repairing an oxygen valve on O/A torch

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Hey all, i just got a vintage smith #2 torchits a small aircraft torch and i have been looking for this type for a very long timehowever, i fear that the oxygen knob is going to leak because there is usually some sort of "packing" in there to prevent this, and i do not see any in my knob. (i found a small bit of it in there, but it looks like it was removed by someone)does anyone know what  this "packing" is and what it can be replaced by.i have heard it described as a sticky thread/rope like substancei have been warned not to ship it out to a repair shop, as it is a very rare and delicate torchi was told not to use a rubber oring to fix the problem as rubber and oxygen do not mixany thoughts on a substitute besides plumbing tape?Thanks!-Ian
Reply:Not knowing the torch or the exact details of the valve........I have some packing 'rope', about 1/8" diameter, made of twisted Teflon tape (Teflon is very inert, even to oxygen) and would think you could roll some standard wide tape into such a 'rope', probably making it thinner and using more turns.It will pack well under nut pressure and still the knob will be easy to turn due to the low coefficient of friction.
Reply:awesome i think thats exactly what im looking forwhere can i get some of said rope (or at least how should i search for it)?recommendations?the torch is a predecesor of the victor aw1a and is a very small and light torch looks very similar to that torchill upload a pic and a pic of the older harris 15-3 that i got with it as wellboth i think might need overhauls, but i dont have my tanks here in boston so i cant even check them out till i get backthe first is the smith i spoke of the second is of the harris
Reply:I think i found my 'rope' but have seen similar material in the Grainger catalog. The Teflon tape is available in any plumbing or hardware store, if you want to roll your own 'rope'.
Reply:does this look like what i need?https://www.plumbersstock.com/produc...rtNumber=33738 STRING TEFLON GASKET ROPE also, does anyone have expirience trying to clean a torch and how the cleaning process usually worksjust curious as i am about to ship it out to be cleaned
Reply:confusion now is mine you were warned not to ship it to a repair shop but you are shipping it out to be cleaned.....?have you tried toget  info from smith, the mfr?
Reply:ian111 I'll PM you.
Reply:I think he means he was warned not to ship to just a generic welding shop, but to find one that specalizes in this type of equipment. Smith has no information on them.
Reply:Yes, that is the kind of packing material I meant.I would expect that cleaning of things like that would be done with ultrasonic vibration by most shops. That, of course, depends on what needs to be cleaned in/from it. I would think it would need little beyond blowing out with an air compressor, or perhaps 'brushing' with a pipe cleaner, perhaps saturated with "Brasso" or some other such cleaner. Maybe plug the holes and lightly bead blast it to restore the shine?If mud daubers have already plugged the holes,  just soak it in water and use the appropriate sized copper (or brass?) wire to 'ream' them out; no steel which can scratch the insides.I agree w/ WB: why send it away for anything???
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2Yes, that is the kind of packing material I meant.I would expect that cleaning of things like that would be done with ultrasonic vibration by most shops. That, of course, depends on what needs to be cleaned in/from it. I would think it would need little beyond blowing out with an air compressor, or perhaps 'brushing' with a pipe cleaner, perhaps saturated with "Brasso" or some other such cleaner. Maybe plug the holes and lightly bead blast it to restore the shine?If mud daubers have already plugged the holes,  just soak it in water and use the appropriate sized copper (or brass?) wire to 'ream' them out; no steel which can scratch the insides.I agree w/ WB: why send it away for anything???
Reply:i was going to send it out to a member of the miller weld forum who said he has rebuilt 2 of these torches to have a look at itnot just a generic welding supply shop cause its such a rare and old torchso is soaking a good start before replacing valves? will that bad for it? as long as i dont use chemical cleanersone person suggested simple greenany thoughts?if i were to send my torches out to have them cleaned (at least the harris one and probably not the smith) is there a place any of you would recomend?Thanks to everyone who responded and for all the opinions and information!-Ian
Reply:The manufacturers may still sell repair kits for these torches.  Smith offers a lifetime waranty most of their products and may refurbish your torch for free.  If not, they may sell a kit to repair your torch.  The kit may include parts to repair the valves or it may even have new valves that you simply thread in place of the old ones.If you're going to have any cleaned, refurbished, or whatever send out the Smith as Harris stuff is junk.Whatever you clean them with, just wash them out with a solvent that doesn't leave a residue.  Lectra Clean (trichlorethylene) would be my choice.  It's non-flamable, too.   Just give it plenty of time to evaporate before you put it into oxygen service.Last edited by 76GMC1500; 02-11-2009 at 02:27 AM.
Reply:Brasso? not a good idea, it is combustible and can have adverse reactions with certain solders. It also contains waxes that cannot at times be washed out.Compressor? Oil from the compressor....not a good idea.Bead blasting? The handle is plated with surgical nickelUltrasonic? There ya go! Just have to use the right cleaners
Reply:76gmc1500  did you see the foto of that torch? if there was a lifetime warranty its over, man...
Reply:This is what they typically look like after restoration providing the plating is in good shape. The cloth case is also original. Attached Images
Reply:Makoman;The units this thread is about are nowhere near that condition, although I suppose they could be restored to it by re-plating once the other work is done. The tip on the bottom torch has been badly bent and the third and fourth tips on the top also appear to have bends near the bottom. They've all  seen some action.Posted by 76GMC1500  If you're going to have any cleaned, refurbished, or whatever send out the Smith as Harris stuff is junk.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2Makoman;The units this thread is about are nowhere near that condition, although I suppose they could be restored to it by re-plating once the other work is done. The tip on the bottom torch has been badly bent and the third and fourth tips on the top also appear to have bends near the bottom. They've all  seen some action.Could you explain that better? All my Harris equipment is well designed and well forged/machined of good material. I've never seen any Harris equipment which was poorly made. I wouldn't expect Harris to have parts for Smith though.
Reply:Originally Posted by makoman1860This is what they typically look like after restoration providing the plating is in good shape. The cloth case is also original.
Reply:Originally Posted by vkuellsI was browsing the web looking for information on a Smith No.2 torch as I have my Dad's an was interested in finding more tips and maybe the cutting head for it.  I saw this picture of your torch.  This is it!  Did you send it to Smith to be cleaned up?  Mine is not in bad shape just not shiny like yours.  I would love to restore it and just have in my shop in Dad's memory.I know the local Smith Rep. and just last week bought the Dual Guard medium duty torch set up from him.  Please let me know and if he can restore it I'll give him a call.Thanks,Vicki
Reply:makoman-know anyone with mixers or tips?
Reply:Originally Posted by makoman1860Vicki, With the exception of plating, I do all of my own restoration work. I know a fellow with a cutting head, whats your e-mail and I will give it to him. -Aaron
Reply:Originally Posted by ian111makoman-know anyone with mixers or tips?
Reply:Originally Posted by vkuellsAaronWhat do you use to polish them up?  Can you use neverdull or semichrome polish?Thanks,Vicki
Reply:i might be interested in a set up mixers and tips if you do a runalso would be interested in buying a machined teflon washer from you for my oxygen valve   would you be open to make me one?let me know some details -Ian