Which oa/op torch should I get

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I'll start by introducing myself my names Justin I'm 22 years old from upstate NY. I'm a diesel mechanic by trade but do a little bit of welding and cutting at work. Most of my welding and cutting I do at home working on my equipment for my side business for toy money. Well I just bought my first house with a garage and need to outfit it with all the goodies that my dad has in his so I don't have to keep stealing/borrowing his haha.So I'm coming to the experts which torch and regulators I should buy. My father has a harris I believe which hes had forever and has been a good torch its the one I learned on. But I use mostly victors at work and they seem pretty good and I think there easier or more common to be able to get parts for. It's going to be used for cutting everything from sheet metal to 1.5" steel. I want a rosebud for heating those rusty nuts and bolts that seem to be everywhere in the northeast. And the occasional braising of steel hydraulic lines. I also need regulators i plan on leasing a big bottle of oxygen from the local supply store and then use my own propane tanks and maybe in the future lease an acetylene tank so if they make it a regulator that does both propane and acetylene would be nice. So for my list of stuff so far I came up with -torch "body/ handle"- cutting head-different size tips for cutting-large and small rosebuds-oxygen regulator-propane/acetylene regulator- oa hoseWhat do you guys recommend for models nothing I do I would consider art so it doesn't have to produce beautiful cuts it just has to get the job done whatever that might be. I'm by no means rich but I want to spend the money once and buy something that will last my lifetime. Okay thats long enough if anybody has read this far what do you think?
Reply:Hey, welcome to WW.  You really aren't going to go wrong with Victor, Smith, Harris, Concoa, etc -- any of the name brands will do just fine for you.  There's no reason to go for a big torch either -- a medium-duty like the Victor 100FC handle and whatever attachment comes with it would probably do fine.  Cheaper to buy a complete set than individual pieces.  If you're going to start off with propane, save your money and don't bother with rosebuds for now.  Just put a bigger cutting tip in the cutting attachment and use that.  Propane puts off a lot more volume of heat than acetylene, and is the smarter choice for a lot of people.  If you're going to eventually use acetylene, buy the smallest rosebud, as that's likely all your acetylene tank will support with an acceptable withdrawal rate.Cutting tips - I'd get one of whatever the smallest size is for your model torch - something like a 000, and also have an 0 and a 1.  Maybe a 3 also, for heating purposes.  The kit will probably have an 0 or a 1 in it.Hose - if you're starting out with propane, go with Grade T.  It's the "all-fuel" hose.  Regulators - just use whatever is included with the kit.  If there's a question about the fuel gas regulator and what gases it's compatible with, call the manufacturer and ask them.  There are two different fittings that could be used on an acetylene tank - one is the same as the propane fitting and one is different.  Adapters are available.  Don't bother with two-stage or other fancy regulators.  There's just no need for the added expense.Hope some of this helps.
Reply:I have a Victor and a Smith. Both seam to be good torches but I prefer the Smith. Bought an imported set compatible with Victor tips, big mistake. IMO stick with a quality name brand if you want it to last. Keep in mind propane and acetylene tips are not the same.
Reply:Where in upstate NY are you?Any good name brand torch will serve you well. My vote is for propane.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:I used Victor and Smith. The last ten years we switched to Smith. They do have a lifetime warranty model. Here is a local supplier by me but sells online. Many here have purchased from them. Do a price check at your local suppliers. http://www.weldersupply.com/C/14/Outfits
Reply:Don't be cheap.  Buy a complete set-up now and it will pay for itself in the long run.  I like the Victor Journeyman series kits with "Edge" series regulators.  Bakersgas usually has awesome internet prices on these complete sets. http://www.bakersgas.com/VIC0384-2035.html Attached ImagesLincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I have a Victor performer set for O/P and it is a small body torch but it works fine for most stuff. Also bought a Victor ST2600FC heavy cutting torch for bigger things. You'll appreciate the longer torches when using a #3 tip. Can't really go wrong with either brand as it really comes down to personal preference.Sent from my SPH-L710 using TapatalkTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Welcome to the forum. First, do a search. This has been discussed here a lot in the past, and there is a lot of great info here.You can't go wrong with Smith Victor ESAB (Oxweld & Purox) or Harris. Find out what is popular in your local welding supply house's.Smith - Lifetime warranty on torches, Made in USA.ESAB (Oxweld & Purox) - Lifetime warranty on torches and regs. Excellent quality, but their torch tip numbering system is a complete train wreck!!! Made in USA."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:No need to buy new however. I found this setup on Craigslist with tanks for $150   http://www.bakersgas.com/ESA998691.htmlPurox is a good name. Made by ESAB, regulators guaranteed for life. GREAT customer service. Made in America.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Here is a favorite of mine-http://http://www.weldfabulous.com/p...ng-outfit.aspxAnother consideration: if you use propane you will be able to safely use a much larger rosebud or multi-flame heating tip than you would with acetylene.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:I have been using Victor for over 40 years, and in Texas, their equipment is available everywhere.  I have always had the 300 series.  Good source of information on these 2 videos.
Reply:Thanks for the replies. I ended up getting the victor journeymen kit I was originally looking at them but didn't know if they were any good so thanks for the recomendation.wnywelder- I'm about a half hour south of albany in westerlo ny. I see your IAMAW local 330. I'm out of local 1145. Where in western ny are you?
Reply:Originally Posted by Justify008Thanks for the replies. I ended up getting the victor journeymen kit I was originally looking at them but didn't know if they were any good so thanks for the recomendation.wnywelder- I'm about a half hour south of albany in westerlo ny. I see your IAMAW local 330. I'm out of local 1145. Where in western ny are you?
Reply:Wny welder- Ya that's us we work for csxt out of the selkirk terminal. What kind of work do you guys do?
Reply:Pressure vessels. I fabricate and weld heat exchangers. Steel and stainless steel, most of them only see a few hundred psi but a few I've built got tested at 2000psi. You work with any boilermakers?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:Ya there's a few i think 10 in the whole shop but there a different union not iam.