Oxygen - Regulator reapir

admin

I have 2 Harris and 1 Large Smith Oxygen Regulators that need repair.... Local welding supply center says its cheaper to buy new???   Seems like 90% of the time O-reg fails  very few times the A-reg.     Suggestions   Thanks  Ed.V
Reply:Call Smith and see how much it will cost for them to repair it. Www.smithequipment.com (800)843-7912Then call Harris for the same. Www.harriscalorific.com (800)241-0804. Don't forget to let us know. I happen to have a large set from each, also."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Found a few companies on web....that repair regulators, torches, etc....will call one tomorrow...I understand repairing a regulator is only to be done by a Pro.???  The Smith doesnt hold pressure...pressure keeps climbing...the Harris regulators just leak...
Reply:OAdoctor here does repairs on regs. You can PM him and get an idea what it will cost or go to www.regulatortorchrepair.com, his site.I'd suggest not trying to do an O2 reg rebuild yourself. Almost any material will burn in 100% O2 and any oils or contaminants that get inside the reg when you open it can cause a fire as soon as the HP O2 hits them. You won't even need a spark or flame to getthe fire to go. Just the O2 at HP slamming into an oil contaminated Oring will do this. It doesn't even take much to contaminate the orings, A small pice of lint from a clean rag will do it.I've been trained in doing 100% O2 service on regs and cylinders for diving. I've been at ground zero of an O2 fire and was lucky to walk away and only spend a week in the burn ward. There was zero warning when something failed. Someone I was familiar with was killed when an O2 cyl she was hooking up exploded due to oil contamination in a valve. There wasn't enough of the valve to tell what actually happened other than it was the point of ignition, but others that were there confirmed the tank had fallen with the valve uncovered in the dirt parking lot where there was a good bit of oil..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:Both LWS here will send them out for repair to the same place about 50 miles south so they charge a handling fee for that but here it normally ends up being about $75.00 or a bit over. I take mine down to a local guy here tho. I've had two oxygen and one acetylene done over a period of years and they have all run around $65.00 to $75.00. Done while I was waiting on the last one."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:oadoctor sold me rebuilt argon and co2 gauges for $60 each with free shipping. which i thought was a great deal. i would make sure to call him before you go with anyone else. 866-879-0252Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Find another LWS store. I took my old Airco regs in to an AIRGAS store about 6 months ago. Work done locally and was $85 for both.Lee HurlbuttUpland [email protected]
Reply:A regulator should not cost more than $40.00 to $60.00 to totally rebuild, depending on the make and model.  Many LWS just do not want to bother with having customer's equipment repaired.  Other will add 100% mark-up.  If they offer you  a trade-in, make sure you are trading apples for apples.  Some LWS will try to get you to trade in a top of the line regulator for a Chinese made cheap regulator.  Make sure if take to a LWS, or directly to the repair shop, that they rebuild the regulator and not just repair what is wrong.  Most regulators & torches have rubber seats and o-rings.  It has been my experience when one part fails, the other parts are usually not far behind.Thanks DWS and turk for the recommendation!OAdoctorwww.regulatortorchrepair.com
Reply:Thanks for the tips.....I see that OA Doc is not that far from us....Will give them a call tomorrow.EdV      Greenwood SC