Linde/Oxweld/Purox

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To the users of Linde, Oxweld, and Purox torches, regulators, and other OA equipment, I want to ask how it compares with Victor.I learned on Victor equipment in school, and now I have a mix of Victor and Harris torches (plus one Oxweld Powder cutting torch), and they work O.K. However the guys I've seen that use the Linde & co. equipment seem to be diehards. Is it just the nostalgia (Linde were some of, if not the very first, suppliers of quality OA equipment), or do these torches really outperform the rest?SRA & IWW memberCentury 250 amp AC/DCCentury 295 amp ACCentury High Frequency Box
Reply:It’s about what you like. I have the torch I grew up with, my dads Harris. It works perfectly, does anything I have ever asked it to do. It sits in a drawer because I like Smith.
Reply:Its the guy driving it, clean tip and it works as well as any.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:I still have my torch an AIRCO combination cutting and welding torch with the cutting head and 3-welding/brazing tips. At work we use whatever mostly Harris, Smith, or Victor with  a number to tip for general cutting and up to 5 for wrecking or cutting thicker material. I don't see much difference in brand with a clean tip. A lot of times they get messed up when you have different users and after they get over tightened the seats need to be recut because gas starts mixing back in the head. At home I conserve my oxygen and acetylene and my tips last a long time at work it's a different story and we run through a lot of gas and consumables. Personally I like Harris.
Reply:My first torch set was a Smiths. I loved it. My second torch set was a Purox. I loved that too. They all claim (or claimed) little differences at one time or another. Purox regulators were supposedly built to limit regulator fires and explosions (ESAB even had a neat little video demonstrating this at one point). Victor always had the built in check valves in the handle. Another brand (can't remember which) claimed it was safer because the gas mixer was in the tip and not the handle.  I have never used a Victor or a Harris, but based on owning a Smiths set (long before ITW bought them...like back in the early 80s) and owning a Purox set, I can't say that one was better than the other. I think the same would be true for Victor and Harris as well. The only thing I won't do is buy a clone from Harbor Freight and the likes. I get that most everything is made in China but not all Chinese made products are the same. I would want a genuine Smiths, Victor, etc.FWIW, I am kind of over acetylene as well. If I bought another gas cutting kit it would be based on propane, and I wouldn't bother with the combo kits that have one handle and you exchange the cutting head for different size welding or rosebud heads. If I get a cutting torch I will get a much longer dedicated cutting torch. Its easier (in my opinion) to cut straight lines with the longer/dedicated torch. You can do the "pool cue" maneuver. But honestly for my needs, I really wouldn't have a use for a cutting torch or a plasma cutter. I can handle all my cutting needs with one of my two band saws and/or a grinder with a cutting disk.Go to 26:30 in this video for a demo of the pool cue methodMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:Thanks for the replies everyone. It seems like most of you are focused on cutting, and I can imagine that there is probably very little variation in the performance of cutting torches with clean tips and proper gas pressures. However, I mainly do Oxy-Acetylene welding, so I have noticed differences between my Harris and Victor torches, namely ergonomics, and tip design. Any thoughts on welding with the Linde family of torches?SRA & IWW memberCentury 250 amp AC/DCCentury 295 amp ACCentury High Frequency Box
Reply:

Originally Posted by Carbon-Arc

Thanks for the replies everyone. It seems like most of you are focused on cutting, and I can imagine that there is probably very little variation in the performance of cutting torches with clean tips and proper gas pressures. However, I mainly do Oxy-Acetylene welding, so I have noticed differences between my Harris and Victor torches, namely ergonomics, and tip design. Any thoughts on welding with the Linde family of torches?
Reply:The torch is a tool. You need to use the right tool for the job. Victor and Smith offer one or 2 small handle torch set options just for what you want to do.Thermal Arc 320SP ( Lorch )Cobra PythonsThermal Arc 300 AC/DC  ( Sanrex )ESAB 301i AC/DC  ( Lorch )Thermal Arc 161STL  ( WTL )Thermal Arc 190S  ( Sanrex )Cut Master 82, 42. Cut45 ( WTL )Victor Gas Apps.Boxes and boxes of welding crap.
Reply:I have only Victor torches they work great and will last a life time. You can buy copycat of Victor too to save money. Dave

Originally Posted by Carbon-Arc

To the users of Linde, Oxweld, and Purox torches, regulators, and other OA equipment, I want to ask how it compares with Victor.I learned on Victor equipment in school, and now I have a mix of Victor and Harris torches (plus one Oxweld Powder cutting torch), and they work O.K. However the guys I've seen that use the Linde & co. equipment seem to be diehards. Is it just the nostalgia (Linde were some of, if not the very first, suppliers of quality OA equipment), or do these torches really outperform the rest?
Reply:Your right about focus on cutting and your are definitely right if  oxyacetylene welding is your thing thing the hand feel will be a big deal. I can say only tried oxyacetylene welding to try it and did some brazing. I watched as an old time hotrod welder used oxyacetylene to customize a set of fender-well headers to go around a steering box in a 53 GMC Suburban for me in like 1981 it was very impressive.
Reply:Well, I've decided to buy the Oxweld set for sale. It's a W-17 torch and CW23 cutting attachment, plus a dozen or so tips for it. I'll compare with my Victor and Harris. Might also be a good time to let go of a couple surplus torches. I've got two Victor 315 torches with CA1060 cutting attachments, and one Victor J27 with a CA1350 cutting attachment that could go to new homes.SRA & IWW memberCentury 250 amp AC/DCCentury 295 amp ACCentury High Frequency Box
Reply:No help to you, but I love oxy-a welding, too. I have two complete bottle/reg setups. These are my go-to torches, the Japanese Koike and Sakaguchi. Very ergonomic and light weight. They come with five different size tips, 70-200, whatever that means... I like the bottom one a bit more. Heavier, but I hold them like a TIG torch, and it allows for rotating the tip whatever position is more comfortable on the wrist. Oxy-a was the first thing I learned as a kid, and the first thing I taught my kids.

Attached Images

Panasonic YC-300BP2Panasonic YC-200BL3Suzukid Arcway 180Lincoln Idealarc R3R-400Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Everlast Power i-MIG 230iEverlast PowerArc 300ST...and other assorted garbage
Reply:Those torches are very cool JDM Welder. They remind me of the torches in the 1920's Oxy-Acetylene catalogs. When were yours made? I would love to own something like that, but it seems like getting parts in the US could be a pain.SRA & IWW memberCentury 250 amp AC/DCCentury 295 amp ACCentury High Frequency Box
Reply:

Originally Posted by Carbon-Arc

Those torches are very cool JDM Welder. They remind me of the torches in the 1920's Oxy-Acetylene catalogs. When were yours made? I would love to own something like that, but it seems like getting parts in the US could be a pain.