advice on hobbyist O/A outfit

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I'm looking for advice on buying an O/A outfit for my metalworking hobby (yeah, I know , another one). I learned the basics of O/A and stick as a teenager but I'm returning twenty-ummm-something years later with some books (a 1950's edition of The Oxy-Acetylene Handbook, the Lindsay reprint of Aircraft Welding, a few of the recent ones) and enthusiasm The LWS handles primarily Victor and is steering me toward the Super Range II kit. The 100FC handle seems to be one of the smaller ones and includes flashback arrestors but the included tips seem large, so I'd buy smaller, and I don't need 25' of hose in my garage.  I'd rather buy from the LWS but on the other hand, I've read good things about Smith Equipment here and on other forums and for the light stuff I'm doing I wonder if assembling a kit around the AW1A might not be better, but more costly. Also, the Smith equipment has "lifetime" warranty vs. five years for Victor but unless I use it as a hammer, I can't see how it would matter.Now, second question, LWS also limits customer-owned cylinders to 80cu ft. oxygen and 60cu ft. acetylene. Small enough to still lift  but are they reasonable size for evenings and weekends or am I setting myself up to run out half-way into a project and waiting until Monday to refill?Thanks.Last edited by rlonstein; 05-12-2010 at 05:44 PM.
Reply:I have seen some people use a Victor torch for a hammer. Make a cut and knock the piece off with the cutting head.  The torches stood up to it better than you would think. When you would suggest that they learn how to make a cut they would usually get mad and tell you to buzz off or something to that effect. The Victor out in the garage is 31 years old and it has been used a LOT. It used to spend every day on my rig. Never did anything except change some O-rings on the cutting head and the washer on the cutting air valve a couple of times. Other than that I've had to replace 1 acetylene valve on the mixing barrel.A lot of people on this forum like Smith but I have never used one and in all my years welding never ran into anyone that did. This is pretty much a Victor world around here so I can't give an opinion about Smith.My LWS will let me grab an extra bottle to prevent running out and just return the other bottle when it is empty. You might arrange the same deal with your supplier.Last edited by Oldtimer; 05-12-2010 at 07:19 PM.
Reply:I have the Victor firepower and have since bought many tips in addition to the couple supplied.I use it a lot!! Me like.I got mine on Ebay I think for like $150.Lincoln PowerMig 180cVictor O/ABandaids and aspirinI don't know what I don't know!?
Reply:We just picked up the Harbor Freight set on sale for $99 after watching the Youtube video review that put it slightly ahead of the Victors being sold today. Hope to get the cutting gas set up this weekend.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brhsHH_yqHk[/ame]
Reply:Originally Posted by Gale HawkinsWe just picked up the Harbor Freight set on sale for $99 after watching the Youtube video review that put it slightly ahead of the Victors being sold today. Hope to get the cutting gas set up this weekend.
Reply:I will post back when we get it set up.I think you did not pay enough for the HF 90 amp flux core wire welder. We paid $109 for the same welder and it is impressive. Having it on a 30 amp outlet insures we meet the 120v/24amp power requirements stamped on the box/manual so that may be a plus in our satifaction. The fact our 12 year old kids used it to run a stringer with success on the first try points out how easy a wire welder is to start using. Now making welds that past a cut/bend test is another thing.however.I am going to buy the $10 300 amp grounding clamp from TSC when they come in because I noticed it sparked a few times at the ground clamp when trying to weld on a really rusty old used metal fence post. I did not know a wire welder would even weld on old rusty metal like a stick welder.I have a roll of Hobart to try next since some report less smoke and splatter than with Lincoln wire.Last edited by Gale Hawkins; 05-13-2010 at 12:49 PM.
Reply:I bought the Victor kit and Q-size cylinders. Liking it quite a bit  May need to get some really small tips, 0 and 00 but I'm busy practicing with what I have.
Reply:I guess I should have asked before. What kind of work did you want to do with the torch?
Reply:Glad you're enjoying the new tools.Is there any evidence (stickers, markings, included literature) that illuminates where the stuff is actually made?In my shop at work, we spend extra time and $$ trying to buy USA stuff just because, and more often than not a lot of the stuff we buy that we assume is USA made comes in with markings saying it's made in China or India, etc. These companies used to be all USA and much or all of their stuff is imported now. The quality is fine and they probably inspect the stuff before shipping, but we were trying to support the local job market and all that. We've found that it's really hard to do these days. The latest example was a Jacobs drill chuck, but the list is very long. Fortunately, some stuff is actually still made in the USA so we haven't shipped all of it away yet.Anyway, not trying to start a rant tangent on this thread. I was just curious.
Reply:Originally Posted by tyrone shewlacesGlad you're enjoying the new tools.Is there any evidence (stickers, markings, included literature) that illuminates where the stuff is actually made?
Reply:Originally Posted by makoman1860I guess I should have asked before. What kind of work did you want to do with the torch?
Reply:Your LWS dudes are a bunch of crapheads.Limiting owner bottles to 80cf and 60cf"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammYour LWS dudes are a bunch of crapheads.Limiting owner bottles to 80cf and 60cf
Reply:"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/