cutting torch

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Hello, I am hoping someone can give me some advice on a cutting torch. I need to purchase a set-up for home and have the bottles. I have used torches at work for years but would not know one from another. I work on heavy trucks alot but dont forsee having to cut anything thicker than maybe 1/4 steel.I know of names like Victor ect but again would not know one from another, I visited my local gas shop and guy reccomends a Radnor setup model..... radnor model 350-510dlx....he says that it is made by Victor and if parts are needed then they are Victor parts. He says it is just as good as Vistor but I am not paying for the name. Anyone have any experience with this set. I want to buy something that will last a lifetime but again it is for home use on the weekends ect and wont be daily tasked. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Reply:I can't find anything about Radnor torches online (only did a quick look). If the supplier sells Victor torches too, ask if you can see them side by side, see if the victor attachments fit the Radnor. It's not uncommon for companies to make "customer label" products. We do it at our shop. We make filters, some we sell with our logo, and some with out our logo so the customer can put theirs on.
Reply:Unless I'm seriously mistaken, I was told on the local welding supply that the Radnor torches are made by Victor, in China. But, with all of the new Victor torches being made in China too I'm assuming Radnor is just a cheaper version. All of my torches are the older Victors and I use Victor regulators or Smith regulators. I bought mine over time on eBay and have sold many of them locally for a small profit while keeping the ones I wanted. I've never paid more than $25. for individual torches, or a sets of regulators. I have had to have a few of each rebuilt, but you never know till they're in hand and tested by you. The torch I use most I paid $9.00 for and it is the small Victor w/bronze tubes that went out of production in the early '50's! I love this torch, altho it cost me another $22. to have rebuilt. I paid $36. (shipping incl) for what is shown in the photo, if I remember correctly?. Attached ImagesOnly when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.                                         -Cree Indian ProverbSA 200 LincolnVictor Torches
Reply:I might be wrong,but I believe that radnor is Airgas's brand name.
Reply:radnor is airgas name. i bought a radnor ad  hood which is  piece of crapp. what does that have to do with a radnor torch? nothing.Will i ever again buy anything named radnor?hell  no.  buy victor or smith..i have a smith and no complaints.
Reply:Radnor is Airgas Private Label Brand.  They have all types of purducts will the Radnor name.   The Radnor brand Victor outfits or OK, but most of them are made in China.  Victor uses a two letter date code on all equipment now.  If the letter are Block it is made in the US.  If the letter are Italic it made in Mexico.  If there is a C in in front of the the two letter (CBM) it is made in China.I recommend Smith Torches.  They have a Lifetime Warranty.  The Gas Mixes in the Tip. (Ideal for Oxygen and Acetylene use).OAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com
Reply:Yes I was told Victor makes the Radnor torch and it is airgas name, dosent sound like anyone has anything posative to say about them.
Reply:I bought a Victor Firepower set on ebay for $150. GOOD price. Good unit.But I am a hobby type guy so I am prob not an expert. Or even a spurt.Lincoln PowerMig 180cVictor O/ABandaids and aspirinI don't know what I don't know!?
Reply:For a hobiest I'd recommend a combo torch like those shown above. You can change over to a rosebud or welding tip to do heating or brazing.However, I personally don't care for the combo torches for cutting much. The cutting head for mine lives permanently in a box some where in the shop. The rosebud stays on the handle about 95% of the time. The welding tips get an occasional use if I don't want that much heat or I need greater control over what I am heating. I have a dedicated cutting torch just for cutting. I can usually do 80% of what I want with that alone. I only switch over to the handle and rosebud if I need LOTS of heat or the welding tip if I need a very small amount..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 DSWFor a hobiest I'd recommend a combo torch like those shown above. You can change over to a rosebud or welding tip to do heating or brazing.However, I personally don't care for the combo torches for cutting much. The cutting head for mine lives permanently in a box some where in the shop. The rosebud stays on the handle about 95% of the time. The welding tips get an occasional use if I don't want that much heat or I need greater control over what I am heating. I have a dedicated cutting torch just for cutting. I can usually do 80% of what I want with that alone. I only switch over to the handle and rosebud if I need LOTS of heat or the welding tip if I need a very small amount.
Reply:Anyone have a good torch set for sale, I prefer to not buy one from e-bay because I dont want to get stuck with one that has a warped head or any other issues. Also if you go on e-bay and type cutting torch several hundred items pop up, as mentioned at first I would not know one from another and I am assuming there are many differnt variations with head size and orfice size/ flow. I need the hoses as well and regulators but I can buy them locally here cheap enough I am assuming. I need advice on what to look for as far as model # and any other tips, maybe if I had this than I would try the e-bay route.
