my oxy acetylene set up

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well as of most of you know I am a 17 year old welder I have a millermatic 135 and a Hobart stickmate lx ac/dc I have been welding for almost 2 years now I always loved gas welding with a torch but my mother was worried about my safety with a torch so I coudin't get one but a buddy of mine has a barely used victor torch set he gave my mom 4 me for free so now i'm getting the tanks 4 my birthday im gonna rent them yearly for a 180 bucks i'm getting an 80 cubic oxygen tank and a 60 cubic acetylene tank that's just the right size for what I do.
Reply:Not sure where you are located.  We rent a 200 CF Acet tank and a bigger Oxy tank for $120./year for the pair."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Costs almost as much to fill small cylinders as it does large ones, why not go all the way and get some real burn time in? If you're learning O/A you'll need to practise and you'll use up a whole lot more gas, why limit yourself?   When a welder tells you to "stick it", what do they really mean?"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell
Reply:I pay almost that to buy my cylinders new with fill at that size. MY sales catalog shows an 80 cf O2 at $160 and a 75 cf acet at $150. That would be top dollar pricing and I've picked up CL cylinders for a lot less.I'd also agree that bigger is more cost effective in the long run. It costs me $10 more to fill the big 282 cf O2 cylinder I have compared to the 80 cf one. Doesn't take much math skill to figure that one out... Reason is a lot of the cost is in the hazmat fee, transport and handling fee, cylinder maintenance fees etc.. You pay the same rate for all that stuff whether the cylinder is a big one or a small one. They don't break out all those fees on average, so you can't actually se them, but they are all built into the price.I can understand the reasons behind wanting a small set of cylinders for storage reasons. I keep my small set for just that reason at the house. Just be aware of the options before you buy/rent, so you know what you are getting..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:Congradulations on getting your new equipment!  Oxy/acet was my first welding equipment many years ago and it is one of the best tools you will have in your arsenal of welding/cutting tools due to its many uses such as heating, cutting, brazing and welding.  I recommend you look into purchasing two books to help you in this new to you experience:  THE OXY-ACETYLENE HANDBOOK by Linde reference library (Union Carbide) and AIRCRAFT WELDING by L.S. Elzea (Lindsay Publications Inc.)  These two books and some hands on help will get you up and running. Read and understand what these books will teach you.  Also do not be afraid to ask questions here.  There are many experienced weldors here and are ready to give you the answers to your questions.  Read the books mentioned above FIRST, they give you lessons and are clearly written. Good luck.  Best  Bob
Reply:I got a copy of the Oxy Acet Handbook for about $6. delivered from Alibris.  Good book.Don't forget the 1/7 consumption rule (some now say 1/10) for Acetylene.  With a 60 CF tank, you will be limited on your tip sizes.  For a Victor:cutting to 3/8" - max size #0welding to 1/8" - max size #2"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Have you checked to see what the maximum metal size is that you can weld from an 80 cu ft acetylene tank?   You will be limited to 11 cu/ft/hr (1/7th withdrawal rate) which means a #1 tip size  and maximum 3/32" metal to be on the safe side. Or maybe a #2 tip as long as you keep it set at less than maximum. (Someone more experienced, please correct me if I'm wrong on the data.)I agree that a bigger tank is better, both from the refill costs as well as max withdrawal rate.
Reply:Mig Welder95, do you actually plan on true "welding" with an O/A set up, or just heating and cutting?  Reason I ask is because you already have a light weight mig machine and a great stick machine for "welding" purposes.  If you just want a heating and "cutting," torch set-up, id suggest you take a look at considering  oxy/propane.  Propane gas is so much more cheaper and not a hassle to use (1/7 rule) and/or transport  than acetylene, for the "garage hobbiest."    You could get a BBQ 5 gallon tank of propane that will last you about four refills of a 200cf cylinder of oxygen.  Propane tanks can be transported on their sides and used immediately for work, unlike acetylene.   Oxygen refills are relatively cheap and propane is cheaper than acetylene.   Now, if you're still set on true "welding" with a gas torch, than the acetylene is mandatory and "case closed.". As you might already know, one can't weld with oxy/propane.  It's like using SMAW and a coat hanger (no flux) as your electrode.   For heating and cutting however, I am a new convert to oxy/propane and LOVE IT!  I put my O/A equipment in "moth balls" and got rid of my acetylene cylinder.  If I need to truly "weld," I use mig or stick.   Just food for thought.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:Actually, welding using a 60 CF tank would be safest with no more than a #1 tip.  A #2 is borderline and can go a little higher than is advisable."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Bigger is better and cheaper. It costs you time and money to transport the tanks as well as fill them. And everything runs out or breaks on Sunday when the stores are closed. I bought my 150/143 cf O/A tanks for about $30 more than the 80/75 cf O/A tanks and the refills as mentioned are only about $10 more. Your needs now are based on different skills and requirements and this will change later on. For a few dollars more, you can meet your unforseen future needs and skills as well.8-1/2 years ago, the wife and I bought 11-1/2 acres of land and later bought a 30hp 4WD Kubota tractor with loader, etc. We thought this is a lot of land and a lot of tractor. Now we have 42 acres and want a 2-3 acre pond. The tractor can be fit with a backhoe attachment but it is too small. So "I was forced" to go out a buy a JD 310G Backhoe so I could dig a pond. Awww rats. Now the wife wants to paint it pink and make it hers but that is another story.The thing is, your needs and requirements change as you progress. I am still satisfied with getting a Victor Journeyman Pro HD rig with the biggest owner size bottles I could get. I would not have been happy now with what I originally looked at. I just want another set of bottles now, that is all.Last edited by chuckhole; 04-22-2013 at 02:18 PM.Reason: grammer