Smith Dual Guard vs. Classic?

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I'm in the market for an O/A outfit for use primarily with sculpture & other creative pursuits. I have been getting trained and working in a shop where I have access to O/A, stick, MIG & TIG, and have spent most of my time on TIG. My wish list for the future is a Miller Dynasty TIG setup, but that's just not in the cards right now, so I'm looking to get an O/A setup for use at home. O/A also seems like such a basic and flexible process that I'll want it for the long term anyway.I'm looking at two Smith outfits: the MC-510T with the MC509 "classic" cutting attachment and the MD-510T with the new DG109A Dual Guard cutting attachment. If I buy the classic kit through my local welding distributor it will be about the same price as if I buy the new Dual Guard kit on-line. Either way I will be buying tanks and gas through my local distributor.I have heard that the Dual Guard cutting torches are a bit safer because of the additional flashback suppressor, but also that this restricts flow a bit. One experienced person expressed a personal preference for the classic. The safety aspect appeals to me because I have limited experience and will only be using it occasionally as a hobby. According to a footnote in the Smith catalog, the DG109A supersedes the MC509, so it would appear that Smith is moving away from the classic line. Would this be a case of Smith moving away from the classic line due to safety? Or is the classic line being maintained due to enhanced usability?My guess is that for my application either will work just fine, so the nod goes to the MD-510T kit with the Dual Guard cutting attachment because for the same money I get a safer design, an extra cutting tip, and a tip cleaner.Are there any strong reasons that I should not get the Dual Guard kit? Or said another way, am I analyzing this to death? Just buy one and be happy?--Larry
Reply:be happy but make sure you get good basic training on setting up/leak testing/purging/torch adjustment. it aint  no toy. all the arrestors and other devices in the world still require you know what you are doing.
Reply:I don't know what size stuff you'll be doing, but I have the Smith MC for mainly heating and brazing and it's a fine set-up.  If I had an opportunity to pick up another torch, it would be an "Smith Airline"... especially for "scultpture" where you may have to work into some tight spots for welding.  They don't come in kits... price out stuff separately, but it's one sweet torch and they make a cutter heald for it that I think is dual also.  The restriction issue probably isn't a function until you look at running big stuff wide open or rosebuds.  I do neither.Andy
Reply:Try this site for a set that is intended for what you want to do: http://www.tinmantech.com/.  Also, if you are going to be doing small items  and running the smaller tips, you might want to consider a dual stage regulator set as they will hold a steadier pressure and they work especially well as the tanks get low.
Reply:I use mine a bit differently as I am in the repair and fabrication business, but I prefer the classic myself.  I have never had a safety issue with any of the older smith torches that I have, and to me the larger head on the cutting attachment just doesn't feel comfortable to me.  I'll stick with the older style myself.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I've got a dual guard, it's no different than any other torch I've used.  Flash arrestors sometimes plug up so the extra flash arrestor might plug which might put a halt on your project for the day.  I've only seen one flash arrestor plug in my time and it the arrestor built into the hand of a Victor torch.  It doesn't happen often.  Just get whichever is the better deal.
Reply:Thanks for the input on this.  After more reading and head-scratching, I've decided to go with the Smith MC-510T kit with tanks and a cart from my local welding distributor.  It provides me with a good basic setup to get going with and then later on I can add some other things (like an aircraft torch for smaller work).  Another suggestion that was made to me was about the position of the trigger on the cutting attachment (on top) vs. that of a dedicated cutting torch (on the bottom).  I know I have found the top position awkward, so maybe at some point a cutting torch would be in order.Before I decided to go down this route, I did visit Tinman's site and then did more investigation of both the Meco Midget and Hebrob (or DHC2000) torches as they do sound appealing for the smaller work.  For the Midget, ultimately I felt a bit more comfortable with the Smith products which looked to me like they would be better supported with parts if I ever needed them.  I couldn't locate the Midget in the Victor website, so I don't know if it is out of production or has been sold to someone else.  I think the Smith Airline would be just the ticket for smaller work, but since I'm starting from zero, the kit seemed like the best bang for my bucks.Thanks again for the thoughts on this!--Larry
Reply:Both have qualities that the other don't have, you would be able to make a good weld on both, but if you want my opinion I would get the dual guard, for the safety features, but it all depends on what kind of metals you are planning to weld/cut, if you need more of a flow to weld/cut you should get the classic.
Reply:The MC 509 kit was a good choice.  I would suggest if you are concerned about safety to purchase an external set of torch mount flash arrestors.   You can know they need to be replaced because of clogging when the fuel gas flame will not burn off of the tip. In other words, the with the pressures set correctly for your size tip, you should be able to get the flame to burn with a gap between the actual flame and the end of the tip.  If the flame will not raise off the end of the tip, you have inadaquite flow, most likely flash arrestors.    The DG torches by Smith are very good, however, they will not stop a flashback that is the result of mixed gas traveling down the cutting oxygen tube to the valve.OAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com