New Oxy-Acetylene Rig - Which One?

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If you had to buy a new oxy-acetyline rig today, what brand and series would you get? I am talking brand new, current manufacture from your LWS or favorite online welding supply - not from eBay, Craig's List, a garage sale or anything like that.
Reply:Smith for the warranty.
Reply:I have Victor for 50 years Dave

Originally Posted by Wolfman

If you had to buy a new oxy-acetyline rig today, what brand and series would you get? I am talking brand new, current manufacture from your LWS or favorite online welding supply - not from eBay, Craig's List, a garage sale or anything like that.
Reply:For welding or cutting?Lincoln 330MPXLincoln Power Mig 256Lincoln LN-25X Wire FeederMagnum PRO 250LX GT Spool GunModified Lincoln 225¼ Ton of Torches OFC-A OFG-AAir Carbon Arc GougingEverlast 62i Plasma CutterIngersoll Rand Type 30 14hpInstagram: #Freebird Welds
Reply:If I was buying a gas rig, it would most likely be just for cutting and heating, in which case I would go with LP gas and this set: https://bakersgas.com/collections/sh...tfit-0384-2142I like the dedicated cutting torch better than the shorter torch body with interchangeable heads. Its easier to slide the long torch like a pool cue when cutting. If I was buying a setup for gas welding  I would go with this https://bakersgas.com/collections/sh...ctor-0384-2101Miller Multimatic 255
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Originally Posted by Freebirdwelds

For welding or cutting?
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Originally Posted by Wolfman

Cutting and heating.
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Originally Posted by Freebirdwelds

I pre heat with propane mostly cause my daughter is a manager at a local propane distributor and I get a good price on it. .
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Originally Posted by Lis2323

I'd you had another daughter managing a liquor store you'd be set!

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Reply:Victor Medalist HD 350 Series.  

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Reply:That is a great torch.I have the older model new in 1970.For cutting I like the ST1900 will cut 19" plate.Dave

Originally Posted by Oscar

Victor Medalist HD 350 Series.
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Originally Posted by Oscar

Victor Medalist HD 350 Series.
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Originally Posted by Wolfman

Made in USA?
Reply:All mind are made in USA. But they over 40 years old too.Dave

Originally Posted by Oscar

doubt it, but it's what I would get.
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Originally Posted by Oscar

Victor Medalist HD 350 Series.
Reply:I have a large Smith set for oxy-propane cutting and heating, and a small Victor set for torch welding,  brazing and cutting.  Even pleased with both.Miller Trailblazer Pro 350DMiller Suitcase MIGMiller Spectrum 2050Miller Syncrowave 250DXLincoln 210MP
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Originally Posted by whtbaron

That's what I've got , but I'm not convinced the new torches have the quality of the ones they built their name on. That being said, 90% of a torch's performance is in a clean well kept, good quality tip matched to the job at hand. If I was going to buy another one today, I'd be tempted to try Smith, but I've never used one.
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Originally Posted by Freebirdwelds

Well then Stick with Harris / Smith or Victor (not a Victor clone).  ...Me, I have mostly Harris and cut up to 4" thick on a weekly basis and they perform fine.
Reply:I suppose there is no actual reason it has to be a kit. It just seems like things are usually cheaper that way. However, I did find this post in a thread from a few years back:"If I needed a torch outfit, I would purchase a set of Harris 25 series regulators. (These are the for F-150 of regulators) and a Smith SC209/WH200A combination torch. The Harris 25 series is the best regulator (Made In USA) for the price on the market"
Reply:Just a heads up on Miller 30 series. They have been downgraded considerably. They are 2/3 the body size. No cast in lettering and no nice cast handle anymore either. The picture above is old but still being used on many ads so don't be surprised when regulators look nothing like the pictures of the actual real 30 series. These are micky mouse in comparison and should not even still be called 30 series more like 20 series. LOL.That said the Miller Smith would still be my choice even with the new downgraded regulators.Those are both genuine Miller/Smith 30 series. The new cheap-o one on the left.  

All Miller/Smith. Oxy/acetylene acquisitions can be addicting.

Last edited by danielplace; 03-31-2022 at 09:57 AM.
Reply:Any of them would work for me. They might have cheaped it some but those prices are realatively cheap compared to what it cost in 1980.   Cost those dollars then.  I cant remember it all but seems Victor changes the name of that smaller set all the time but that is good, same for the Smiths.  Clean cutting tip is bout all I care.  I need to fix up a set of bigger bottles for real heat, last time I did it I use 2 torches.   All my stuff is old, 40 ish and regs going south 1 at a time.  I got nothing against used when its a deal or free but a new set isnt a waste of money7, they last a long time. Not that expensive especially sale set on the mid range for utility work. Most dont really have the use, the bottles to take any advantage of a journeyman set.  Look for and invest in bigger extra bottles if you are going to depend on it.  Good to be able to change out at your convenience, worth the investment.

