Esab Prest-o-lite Precision Master outfit

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I hope I have this in the right section of the forum... I've been slowly heading toward getting a gas welding setup for my shop (mostly woodworking but need to do some heating, bending, brazing, and welding).   After a lot of research, I was sold on the Smith stuff and wanted an AW1A setup.  The only rig that came with regulators, etc. was the Versa Torch and you still didn't get any welding tips, only brazing, so quite expensive.  I eventually found that Prest-o-lite had some different setups and ended up getting the Precision Master setup which included:W-200 aircraft style torchWC-209 cutting attachment1/2" cutting tip#4,6, & 9 welding heads (up to 1/8")T grade 3/16" hoseGoggles, (pretty lame)StrikerMC Acetylene RegulatorCGA-540 Oxygen Regulator.  Here's a link to it on Esab's website: http://products.esabna.com/EN/home/g...ecision_masterI picked it up for $275 shipped. This is a light duty setup with the ability to weld up to 3/8".  There is a lifetime warranty on the torch and regulators.  It seemed to me that the Esab gas products are made is USA, but after receiving the catalogs and safety DVD from Esab, it looks like only the Oxweld and Purox line are Made in USA, not Prestolite.  Not too big a deal, just not too clear before buying.  I couldn't find any marking as to where anything was made except for the striker, which does say Made in USA.  The regulators look to be built very well, the torch seemed to be an unpolished casting, but still pretty nice.  I have an old, old Smith torch handle and a new Smith MW203 welding tip and the Prest-o-lite, although nice,  is not as nice/rugged looking.   The attached picture is of one of the prest-o-lite welding tips next to the Smith one I have and also the prest-o-lite cutting attachment.  Sorry for the light, it was early morning at the shop. I don't have my gas bottles yet so I haven't tried out this outfit.  I need to get through some customer projects and also clear out a far corner of the shop that will be dedicated to metalworking and away from sawdust, etc.   I've talked to some local suppliers and Airgas/Canonsburg has been very helpful and the best deal so far.  125 ft Oxygen and 140 ft Acetylene are $90 each one time for a 5 yr lease plus fill.  So, about $250 out the door the first time.  I plan to followup with more pictures and eventually my thoughts on using it.  There wasn't much info out there on it, so maybe it can help the next person out. Attached Images
Reply:1st issue I see is that you mention you have an "MC" acet reg. An "MC" cylinder is a 10 cf cylinder. It uses a different CGA fitting from "B" size 40 cf cylinders and both of those are different from the CGA fittings on larger cylinders. That means you will need to either get an adapter to run larger cylinders, replace the CGA fittings ( very difficult some times since they are locktited in), or simply get a new reg with the correct CGA fittings. Not that many small regs will not flow enough volume for larger tips as well..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:I've been looking into the adapters.  Western has adapter #320 that allows MC regulator to go to a larger bottle, CGA-510.   I didn't think about the flow rate.  The largest prestolite tip is the #30.  (according to their literature, the size is the rough equivalent of the cubic foot flow).  The torch is rated for 40 cubic feet and the largest tip is a 30.   I just looked at the catalog.  They make the same regulator with a CGA-510 connection on it.  Nothing listed for flow rate.  Just gauged for 400 psi content pressure and 15 psi delivery pressure.  My gauge actually is graduated with "full, 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, empty".
Reply:It is a real shame the lacking of country of manufacture being missing from everything or virtually everything in a set.  Certinally not only on this product.  None of my oxweld stuff is super new, the handles say made in usa but I have doubts about the newer welding heads, (45 47,500 compatable type)  the paperwork acts like you can take the mixer apart but it isn't like the old ones sure seem stamped on the threads so as to make taking apart not possible.  You probably will want to get the size 1 and 2.  Go to the part numbers of the welding heads and you can see how the size 12 and 20 must have been discontinued.  I have the purox w200 handle which I got somewhere with one tip and the knobs seemed to work as well as anyone could want knobs to work.  Over time I have got all the sizes listed in the current literature up to 15 but havn't ever really used it.  I will have to try it with natural gas since they don't recommend it for that and see why.  I think they re branded it presto lite when they did away with the hollow handle.You will see but there is a point if you weld steel you will want a larger torch or at least some sort of extention to get more distance for probably anything more than perhaps a tenth inch or so.  Usually I am happy to just make a few tacks and fill the rest with braze or bronze welding I guess the difference being if capilary action happens.Wandering around that esab site I noticed in the instructions that an earlier version of the cutting attachment used smaller nozzles.  They show two sizes of nozzle nuts,  I guess that is what is going on.  They could use a little proof reading the kit claims to come with b-b hoses but the torch claims to be A fitting.Last edited by fran...k.; 01-19-2012 at 08:21 PM.Reason: fixing where key strike yeilded no letter.
Reply:fra...nk., you're one to be talking about proof-reading!  Most of the time, I have absolutely NO IDEA what you're trying to say in your posts!
Reply:I have used an ESAB Metal Master for the last 30 years. Its a W300 torch.   I bought a new one 5 or so years ago and keep the old one on the truck with a spare set of tanks.  Good torch.  The only problem I had was I dropped the torch and bent the valve for fuel.  Had to buy a new valve for under $20.00.  My acet regulator takes the same fitting that fits a propane tank.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Thanks for the replies.  I took some more photos while at the shop tonight.  They are from my phone so hopefully not too bad. Attached Images
Reply:A couple more pictures...  I would like to get some of the other tip sizes as well as the smaller cutting tip to see how it does on sheet metal.  Probably not much more to report until I can get it hooked up to gas and light it.  Thanks for looking. Attached Images
Reply:Finally a year and a half later I have hooked the torch up to oxygen and acetylene and have tried it out.I've been having fun practicing with it and have stuck a few pieces of metal together.  I have to try to remember to bring my good camera to get better pictures.  Here's a picture of the flame with the size 4 tip.  Here's a picture of two pieces of angle iron welded together. I'll try and get a better picture up soon..