Victor Regulators- Rebulid or Replace

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I need a little input from the pros. I bought a O/A setup, the tanks have been sent off for test and refill. I'm going to replacing the hose but I'm debating whether to rebuild or replace the regulators. The regulators are old, SR 95 and SR 96, they look to be in good shape, the only bad thing they have been sitting for sometime.Lets say I wanted to replace them, what you guys recommend as a good replacement for the models above ?. As for rebuild, are they to old etc ?.. Any help would be appreciated.Thanks
Reply:As long as you can get a kit for those its usually cheaper to rebuild. If you can do it yourself. Several places may have an exchange set. If you upgrade I'd go with a set of 250s or 450s. Victor of course!Arcon Workhorse 300MSPowcon 400SMTPowcon SM400 x 2Powcon SM3001968 SA200 Redface1978 SA250 DieselMiller Super 32P FeederPre 1927 American 14" High Duty LatheK&T Milwaukee 2H Horizontal MillBryan
Reply:Sixty year old Victor's aren't too old to rebuild
Reply:You can check with these guys on rebuild costs. Several members here have had good luck with them in the past. They'll be up front as to whether it's cost effective to rebuild vs just replacing regs as well.http://www.regulatortorchrepair.com/repairservices.phpThere are also local guys some times that do rebuilds, or you can take them to your LWS and they'll send them out.I would NOT suggest anyone try and rebuild an O2 reg unless they have been trained in servicing equipment for high pressure O2. EVERYTHING burns in the presence of 100% O2 at high pressure. You don't even need a "heat" source to light things up under the right conditions. Just the HP O2 slamming into  some contaminants or going thru a restriction can generate enough of a temp rise to light things up. At that point it gets ugly. A HP O2 fire is not an "Oops we have an issue we need to address...", it's a "BANG, you are dead before you blink" kind of thing many times. This is one of those things where being "cheap" can be VERY expensive. Leave it to those who know what they are doing..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:Originally Posted by DSWI would NOT suggest anyone try and rebuild an O2 reg unless they have been trained in servicing equipment for high pressure O2. EVERYTHING burns in the presence of 100% O2 at high pressure. You don't even need a "heat" source to light things up under the right conditions. Just the HP O2 slamming into  some contaminants or going thru a restriction can generate enough of a temp rise to light things up. At that point it gets ugly. A HP O2 fire is not an "Oops we have an issue we need to address...", it's a "BANG, you are dead before you blink" kind of thing many times. This is one of those things where being "cheap" can be VERY expensive. Leave it to those who know what they are doing.
Reply:If you can afford it, buy new.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Rebuild yours or get a set of Smiths. If you want Victor "style" just go to Harboring Fright. They're probably made right beside the "real" Victors in China and 1/3 of the price.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Originally Posted by SuperArcIf you can afford it, buy new.
Reply:I just got a set back from regulatortorchrepair.com. They were about $45 each to rebuild, and they look new, and function great. Were they mine, I would just plug them in and see if they work. Only reason to rebuild them is if they leak, or the pressure creeps up.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYou can check with these guys on rebuild costs. Several members here have had good luck with them in the past. They'll be up front as to whether it's cost effective to rebuild vs just replacing regs as well.http://www.regulatortorchrepair.com/repairservices.phpThere are also local guys some times that do rebuilds, or you can take them to your LWS and they'll send them out.I would NOT suggest anyone try and rebuild an O2 reg unless they have been trained in servicing equipment for high pressure O2. EVERYTHING burns in the presence of 100% O2 at high pressure. You don't even need a "heat" source to light things up under the right conditions. Just the HP O2 slamming into  some contaminants or going thru a restriction can generate enough of a temp rise to light things up. At that point it gets ugly. A HP O2 fire is not an "Oops we have an issue we need to address...", it's a "BANG, you are dead before you blink" kind of thing many times. This is one of those things where being "cheap" can be VERY expensive. Leave it to those who know what they are doing.
Reply:Have em re-built and they will be good for another 60 years.
Reply:Ouch! Did somebody hit you with a Victor product when you were a ladd? Originally Posted by BurpeeRebuild yours or get a set of Smiths. If you want Victor "style" just go to Harboring Fright. They're probably made right beside the "real" Victors in China and 1/3 of the price.
Reply:Originally Posted by blawlessOuch! Did somebody hit you with a Victor product when you were a ladd?
Reply:A lot of good advice, thanks. Right now, cost would be a major factor for me. the outfit cost me $125.00, the test for the Oxy tank is 20 bucks and 39 bucks for the Acetylene tank, with a estimate of around $160.00 with fill. I'm going to replace the hose, the one that it came with is in fair condition. So with cost in mine I'm leaning toward rebuild.I have a pair of AIRCO regulators that I got years ago thinking that one day I would buy a tank setup, I know that they need to be rebuilt. If I had the money I would buy a set of new Victor regulators. Also safety is important and I don't want to cut any corners. I will check the link above on the rebuild.Thanks to all for your input, if anyone else knows where to get or send for rebuild please don't hesitate to inform. I should get the tanks back next week so I don't mind waiting for me to get the regulators taken care of.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYou can check with these guys on rebuild costs. Several members here have had good luck with them in the past. They'll be up front as to whether it's cost effective to rebuild vs just replacing regs as well.http://www.regulatortorchrepair.com/repairservices.phpThere are also local guys some times that do rebuilds, or you can take them to your LWS and they'll send them out.I would NOT suggest anyone try and rebuild an O2 reg unless they have been trained in servicing equipment for high pressure O2. EVERYTHING burns in the presence of 100% O2 at high pressure. You don't even need a "heat" source to light things up under the right conditions. Just the HP O2 slamming into  some contaminants or going thru a restriction can generate enough of a temp rise to light things up. At that point it gets ugly. A HP O2 fire is not an "Oops we have an issue we need to address...", it's a "BANG, you are dead before you blink" kind of thing many times. This is one of those things where being "cheap" can be VERY expensive. Leave it to those who know what they are doing.
Reply:Got a question, should I test them before rebuilding them? If yes, is there a way to test them or test them when I get the tanks back?