Airco torch

admin

The airco cutting torch is my favorite they have good balance not to heavy and the trigger is in a good location I mostly use # 2 tip seems to be a good all around tip for me Here's a pic of a few of mine all flea market finds.The long works good for cutting floors out of dump trucks
Reply:Traditional quality."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Airco good! But let me relate some airco experiences. First,personal history. A major local welding supplier for this area was Airco oriented (1960's) and supplied the state vo tech school where I was a student, likewise the industry I moved to in 1971.There we had dozens of the airco combination torches and did a fair amount of Oxy/fuel welding besides cutting. Then I gravitated to a shop, where I had about 12 mechanics using a common shop torch occasionally-no problems. So I was surprised to hear complaints from the rest of the plant (1994) about torch fires from leaks at the valves and a movement to change away from the Aircos. The company has always had an aggressive program toward accident/hazard prevention and a regular torch inspection program was in place--torches with leaky points were sent for repair and new torches were inspected before use-- inspections performed annually and marked with a date tape proclaiming the next due date. When new and reconditioned torches were showing up leaking at the throttle valves, the rebuilder and a Airco rep was brought in to tell us why.It damn near resulted in a fight when the rebuilder stated how since concoa changed to the throttle valves using 0-ring seals instead of the old tried and true adjustable packing he couldn't count on a leakproof repair for long.  The result was out with airco.The LWS agreed to allow us 100.00 trade in for each old airco on new  Esab torches and most of the old aircos were exchanged-a few are still being rolled out of the toolboxes when they fail the test. The airco torch is still being furnished under the name Concoa-made in Virginia Beach like the Aircos but I haven't seen a new one in a while to see if the unadjustable throttle valve packing is still the standard. A close inspection of an airco/concoa will show you if it has the old adjustable packing or the newer one which is prone to leaks. I keep some CORRECT O-rings for my personal Concoa and I "sniff test" the acetylene regularly before use as I have lost some arm hair once before I became aware of the possibilities.   Question: did you realize you can't test the throttle valve seal for leaks unless the valve is open ?? I hope Concoa has remedied this design weakness on an otherwise great torch.
Reply:Thank you, Enginenut."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:I used those for years working for other people, now I have a mix of Smith, Purox, and Victor. My go to one lately has been my Purox E type straight torch I got for 9 whole dollars at the flea market. I saw you going down 128 this morningDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I have a brand spankin new one of those corn bob beauties in my tool box and if/when the economy gets going I'll pedal it as I tend to be a Smith guy.
Reply:Enginenut thinks for the info.I here ya Tozzi I paid 20 bucks for the long one and it works good and the tubes were straight.
Reply:I am definitely going to the wrong flea markets. Miller Syncrowave 180Miller 211 w/ spool-gunLincoln Ac/Dc buzzboxCutmaster 38 plasmaVictor,Smith's,and Craftsman (Harris) O/A torches.DeWalt Multi cutterFiber Metal helmets(old school)Enough Snap-On to be a dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by ChrisA7164I am definitely going to the wrong flea markets.
Reply:My 9 dollar Union Carbide torchSent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk Attached ImagesDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:My Union Carbide never had a problem with it  I might make a Airco style trigger for it for better one handed cuts
Reply:Another flea market find. Victor Rose Bud
Reply:I had two Airco torches like the first one in the picture I had bought in 1970.  I sold both of them, but I keep the one an older welder had givin me back then. Attached Images