Ancient Cutting torch - opinions?

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Someone offered to sell me this oxy-acetylene torch.  I'm taking it to a welding shop to have it checked out but thought I'd see if anyone has any opinions on it.  Is it too old to be safe?  What would you pay for it?pictures:http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeAMmrZu1aNmzgI
Reply:If those are 'owner' bottles, that could be your first and biggest hurdle. When was the last time they were inspected and when are they due again?"The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:I'm with willyweld...  I have an "owner" set of bottles and have ad to pay extra for inspection fees.  I have also thought that it was worthwhile to do so, in opposition to getting an expensive lease on tanks that I already own outright.  Just shop around for a local gas service that has no questions service...  Then pay the fee, and get your tanks filled...  It will cost you up front, but in the end work out cheaper depending on the age.Otherwise, I also have an antique torch setup, and other than the fact that the guages are in rough shape, everything works perfectly and cuts better than most of the new rigs I have tried...Hey! Bring the camera...Is it still hot?   $%#^%^#  Guess so...
Reply:I see Harris regulators with check valves.  Looks like a "B" (CGA-520) acetylene and a 40 CF (CGA-580) O2 tank.  Can't see the torch handle, but if it's the same vintage as the regulators, and look OK, I'd go for it.  New cost would be around $180 without the tanks, I'd guess.  I'd give $100 for it.  On the tank issue, if the hydro date is still valid, your gas supplier should just swap tanks with you.  If there is a hydro test due, you'll have to pay for testing the first time.  After that, it should be a direct swap.Parts for the regulators are widely available, so rebuilding is no problem if you need to do that.  Make sure you test everything first!  If the tanks are empty, make your purchase contingent on testing with full tanks first.  I'd turn on the O2, bleed the torch line and set the regulator to around 20#, then shut off the torch valve and watch the low pressure guage.  If it does not creep up, the regulator isn't leaking.  Then shut off the O2 bottle, and make sure that the pressure doesn't drop.  If not, there's no leak downstream either.  Bleed the O2 and repeat the process with the Acetylene.Be well.hankLast edited by hankj; 07-30-2004 at 11:33 AM.
Reply:You guys were right on.  The O2 tank was out of date so I paid the testing fee ($24) and swapped the tank at the gas dealer.  I did the leak check and it held pressure.  I cleaned out a clogged hole in the cutting tip.  I had the guy at the welding shop take a look at it and he found a broken O ring in the torch handle and replaced it.  I replaced the hoses for good measure ($20) and I fired it up and it works like a champ!  I need to replace one of the gauges because the needle gets stuck, but that sounds like its no big deal.  Get this... the guy sold it to me for $40 since I had to layout around $45 to see if it worked.  Yee Haaa!
Reply:Cool,, way to shop, a torch can be a priceless tool at times. I dont see how most people can make in his world without one.  I have some neighbor farmers, never got on the repair thing. All that equipment and one set of Chinese end wrenches and a metric Crecent wrench.  And then go to auction and buy something already broken.  How could you ever remove a stuck nut even?  One other thing,, get a new cutting tip. If it was clogged, especially the 02 hole its likely eroded and crapped up. After a while even cleaning tips well doesnt make them work very good. I finally pitched one the other day, the inside was so ruff that it makes the 02 come out with turbulance, they never cut without slag and just dont blow thru cleanly. You got such a deal,,, spring for a new tip or 2.Last edited by Sberry; 07-30-2004 at 03:33 PM.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Sounds like a good idea.  I'll pick up a couple of tips this weekend.  I can't wait to cut stuff up.   I recently moved to a farm-type place and I'm quickly learning how invaluable metal working skills are.  I'm always suprised at what I''m now able do that used to be impossible - sliding barn doors, gates, racks, work tables.  Can't imagine living here and not being able to do this kind of stuff.
Reply:Welcome to the world of used-tool possibilities...Hey! Bring the camera...Is it still hot?   $%#^%^#  Guess so...
Reply:Willy,On that sticking gauge, if it's on the O2 regulator, make sure you get a new one certified for O2 use.  They are required to clean them as O2 and oil = fire.
Reply:Originally posted by david_r Willy,On that sticking gauge, if it's on the O2 regulator, make sure you get a new one certified for O2 use.  They are required to clean them as O2 and oil = fire.
Reply:I noticed the that on/off valve for the oxygen on the torch handle is not quite right.  When I open the valve, the nut under the knob starts to turn.  If I wrench-tighten the nut, its hard to turn the knob.  Can I take this apart to look at it (like is it just a washer issue?)  or should I bring it into a shop to have it looked at by a professional?
Reply:The packing is probably worn out (which is the washer material under the nut).  Go to a welding shop with the torch and let them sell you a new set.Get it hot and hit it hard...
Reply:Will do, thanks.
Reply:that item is a lot more handy that just for cutting things up with. the heat from that torch can unstick frozen hinges, free up rusted-tight nuts and bolts frozen into the hole or onto the bolt, shrink a stretched piece back into shape to correct a dished-out part or re-align a slightly bent item, swell a bearing race to get it onto a cold part, soften a hardened metal part so you can drill-chisel- or saw it, heat up carbon steel things to harden and then temper them, reduce wasp nests to ashes, soften metal so you can bend/form it to a shape or blacksmith it, take apart things that are brazed or silver-soldered ( and to put them back together after you learn to do that) and many more things.BTW, dont every use it to cut exhaust pipes or mufflers that have been used. the pipes accululate carbon inside that absorbs gas(oline). then when you heat it  the gas is released and it will easily ignite itself on the hot metal - no spark is needed. the result is that even by just heating a used exhaust pipe you can cause an explosion.     BTDT - never want to see it again.a hotwrench is really good to have.