Arc Captain, RX Weld, or?

[Roert42]

I've had good luck with a no name plasma cutter myself. Some random $100 plasma cutter from Amazon.

The consumables are shit, but the power is decent and it's never given me any issues.


A plasma cutter is also a lot different then a torch rig. Technology wise.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Do more research on what you have. Take the torch handles to the local weldings store, or like I did, to Princess Auto (harbor freight or equivalent) and compare what's on the shelves to what you own. That might save you a bunch of money.
And ask ChatGPT about what fits, load pics and ask it. You can't trust it but I find it gives me directions to search.

The torches that I have that are functional, only the Craftsman has interchangeable heads. The torches on my shed set and my shop set are cutting only, so no way to use a rosebud with those. The midget set isn’t worth trying to find a rosebud for, it’s too small of a torch for most of what I do (it’s intended for the little portable sets).

The other couple torches I have either have leaking valves and/or parts are not available anymore. There’s one or two cutting only and one welding only.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I've had good luck with a no name plasma cutter myself. Some random $100 plasma cutter from Amazon.

The consumables are shit, but the power is decent and it's never given me any issues.


A plasma cutter is also a lot different then a torch rig. Technology wise.

I’m definitely not giving up the torch because it’s pretty versatile but it would be nice to move to a plasma for general cutting and save the torch gas for things a plasma can’t do. I have looked at those cheap Amazon ones a couple times, lol

 

[Roert42]

I’m definitely not giving up the torch because it’s pretty versatile but it would be nice to move to a plasma for general cutting and save the torch gas for things a plasma can’t do. I have looked at those cheap Amazon ones a couple times, lol

I don't use mine every day, but it works well when I do use it. I think we bough it about 6 or 7 years ago for cutting stainless.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I bought a pilot arc plasma cutter last summer for working on my trailer. Also bought the rosebud for the same job. I wish I had bought a drag type plasma as I couldn't get the head of the pilot arc very close to inside corners. About 1" away was the best. That is because of the metal shield that holds the arc away from the metal. The drag arc makes an electrical connection by... wait for it... dragging the tip on the metal. The pilot arc uses a seperate ground to start the arc. But the drag tip will go thru more consumables, so that's the trade off. If your cutting flat plate mainly the pilot arc is good. If you need to get into corners then drag is better.

This is an assumption on my part as I've never used drag tip.

 

[ForgedCrank]

So I have three torch sets now, plus two sets of gauges and a couple antique torch heads.

Not one of my three sets has a rosebud heating tip. I have an old Craftsman set that has the interchangeable heads but it’s just a cutting head and a welding head with three or four tips. That was dad’s original set. I don’t know if there’s an option for a Rosebud with it. The other two torch sets I have are cutting torch only. The antique stuff I have is another cutting head or two and a welding head plus a midget torch set.

Came across both an Arc Captain torch set and one by RX Weld that has a cutting head, welding head and rosebud for a reasonable price. RX Weld doesn’t seem to have a website. Arc Captains site is… klunky. Both appear to be Victor-ish? Google AI claims they both work with Victor tips and stuff but I can’t find confirmation. If they accept Victor parts it makes any concern over getting replacement tips a non-issue.

Or should I just bite the bullet and buy a Victor, Harris, or Smith rosebud torch?

Its more spendy, but you can't lose buying Victor if it's a tool you use more than occasionally. There will always be replacement parts and accessories that work. Not to mention, it's the baseline, so knockoff nozzles and stuff are usually made to fit Victor. You can get a Victor torch, then get knockoff rosebuds for it to save some change. You also know you have a solid torch with valves that'll never let you down. If it's something you use once a year, then maybe consider the cheap stuff... but I've never used anything but Victor so I dunno how well they work.
I see them on craigslist on occasion so if time is on your side, start lurking.
Anyway that's my two cents worth

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Its more spendy, but you can't lose buying Victor if it's a tool you use more than occasionally. There will always be replacement parts and accessories that work. Not to mention, it's the baseline, so knockoff nozzles and stuff are usually made to fit Victor. You can get a Victor torch, then get knockoff rosebuds for it to save some change. You also know you have a solid torch with valves that'll never let you down. If it's something you use once a year, then maybe consider the cheap stuff... but I've never used anything but Victor so I dunno how well they work.
I see them on craigslist on occasion so if time is on your side, start lurking.
Anyway that's my two cents worth

Yeah, I know, quality is worth the cost.

Around here is frustrating, the torch stuff I’ve bought I’ve gotten when I went to buy something else from someone and they hadn’t got around to listing the torch stuff for sale so I got a deal. Most of the stuff that does get listed people want dumb money for. They will have an old torch set with empty/expired tanks and still be demanding $3-500 for it.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I bought a pilot arc plasma cutter last summer for working on my trailer. Also bought the rosebud for the same job. I wish I had bought a drag type plasma as I couldn't get the head of the pilot arc very close to inside corners. About 1" away was the best. That is because of the metal shield that holds the arc away from the metal. The drag arc makes an electrical connection by... wait for it... dragging the tip on the metal. The pilot arc uses a seperate ground to start the arc. But the drag tip will go thru more consumables, so that's the trade off. If your cutting flat plate mainly the pilot arc is good. If you need to get into corners then drag is better.

This is an assumption on my part as I've never used drag tip.

