Harris Gauges

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Hey Guys, long time lurker first time posting.  Got a question about my Harris Gauges.  I picked up this set for 75 bucks without tanks.  I made the cart to hold propane but am still thinking about going to acetylene.  My question is, can I extend the length of the fuel out fitting with a regular 1/4 npt nipple?  The reasoning is that I want to mount the gauges like the picture I have posted with the 2X8.  Basically that 2x8 will be a piece of 1x3 metal with a clearance hole through it so that I can hold the guage by tightening a set screw against the 1/4 npt nipple.  THe reason for this is because where we take these torches is a very confined area and I want to portect the gauges by mounting them inside the handle or the cart.  Then I will get some short hoses made up to go from the regs to the tanks.  I hope this all makes sense.  So the bottom line question is can I use steel 1/4 npt nipples to go into my torch regs?   Thanks in advance      Grant Attached Images
Reply:if your are going to use a nipple or extend the gauges from the regs  USE a brass fittingNO spark materialno rusting inside or out there s a reason for brass and the madnessidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:I would use a Western Enterprises nipple rated for 3000 psi for the strength instead of hardware store junk mystery fittings, even on propane. (Don't DARE use junk on oxygen!) I use their high pressure brass as a rule with all my welding connections at work and at home. Not dying or being fried to a crisp or blowing up the building or "all the above" is worth a few bucks. Make this right and you'll have a pretty slick outfit that would hold everything in place and well protected even if it falls over.Likewise, get appropriate pigtails (you need one cleaned for oxygen for the oxygen regulator).I order the pigtails with 1/4" pipe female threads so I can replace PARTS instead of whole pigtails.http://www.westernenterprises.com/en...gen.php?gid=12Manifold parts:http://www.westernenterprises.com/en...ccessories.phpI would NOT use a setscrew on pipe to hold anything under pressure. The stronger, safer way would be to make a bracket that cradles the regulators and won't allow movement or rotation or chafing. Look at the Smith steel hard hat guage guards (not the Victor!) for a fine secure clamp design you could copy and use with any regulator. Drill your plate with "guage guard style holes", offer the guages to it from the rear, then clamp. Google "Western Enterprises (name of fitting) to search quickly, and if you can't find something PM me. I use their stuff all the time.You can also get the matching fittings for those regulators (from the manifold accessories link above) so you can leave the stock nipples in place and be able to use the regulators elsewhere or quickly swap in another regulator if required.Last edited by farmall; 02-17-2011 at 07:28 AM.
Reply:Thanks for the help guys, sorry about the late reply.   Hey Farmall that website is sweet!!! I'm in canada and shipping/duty would kell me to get it from there.  But I pronted up the hoses and taking them to my local welding supplier.   Thanks                 Grant
Reply:Beware - I believe that at least some Harris regulators use a non-standard fine thread on the fittings.
Reply:Thanks for the heads up denrep, but I have test fitted everything with 1/4 Npt.  I just have to EDM out the hex shape through th mounting block.  Should have it all done by the end of the weekend.    Grant
Reply:They should be easily available in Canada:http://www.westernenterprises.com/en...st_foreign.phpEagerly awaiting pics of cart.