked out very nicely and I would recommend them highly.Just sharing some experience. Not sure what equipment you are coming from, but pay close attention to your tip size. I have had few friends really complain to me about performance with their brand new XYZ torch. In every situation but one that I have helped out with the culprit was a tip that was way too big or way too small. (The one exception was a bad tank valve.) A super small one does not perform well for jobs heavier than intended. A mongo big one does not run well when you starve it for O2 and fuel. If you get a particular kit, go ahead and get the tips you need right at the first and save yourself lots of anguish,
Reply:Lots of deals on good used VictorsExample:http://corvallis.craigslist.org/tls/3157297841.htmlLincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.
Reply:Hmm I like the smith kit that oldendum posted a link to.  I will probably get one of those.  Now to find some good prices on some good bottles.  Rent or buy?  About how much would i expect to pay to buy 75/80cf tanks for oxygen and acetylene.  Any ideas?