Anyone have one of these?

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Looking for feedback on this setup......http://www.calranch.com/oxy/acetylene-portable-tote-kitI will be using around house and hobby use, your thoughts?  Also, what size rod do I need to use for brazing 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 tubing and solid rod in the same size?Thanks,-Gary
Reply:Want my thoughts? Unless all you're going to do is sweat pipe and move it around a TON, I'd save up and buy some bigger bottles and a bigger kit in general. Sure, they might be a bit less maneuverable where you need them but then you'll have the ability to actually cut some steel if that is in your ballpark.
Reply:Here's another post about one. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...h-set-worth-itDepend on your location I would check craig's list for a set up with larger tanks. I would check with local supplier to see what they have as far as price and equipment. Inquire about cylinder purchase, exchange, refills. Tank refilling could be a issue with some suppliers. Here's my local supplier in Wisconsin that has a SMITH SET UP, MADE IN USA, $ 195.00 with free ship. http://www.weldersupply.com/P/317/Sm...eteMediumDutyO
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Here's another post about one. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...h-set-worth-itDepend on your location I would check craig's list for a set up with larger tanks. I would check with local supplier to see what they have as far as price and equipment. Inquire about cylinder purchase, exchange, refills. Tank refilling could be a issue with some suppliers. Here's my local supplier in Wisconsin that has a SMITH SET UP, MADE IN USA, $ 195.00 with free ship. http://www.weldersupply.com/P/317/Sm...eteMediumDutyO
Reply:These are probably OK for some light cutting. We used to have one on the rescue truck before we got the plasma cutter, many years back. The real issue is they will not generate much heat. You shouldn't flow more than 1/7th of the tank volume, per hour, as a rule or you run the risk of expelling acetone from the tank and damaging your regulators or worse. Small tanks like these just don't have any horsepower. A size 1 Victor tip is good for welding metal up to 1/16th thick. It will draws up to 6 cu ft / hr. That says you need at least a 42 cu ft acetylene tank. A MC cylinder holds 8 cu ft, a "B" tank holds 35 cu ft. So in reallity you probably need a size 3 or a WQ size tank at a minimum to run a Victor size 1 tip and not violate the 1/7th rule.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:I have a "peanut" set like that too.  Mainly use it for a/c repairs and brazing.  Sure is nice to have a light, easily maneuvered set of torches when you need them.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:They are most excellent for the right little quickie project like fixing uncle Ferds split copper pipe after a freeze or cutting a chain to steal a bike but, even in a hobby shop, they're much like carrying a 1/2 pint to a SuperBowl game.I say go for it ! and get a medium set of tanks for the work bench. I can assure you, like nearly all tools, if ya got it, you WILL use it at some point in time.I use my #'s 1-2 and 5 tips the most for welding and brazing. An MFA6 rosebud is a nice add on to heat stuff up or bend. http://www.weldingcity.com/ has good prices on "generic" tips so you can afford them all.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:If you want to weld more than a spot, get at least a 40cf (B size) tank. Anything smaller can't run a decent sized welding tip or any cutting tip for very long. Even a 40CF should be limited to 5.7CF/hr, which is only small tips, no cutting or rosebuds.If you're not welding steel, you don't need the heat and cost of acetylene. You can use propane and not worry about the size of your bottle vs the size of your torch tip, and do cutting/heating/brazing/soldering. Propane is safer to deal with and much cheaper. I'd craigslist an 02 bottle and a 5Gal BBQ style propane tank myself, unless you NEED the portability, gas is WAY cheaper in bigger bottles. You can get all sorts of small size bottles for propane. Used is a great way to get very good gear for a deal. The cheap cutting torch kits like you linked go for cheap all the time on craigslist. I see the Harris torches in the Porta Torch Kits all the time, they are a great starter because the mixer is separate from the tips, which means buying  a variety of tips is much less expensive. You can use the cutting torch head as a rosebud as well, works fine. All you need to do to switch between propane and acetylene is swap out the copper tips. You should also swap to a grade T hose (all fuel gases, grade R is acetylene only).  Buying regs used can be a bit risky because of possible hidden mistreatment, use your judgement. Personally, I shopped for nice quality brand regs in well used condition that needed new gauges and were selling cheap, then had www.regulatortorchrepair.com rebuild them. They look and function like brand new $225 regulators, and cost me $30 + $50 rebuild. If you want to buy new, buy a torch kit and buy used bottles. All the gas suppliers around here swap bottles, and acetylene is really difficult to fill, I don't know of any place that will fill an owner bottle around here. Make sure your supplier acknowledges your bottles are owned and they don't give you leased bottle with name collars in exchange. I called around until I found a place that would swap my owner bottles without any issue.
Reply:We carry a similar torch on all FDNY Ladder trucks. MAPP gas instead of acetylene for safety reasons.It's a nice torch it works well but it blows through that little oxygen cylinder quickly. They're nice for mechanic work as well. I'd say go for it but you may want to purchase a spare o2.
Reply:Do you guys thin this is worth 225.00?  He says everything is in working order.Also, Tanks are full. Attached Images