Oxy Acetylene Outfit

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My OA outfit has short hoses and is quite old.  I had to get a new Oxygen regulator when I got it.  I have plasma cutter too.  So I don't cut much with it but need something decent.  What is a good deal on one?  Peavey Mart up here has a medium duty outfit for $250.  It only has 12.5ft hoses.Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC, Miller Big Blue 302P,  Lincoln Wire-Matic 255 Mig, Lincoln Pro-Cut 55,  Milwaukee Dry Cut 14" Chop saw, Miller Digital Elite Helmet
Reply:Since nobody else has answered, I'll give it a go. I don't know what hoses cost in Canada, but here a 50' length is between $30 and $40.  Unless your torch's parts are NLA, I'd get it rebuilt if it needs it, and keep it.  Lots of us here are using torches older than we are, and there aren't any notable improvements that have been made in the last 30 years (my opinion).  Just add a set of flashback arrestors if yours doesn't have one and go to town.If you just WANT a new torch, then I'd personally consider a larger name-brand like Victor, Smith, or Harris.  Pick the size (standard, medium, or large) based on your expected work.  I prefer the smallest torch that allows my hands to stay out of the heat from the cut.  In the shop, I mainly use a small old Smith AW1 with AC309 cutting attachment.  On the truck I keep a large Smith SW1 with SC209 cutting attachment.  I love both of these torches.  Before them I had a Victor medium-duty (100FC, I think) which also did just fine.EDIT: Forgot to mention, you can pick up used torches all day long on ebay, which will allow you to spend less for higher quality.But if money is an object, I'd fix what you have.  It'll perform just as well as a new one.Last edited by tbone550; 04-07-2011 at 11:04 AM.
Reply:I second the suggestion to refresh whatever torch you already have.I'm partial to Smith lifetime torches, and prefer a heavy straight torch to the convertibles for cutting. Just seems better balanced in my hand, which enables better cuts. And the fewer valves and fittings to bang around the better, IMO.
Reply:I guess that might be the more economical route.  It just seems by the time I would by new hoses, regulators, and get the torch gone through I might as well buy a whole new outfit.  Its a throw away world with most stuff nowadays.Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC, Miller Big Blue 302P,  Lincoln Wire-Matic 255 Mig, Lincoln Pro-Cut 55,  Milwaukee Dry Cut 14" Chop saw, Miller Digital Elite Helmet
Reply:Well, you've already replaced one regulator so you only need to get one more, and that only IF there's something wrong with your fuel regulator.  If one of the gauges isn't working, a gauge replacement might run $10-$15 as opposed to buying a whole new regulator.  Lots of people throw away good regulators when all they needed was a gauge.  And you haven't actually said there's anything wrong with your existing fuel reg.  "Old" doesn't make it bad.What brand is your torch?  Why, specifically, does it need to be rebuilt or replaced?  The older torches and the mainline new ones are designed to be rebuilt.  They're not throw-aways and rebuilds of the handle and cutting attachment are very reasonable.  Price a rebuild at your local welding store.Keep in mind, if the $250 set you're considering at the box store isn't a name brand, you're probably swapping age and high quality for new and lower quality.  Most non-name-brand torches (and some Victors, I believe) are imported from China and have low quality control.  Many people have had issues with them.In addition, since the $250 set you mentioned has short hoses, it just became more like a $290 set.  So whether you keep your old torch or buy a new one, you're going to be buying longer hoses either way.Finally, don't forget taxes.  I don't know what Canada's tax rate is, but here in VA your now-$290 set would be about $305.
Reply:Look on ebay. I found alot of great deals in the past two years. I am a Smith fan, made in USA and lifetime warranty. I also have a heavy duty Harris set of regs and they work great. Smith, Victor, Harris and you can't go wrong. Also, I do not gas weld so I only use straight cutting torches. BTW, I was just looking on the Esab site lately and their torches and regs carry a lifetime warranty. I was curious because at the Airgas I went to, there were tubs of Oxweld cutting torches back from repair. Seems the steel mill uses them exclusively. But I'm sure those guys are extremely hard on equipment, and just plain ole don't give a crap."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:I have to get new tanks too.  Just sent back my leased tanks back to Air Liquide.  They were a PITA to deal with.  I think I will buy my own from Praxair.  I will get a new set of hoses and look into rebuilding my torch. I have changed an o-ring before but what else do they fix?Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC, Miller Big Blue 302P,  Lincoln Wire-Matic 255 Mig, Lincoln Pro-Cut 55,  Milwaukee Dry Cut 14" Chop saw, Miller Digital Elite Helmet
Reply:In a rebuild they will strip and then clean the torch to start, removing any corrosion, carbon, oil etc from the unit. Then they will replace/repair any damaged components that effect the performance of the torch, like badly crushed tubes. After that they will replace the soft parts like packings and O rings and reassemble the torch with O2 compatible lubricants where needed. The torch will not look new in most cases, but will look 100% better and will run like new.If you need more info, you can Pm OAdoctor here. Rebuilding regs is what he does. Or you can go to his site, www.regulatortorchrepair.com..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:BTW, I was just looking on the Esab site lately and their torches and regs carry a lifetime warranty. I was curious because at the Airgas I went to, there were tubs of Oxweld cutting torches back from repair. Seems the steel mill uses them exclusively. But I'm sure those guys are extremely hard on equipment, and just plain ole don't give a crap.
Reply:Found a Victor torch that we had in my dad's shop.  Maybe I should fix it up.  At least it has normal sized fittings for your hoses.  My Air Liquide torch had small hose fittings.  Not sure if I can even buy new hoses for it or adapter bushings.Miller Thunderbolt 225 AC/DC, Miller Big Blue 302P,  Lincoln Wire-Matic 255 Mig, Lincoln Pro-Cut 55,  Milwaukee Dry Cut 14" Chop saw, Miller Digital Elite Helmet