Older oxy/acetylene outfit

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I'm just getting back in to doing a little bit of hobbyist welding, and I have an older Craftsmen oxy/acetylene setup that I bought back around 1980. I used it pretty regularly for about 12 years or so, then it sat in my Dad's shop until he retired and moved away, then I packed it in a box.Now I want to unpack it and use it again. Think it's safe? Would I need to replace parts in the regulators or torch? I can take it out to the shop at work and hook it up on their tanks to test it out, and one of the guys there who is a good welder would be willing to help me check it over for leaks. I'm just wanting some input on how safe it would be to even do this, or if I need to replace parts first, then test. Not sure how the rubber parts age on these things.Thanks!Mark N
Reply:My favorite set of regulators I got on eBay, and are Craftsman's of that vintage.  Basically a Harris setup, but tinted black.  Haven't had any problems or leaks, but I use a newer Victor torch, because I like the built-in flashback protection.
Reply:My dad has the same torch from the same era.  That torch is guaranteed forever.  Harris will fix it or Sears will if anything is wrong.   His neighbor used to work as a machinist for harris.  He developed a problem with it and she took  a look at it and told him that his torch was guaranteed forever.  She took it in and fixed it.I don't think anyone has a guarantee like this now.  After they quite making that torch in the US, they moved production to Ireland.  Now,  I think it is in Mexico.  Those Irish torches were top notch.  The machining on the Mex torches is a little more rough.There isn't too much to go wrong.  I would purge the regulators first though to remove any foreign material.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:When my old regulators went bad you could hear it. The diaphragms made a  "Fwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep" noise as soon as I opened the cylinder valve (sounded like a high pitched fart).-Matt------------------------------------------
Reply:Originally Posted by HephaestusWhen my old regulators went bad you could hear it. The diaphragms made a  "Fwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep" noise as soon as I opened the cylinder valve (sounded like a high pitched fart).
Reply:Tighten the valve, and quit eatin' sauer kraut"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:OK, sounds great! I'll clean them out, then take them out to work and try them on some tanks there before renting some for myself.Thanks for your help!!Mark N
Reply:All kidding aside, I've heard of the regulator face blowing out when some of the stuff inside goes bad.  I suppose the first time you put pressure to it, maybe it might be a good idea not to be directly facing the dial face.Only thing I've had go wrong is  the pressure spring valve seats went bad one time in all the years I've owned it.  Comes from not leaving pressure on the pressure adj. spring when not in use.  Always crank it down a bit after you purge it.  Then you can put it up for long periods of disuse"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55DANG!  Are you sayin' I got a bad regulator?!
Reply:Originally Posted by Sparky8370Maybe you're just getting a little older, and that fweeeeeep sound is coming from behind you as you bend over and turn your tanks on.
Reply:The recommended aand safe method of operation for regulators is to screw out the screws on the regulator until zero pressure is attained, then open the valves on the torch, open the valves on the tanks, THEN slowly adjust the regulators to the desired pressure.  This stops the FWEEEEEEEEEEP!  sounds and greatly extends life.  Who may I ask actually does that?  Its what should be done... not what is done.Esab Migmaster 250Lincoln SA 200Lincoln Ranger 8Smith Oxy Fuel setupEverlast PowerPlasma 80Everlast Power iMIG 160Everlast Power iMIG 205 Everlast Power iMIG 140EEverlast PowerARC 300Everlast PowerARC 140STEverlast PowerTIG 255EXT
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55And I just thought the sound was echoing off the shop wall behind me.
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldThe recommended aand safe method of operation for regulators is to screw out the screws on the regulator until zero pressure is attained, then open the valves on the torch, open the valves on the tanks, THEN slowly adjust the regulators to the desired pressure.  This stops the FWEEEEEEEEEEP!  sounds and greatly extends life.  Who may I ask actually does that?  Its what should be done... not what is done.
Reply:I think it's an age thing.  I never used to do it.  Now sometimes I do."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldThe recommended aand safe method of operation for regulators is to screw out the screws on the regulator until zero pressure is attained, then open the valves on the torch, open the valves on the tanks, THEN slowly adjust the regulators to the desired pressure.  This stops the FWEEEEEEEEEEP!  sounds and greatly extends life.  Who may I ask actually does that?  Its what should be done... not what is done.
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldThe recommended aand safe method of operation for regulators is to screw out the screws on the regulator until zero pressure is attained, then open the valves on the torch, open the valves on the tanks, THEN slowly adjust the regulators to the desired pressure.  This stops the FWEEEEEEEEEEP!  sounds and greatly extends life.  Who may I ask actually does that?  Its what should be done... not what is done.
Reply:Originally Posted by lugweldThe recommended aand safe method of operation for regulators is to screw out the screws on the regulator until zero pressure is attained, then open the valves on the torch, open the valves on the tanks, THEN slowly adjust the regulators to the desired pressure.  This stops the FWEEEEEEEEEEP!  sounds and greatly extends life.  Who may I ask actually does that?  Its what should be done... not what is done.