Reply:I use combo torches Oxweld brand  W17 barrel & W23 cutting attachment(s)   I use a 90 degree W23 for cutting & have another slightly less than 90 degree that I keep a gouge tip in then have 10-15 different welding attachments/rosebud(s).This makes for very quick no tools required change over from 1 operation to another.   Unless the cutting tip size itself needs to be changed.  My hand torches get some use every day howeverFor the home shop guy or using O/A once in a while having more than a small to medium combination cutting/welding outfit is probably not practical. As for purchasing from ebay & the like.  I have done very well when purchasing higher end equipment.   like Oxweld, Purox, Harris, Victor etc.  I would not buy anything that is not name brand. Even purchasing replacement cutting nozzles could prove to be a problem.IF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:In fact here is a prime example on ebay average priced for what's shown & is advertised correctly. it is an older set I'd guess them to be 25 years old or older merely from it having solid brass riveted on tags & the thin profile of the gas adjustment knobs.   The dings in the pipes on the cutting attachment are non issue to the torch operating properly.    If I needed extras I'd buy them for the 100.00 they are listed for.  Either half, the barrel or the cutting attachment costs way more new.http://cgi.ebay.com/Oxweld-W17-Weldi...item518e8e04ffThese torches aren't small though they are industrial grade torches machined from solid billets of brass  not castings.   Even an old set of these in good shape will last you a lifetime with even moderate care.I have included a pic of the set of Oxweld torches & some attachments I use daily if you'll note they are identical in design to the ones on ebay & have similar nicks & dings in them. I have owned these torches since 1975 & were well used & had most of the battle scars on them when I bought them.   I have 2 other sets of these around the shop I have bought from ebay they are both newer & work just as well. This just seems to be the GO-TO set that myself & most others always use.  Probably because they are hooked to a Cox self retracting hose reel. Attached ImagesIF IT WORKS, DON'T FIX IT2 Lincoln CV-300 / LN-7 GMALinde-VI 253,400 & 450 w/MIG35 feedersCNC Table with Oxweld O/A & Hypertherm 1250G3Lincoln Ranger GXT 250Hobart-MicroWire 300ESAB Heliarc 161ESAB-Mobilemaster 2 CC/CV Feeders& more
Reply:Thanks for all the tips, I have contacted the e-bay seller on that torch, no return mail yet from him, I would like better pictures of the damage and would like to know if everything operates freely. Il give you 10 dollars a piece for the set-up you have shown, thats a pretty tidy profit for your initial purchase price dont you think?
Reply:Hi, my first post here. I have not had a chance to post on the new member intro forum yet, still lurking.Anyhow, I use Smith regs and cutting torches in my shop and service truck. Smith is made in USA and their torches carry a lifetime warranty, top notch stuff. However, when my company does a wrecking job I will buy setups from Harbor Freight. I provided a link to them, but I usually find them on sale. I still use Smith torches, but on a job the equipment gets the crap beat out of it, and as long as it will last one job I am happy. Truth is I never had a problem with their regs so far. I have had up to 10 guys cutting at once so you can imagine if I had to purchase two regs for $400.00 x 10. The good equipment seems to walk off the job alot faster and hurts more when a laborer throws it in a gang box. Sorry to be so long but you can save money starting with one of these setups and later on add a quality cutting torch if need be.http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92496http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98958"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:Thanks for the links stickman, I still have never received any sort of response from the e-bay menber whos torch was reccomended after I asked for clarification on any damage to the torch and am thinking I wont hear from him, lesson here I guess once again is ask questions before purchasing.
Reply:Originally Posted by millman52I use combo torches Oxweld brand  W17 barrel & W23 cutting attachment(s)   I use a 90 degree W23 for cutting & have another slightly less than 90 degree that I keep a gouge tip in then have 10-15 different welding attachments/rosebud(s).
Reply:Personally, I ike the  VICTOR stuff. I have purchased most all of mine (used) in the local area and found most of them on Craigslist. That way you can go and have a look at them to see it they have been bent, hammered with, toasted, hogged out, or abused in any other way. Look at the valves, threads and seats. If you can, put them to the user test and maybe also check for any kind of leaks or seeps. Often you can get a whole setup, including owner tanks (be sure to check them out), cart, hoses, mixer (that is the "handle"), cutting head and tips for a really good deal from someone that is just trying to get rid of the "stuff" haning around in their shop or garage. If the stuff is OK and the price is reasonable ( I usually won't even bother looking at stuff with "dreamer" prices), and by reasonable I mean a decent deal to start out with, I will make the owner an offer that is somewhat lower than his asking price. Most guys will go for your offer, ESPECIALLY if you happen to have CASH in your pocket. One great thng about VICTOR is that, if you find somethnig not perfect but cheap, or have a seat or valve go bad on you is that it can be fixed and the parts are available for just about every Victor ever made, including regulators and guages. One more thing to remember is that "Victor Style" does NOT mean it was made by Victor. Oh..and if you want to cut only up tp 1/4" stuff, you won't need a bunch of tips over the CORRECT size for the job. a number 0 will cut up to 1/2 inch and for 1/4 inch Victor calls for a 00 cuting tip. The smallest tip that will cut the material will make the least mess and leave the smallest kerf. If you get good with cutting (right tip, use care when setting gas pressures and flame at the business end) and have a good, steady hand or use a guide, people just won't believe what a great looking, neat cut you can make with O/A! Most people have seen what a crappy looking cut "anyone" can make with O/A and they can be REALLY ugly! If you check the prices for Victor or other good equipment at your local welding supply store, you will be SHOCKED how much they want for that stuff! Used is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH cheaper and you can often find mixers with integrated flashbacks if you just have to have them in the handle and not installed in the lines. This has gotten kind of long, but one more thing: The 100 series handles and cutting heads are a lot less heavy to use if you are going to be cutting for extended periods and the smaller ones DO have the capacity to cut 1/4/ just fine. Don't laugh..the heavy ones will wear you out over a while of using them.Last edited by dondlhmn; 11-30-2009 at 02:36 PM.Reason: spelling corrections