Meco Midget Help

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Hello, I got a Meco Midget Torch from Tinman Tech. I'm new to welding, I've been brazing a bit the past few years making my own Radio Control truck tube chassis's. I want to take it to the next level and do some small art projects as well. I was intimidated for a bit doing this on my own. I'm looking for jeweler's classes or welding classes but they are to far or to costly right now. I want to do pretty small stuff for now.Now I have some new questions about my Meco torch. I really need some one familiar with the Meco Midget and its tips. I have all the tips Tinman sells: 00, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. I've mainly messed with the #0. So I'm curious if anyone has an idea of how big the neutral flame cone should be for the #00. The sooty flame isn't easily apparent so far, unless I'm doing something wrong. Also I tried the #1 and I think I had mixed gases (should of purged, I know. I swapped the tip out after messing with the #0 and didn't think of purging the line) and got a little pop when trying to light it. So I stopped. I was using a candle too, perhaps not good for the #1 tip. I read the small flames like the little smith torch is best to light with an small open flame, seems good for the #0 and #00. I did buy a electric striker for the small flames, just got it, haven't used it yet. I think if I had an Idea of how big my cones should be for each size would help a lot. I'm still looking for anyone who may be local who could help me out but it's cold here and I ain't gonna worry to much right now about that. Thanks for all you knowledge!!!!
Reply:I have a larger Meco torch that has the adapter for the Midget tips which I use. Did you purchase the correct tips, he is selling both Acetylene tips and also propane tips now. Are you setting the pressure as per how Kent shows in his videos? On those small tips, open up the control on the torch all the way. Then hold tip along side of your face (NOT LIT!)and slowly turn in the regulator screw until you can just feel a slight amount of pressure against your face. You should now be able to light the torch without it popping/going out. Once lit, you increase the pressure slowly -I typically increase it until the flame JUST jumps off the tip-then back up the regulator until the flame returns to the tip. Then add the oxygen the same way- control wide open on torch-slowly turn regulator up until you get your neutral flame. It is NOT going to be large on a 00tip  by adjusting this way- you can then turn down the torch to suit your particular job and it also now set for the maximum you can get out of that particular tip size with respect to pressure settings. HTH
Reply:Yes sir I got the Acetylene tips. And I am setting the regulators per Tinmans instruction. I didn't think about setting the flame for the #00 by letting it "jump" off the tip just a little bit as you stated. I was focused on the feather flame prior to adding oxygen. I will definitely try to focus on that. It's a little hard to try to remember everything in the moment but that's something I need to definitely remember. I was just surprised how much smaller the #00 seemed compared to the #0. That's why I asked for an approx. size cone to look for.The little pop I got trying the #1 I really think is cause I had a little mixed gas in the torch head. I'm going to focus on one tip at a time. Like I said I got the #0 down pretty good. I'm just being overly cautious.Thanks a ton.
Reply:Those little tips are really tiny-I know my conversion setup can make it a bear to adjust but once you get it-they work really well for nice detailed welding/brazing. If you have a steady hand you can put two single edge razor blades together with them! The little tips make it hard to see any 'feathering' so the jump of technique seems to work well. Just turn the regulators knobs slowly. Little change there makes big changes out at the tip. Don't know how thin you are welding, but mig wire makes really good filler wire for thin stock. Somewhere on his pages Kent used to have approx flame sizes or seem to recall one. Report back how that works for you.
Reply:Thank you so much. These are the comments I needed for sure.I couldn't find flame size on Tinmans site. I even e-mailed them but haven't heard back. I will update ya for sure.But any other comments are more than welcome. Just can't find much on small torch settings.
Reply:I have the Meco Midget AND I've been to the 4-day Mastering The Torch course put on by Tin Man (Kent White), where we used the Meco Midget exclusively.  The course covers soldering, brazing, and welding several metals.The length of your inner cone determines the heat of the flame (within the bounds of the tip size).  You set this based on the thickness and type of material you are welding.  For steel, set it a 1-2X the thickness of the material you are welding with a neutral flame.  For aluminum, set it at 3-4X the thickness of the material with a 1/2 cone-length outer cone (less oxygen).  For Copper set the inner cone length at 4-5X the thickness of the material.  For stainless steel, recognize the heat is going to stay exactly where you put it.There are a bunch of other things which affect heat level at the weld zone...torch angle, distance from tip of inner cone to the metal, speed of travel, etc.If you are soldering or brazing, instead of welding, ignore what I just said.  Then, you want a very long, very soft flame (very quiet, relatively little oxygen, and the flame tip 'waves' from side to side, as you move the torch through the air).  Heat with the tip of the flame, not the tip of the inner cone.If you want to get good with this torch, I definitely recommend saving up your pennies and taking Kent's Mastering the Torch course.Add the correct filler metal and, if needed, flux to the mix, and you get a pretty complex equations pretty quickly.KevLast edited by Machine_Punk; 01-25-2014 at 06:55 PM.Kevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:Thanks Machine_Punk! I'd love to take that course! Perhaps someday. I'm looking for work now, we just relocated here. So I need to get some extra pennies coming in. I've ran across your studio before. Very cool! Glad you chimed in. Nice to hear the course is worth it.I'm not worried about joining any thing together yet. Just trying to get the feel of the torch and the flame. If I wait to take the class it may never happen. So now that I got the torch I have to learn how to use it. Check out my blog with my custom rc truck chassis out of brake line. Littletrees13.wordpress.comI may bug you for more advice!