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Last edited by Sberry; 03-31-2022 at 11:02 AM.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Sure is a lot of expensive suggestion in here.I’m cheap so I got the entry level Victor Performer kit back in 2016 and am happy with it.https://www.amazon.com/0384-2125-Vic.../dp/B07DGLH7B1Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:Looks great 👍. I still 4 Victor torches and all work great best torch on market. Dave

Originally Posted by N2 Welding

Sure is a lot of expensive suggestion in here.I’m cheap so I got the entry level Victor Performer kit back in 2016 and am happy with it.https://www.amazon.com/0384-2125-Vic.../dp/B07DGLH7B1
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Originally Posted by Wolfman

Made in USA?
Reply:My Victor torch is stamp made in the USA.Dave

Originally Posted by JDM Welder

The hose is made in USA. The goggles are made in Taiwan. Everything else is made in China. Funny how they never show you that side of the box.

Originally Posted by smithdoor

My Victor torch is stamp made in the USA.Dave
Reply:My last new one was about 1980.But made in USA.I also have all my Jacob ball bearing chucks made in the USA 🇺🇸 too. Dave

Originally Posted by whtbaron

Only if it's more than 10 yrs old...
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Originally Posted by JDM Welder

The hose is made in USA. The goggles are made in Taiwan. Everything else is made in China. Funny how they never show you that side of the box.
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Originally Posted by Wolfman

I started tracking down the COO of the various parts. The handle and the cutter are both "Peoples Republic of China" and I lost interest after that.There must be some kind of personality defect that I have. I am not a USA tools only person. In my toolboxes there are also German, Swiss, and Japanese (Ko-Ken). I even have quite a few Taiwan made tools that I really like. On the other hand, I can't hardly tolerate a China made tool unless there is no reasonable way around it or I am planning on trashing it.
Reply:Open the cover on any of those machines and you know where the inner components come from, but like you say, there's reasonably good Chinese and there's junk Chinese. I like name brand too, but it's getting hard to avoid when companies like SnapOn are outsourcing from them.The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:Here is my ST-1900  made in the USA 🇺🇸 😀. Dave

Originally Posted by whtbaron

Open the cover on any of those machines and you know where the inner components come from, but like you say, there's reasonably good Chinese and there's junk Chinese. I like name brand too, but it's getting hard to avoid when companies like SnapOn are outsourcing from them.
Reply:I vote for gradually buying quality stuff off craigslist or whatever other classifieds. I personally used Airco products for 10 years in Seattle's shipyards back in the day, so I have collected Airco stuff. But I have some Victor 400 series regulators I use on my pattern torch and I have a Harris machine torch on my Bug-O track burner. Harris is good stuff. Older Victor is good stuff - best valves in the industry. Good parts support.Buy quality and pay for rebuilds as needed. You can save a lot of money buying used. I used to buy and sell O/A gear just because I could. Several times I got a whole set of tanks, torches, hoses, spare tools/tips and all for less than $100. Just the other day someone gave me a pair of Rego regulators. They didn't work and parts aren't available but there's a lot of brass in them. A bucket of brass bits brings do-re-mi at the scrap yard these days what with copper north of $4.50 a pound.metalmagpie
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Originally Posted by metalmagpie

I vote for gradually buying quality stuff off craigslist or whatever other classifieds. I personally used Airco products for 10 years in Seattle's shipyards back in the day, so I have collected Airco stuff. But I have some Victor 400 series regulators I use on my pattern torch and I have a Harris machine torch on my Bug-O track burner. Harris is good stuff. Older Victor is good stuff - best valves in the industry. Good parts support.Buy quality and pay for rebuilds as needed. You can save a lot of money buying used. I used to buy and sell O/A gear just because I could. Several times I got a whole set of tanks, torches, hoses, spare tools/tips and all for less than $100. Just the other day someone gave me a pair of Rego regulators. They didn't work and parts aren't available but there's a lot of brass in them. A bucket of brass bits brings do-re-mi at the scrap yard these days what with copper north of $4.50 a pound.metalmagpie
Reply:I'll 2nd buying used. I've bought at garage sales and Craigslist. I got a hardly used smith set for $50