RealGear OA Torch package.

admin

LWS ad,thoughts on Real Gear torch and or parts availability?Hobby use.They offer it in either CGA 300 or 510 valve, whats the difference? 510 is listed for acetylene, 300 for ethyl (methty?) chloride.. why offer both, and is 510 the most common if the bottles outlive the regulators for replacement later? Attached ImagesLast edited by jtcnj; 12-05-2012 at 11:29 AM.Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 and WP17. 75A AC is for pipe thawing!HH 140 - new addtion 9/2012.I didn't agree, but hoped for Hope and Change.I got change for myself and my family: for the worse.This is the reality of: Barackalypse Now. Again.
Reply:They are a Victor clone. Probably a bit better as far as Qc compared to some clones I've seen in the past.As far as parts availability, consider the regs to be disposable. It's just no worth the money to repair them vs replace them with a similar set of regs. As far as tips, that sort of depends. I've seen some guys have issues getting regular victor parts to fit one of their clones, but have no issues with those same parts fitting another clone bought at the same time. The specs on the "bad" one were just far enough out that the parts wouldn't fit, but the specs on the "good" one were in tolerance enough for the parts to work. My guy says they haven't had any issues with parts compatibility  with the Real Gear torches for what it's worth.For someone who only uses it occasionally it will give you good service. I've still got my original Victor clone that is almost an exact copy of that set that I picked up almost 20 years ago. I use it with my rosebud for small heating jobs. I have much better dedicated cutting rigs now that I prefer. They are also good for guys who have gorillas working for them that just destroy gear. They are cheap enough that they can be considered "disposable" if they get destroyed inside of a month thru abuse. I know one guy who gets these for the shop monkeys. He keeps a good set on his work truck, but only buys the cheap ones for everyone else since they manage to mangle just about any tool they lay their hands on in some manner no matter how well built it is.Price wise it's about what I think my LWS wants for that setup. However if all you want is a cutting rig, you can often find better deals on CL. That kit for just the torches runs about $99 or so on sale IIRC at my LWS. I've seen much nicer cutting rigs less cylinders in the $100-150 range and complete with cylinders for less than $300 many times. Of course with used, you have to judge the condition of the gear and weigh if it needs to be serviced before use..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:Thats exactly what I've been doing, searching CL for used. Most times its a torch kit without cylinders, or just cylinders. The cylinders are usually pretty rough looking too, but I realize its just the surface finish. Since I have no experience for evaluating the equipment except for the hydro date on the bottles, I'm a bit leery.I just came across this ad, so I figured I'd ask. After reading your assesment, I may continue to look for used cylinders and buy the above torch outfit new.How can I differentiate between the valve types in either case if I buy the torch set separate from the cylinders?Lincoln AC/DC 225/125 and WP17. 75A AC is for pipe thawing!HH 140 - new addtion 9/2012.I didn't agree, but hoped for Hope and Change.I got change for myself and my family: for the worse.This is the reality of: Barackalypse Now. Again.
Reply:CGA 300(male valve fitting) and 510(female valve fitting) are both acetylene with 510 being more common.....20lb propane uses a CGA 510.Last edited by vwguy3; 12-05-2012 at 12:31 PM.
Reply:I ran into this recently, mismatched a 300 regulator to a 510 cylinder and had to buy an adapter. If you read through the text at this site there's something of an explanation:http://www.tinmantech.com/html/weldi...r_adapters.php
Reply:You will find the CGA numbers marked on the regs and cylinder valves. O2 usually uses a standard CGA 540 for most sizes except some funky commercial or medical cylinders. Acetylene has 4 main CGA sizes. They have one size ( CGA 200) that only fits the very small "MC" size cylinders that come with the tiny port-a-torch kits like they sell at Depot. These are about useless for much of anything besides soldering. The next size up is the CGA 520 one used on the "B" size cylinders. These are the 40 cf ones used by plumbers most times. They are great for soldering and brazing, and will cut small items, but are really too small for anything serious. Next size up is the CGA 300 that shows up on some mid size acetylene cylinders. I think my 75 cf acetylene cylinder at the shop is a CGA 300 off the top of my head. The last is the CGA 510. That's a typical CGA valve on many large to  "mid size" cylinders . It's easy to differentiate from the next last because the valve on the cylinder is female and the reg has a male end. It also is the same CGA fitting used for Propane.  It is possible to get adapters that will change say a CGA 510 to a CGA 300 and vise versa. I've got one around here some where that came off a propane cutting rig I picked up.You are in Jersey. If you haven't had a chance to go to Joseph Fazzio's in Glassboro, you need to make time one day and take a drive or stop in if you are in the area. Plan several hours to browse.  They often have regs and torches in their used section in the very back of the old store. They have tons and tons of used tools and hardware you can sort thru as well as selling new materials and tools in their new store adjacent to the old building. I think I picked up a cutting rig for a guy from there for less than $100, regs, hose and torch. Torch was so so, and could stand some cleaning, but the regs were in nice shape.  The guy backed out on the deal, so I've got the rig here somewhere if I haven't parted it out. If you can't find anything else, let me know and I'll try and dig it up. I've got to do some work down in Shipbottom in the spring to clean up storm damage and we can probably hook up then if nothing else.Last edited by DSW; 12-05-2012 at 12:38 PM..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 DSWYou are in Jersey. If you haven't had a chance to go to Joseph Fazzio's in Glassboro, you need to make time one day and take a drive or stop in if you are in the area. Plan several hours to browse.  They often have regs and torches in their used section in the very back of the old store. They have tons and tons of used tools and hardware you can sort thru as well as selling new materials and tools in their new store adjacent to the old building. I think I picked up a cutting rig for a guy from there for less than $100, regs, hose and torch. Torch was so so, and could stand some cleaning, but the regs were in nice shape.  The guy backed out on the deal, so I've got the rig here somewhere if I haven't parted it out. If you can't find anything else, let me know and I'll try and dig it up. I've got to do some work down in Shipbottom in the spring to clean up storm damage and we can probably hook up then if nothing else.
Reply:I'll dig around and see if I can't dig up all the parts. If you want them we can work out a deal in the spring. Let me know and I'll PM you my number..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