There's scratch start (basically works like arc/stick welding) and pilot arc, you can take the metal guide off your tip, that doesn't matter. The pilot arc just strikes the arc with a burst of high voltage. They do make drag tips but they do the same thing as the guide that's clipped to your ceramic insulator thing, you just want 1/16" or so gap from the nozzle to the material so it doesn't splash back and ruin the consumables...

I don't know what parts I have, I just know I have a couple extra torches, likely Victor or copies, I think I just have the one rosebud so no extras of that but I can verify what I have that fits Victor tips. The trick will be finding everything, I know there's a spare set of hoses hanging in the shop with a torch and I'm pretty sure I know where the box of spares that came with my torch set is in the garage...

 

[scotts90ranger]

Ok, the box of stuff was where I thought it was, there was an extra Victor style generic torch handle with check valves (were actually two stacked for some reason but the ones on my setup didn't have any? no idea... I'll add the extras to mine), has a UL sticker with 142T label and such but no brand marking so generic... but there were two rosebuds too... I'll send a PM...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ok, the box of stuff was where I thought it was, there was an extra Victor style generic torch handle with check valves (were actually two stacked for some reason but the ones on my setup didn't have any? no idea... I'll add the extras to mine), has a UL sticker with 142T label and such but no brand marking so generic... but there were two rosebuds too... I'll send a PM...

Got it, I’m out of town at the moment, let me get back to you when I’m home or have an extra bit of time

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Ok, the box of stuff was where I thought it was, there was an extra Victor style generic torch handle with check valves (were actually two stacked for some reason but the ones on my setup didn't have any? no idea... I'll add the extras to mine), has a UL sticker with 142T label and such but no brand marking so generic... but there were two rosebuds too... I'll send a PM...

So, I was going to get back with you and get the torch. Then I got home to a headache and Monday I tried using my shop torch and it was leaking. Fiddled with it a bit and then decided that I’d probably be better off just getting another torch so I ended up ordering the Arc Captain while it was still on sale. Got here last night so I’ll be testing it today. I appreciate you looking and all.

 

[Shran]

You'll have to let us know what you think of it.

I'm tempted to get a second plasma cutter, one of the $100 Amazon ones just for cutting up junk. My Hobart is usually hooked up to the plasma table and I kinda hate to abuse it. But then I'd need to stock up on more consumables... ugh.

Interesting that y'all have had issues with the Titanium welders. I haven't heard much either way on the Vulcan ones but I bet they're about the same build quality. IMO both of those lines are a huge swing & a miss for Harbor Freight. For what they cost, they need to come with at least a 3 year warranty. Their extended warranty cost pushes the cost up to where a basic "quality" brand welder starts at... too bad people aren't paying attention to that little detail.

I'll admit to owning their little inverter stick welder and the Titanium 125 flux machine but I bought both lightly used for no more than $50 each. Neither has failed me yet but they rarely get used.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

You'll have to let us know what you think of it.

I'm tempted to get a second plasma cutter, one of the $100 Amazon ones just for cutting up junk. My Hobart is usually hooked up to the plasma table and I kinda hate to abuse it. But then I'd need to stock up on more consumables... ugh.

Interesting that y'all have had issues with the Titanium welders. I haven't heard much either way on the Vulcan ones but I bet they're about the same build quality. IMO both of those lines are a huge swing & a miss for Harbor Freight. For what they cost, they need to come with at least a 3 year warranty. Their extended warranty cost pushes the cost up to where a basic "quality" brand welder starts at... too bad people aren't paying attention to that little detail.

I'll admit to owning their little inverter stick welder and the Titanium 125 flux machine but I bought both lightly used for no more than $50 each. Neither has failed me yet but they rarely get used.

Well, I intend to be trying it out this afternoon so we shall see.

Also just realized the owners manual says it’s a “medium duty” but the box and listing says “heavy duty”.

I was kind of thrilled with the Titanium welder because it was super light and compact, like a perfect little welder to take places and do small repairs. But only using slightly more than 1 spool of wire before failing was rather upsetting. Enough so that I bought a used Lincoln WeldPack. Bigger, heavier, but reliable.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Like with everything there's always a lemon... Myself I have 3 Titanium welders and a friend has two (oddly enough I purchased all 5... was at the right place and right time), first was a Unlimited 200 that I paid near full price (early sale when they came out) then found a 175 for $125 on parking lot sale and decided to find out how much abuse it could take and it has been a lot, thousands of road miles, running on a 4kw generator and stalling it multiple times, used in the literal sand dunes... it's bulky so found a 125 for $60 open box last year I think... when I got that 175 there was also a Unlimited 200 for $175 so I bought that too to flip, just sold it straight to my friend and he's been happily using it for like 5 years... then got him a 125 for $80 I think... all of those are working fine, no regrets... doing thin metal with them sucks, the wire speed pulses under 100"/minute but is fine at 105... but hey, I'm able to do stuff...

Since I sent you that I found another torch too with hoses and regs... it's nicer than what I have on my tanks so will probably upgrade myself

 

[Shran]

It's expected that stuff breaks and premature failures happen even with top quality stuff, I just think they need a better warranty included in the price to cover that stuff for at least 3 years. They are doing that with Hercules tools...5 years on those... a 90 day standard warranty is just insulting to me as a buyer. Harbor Freight is literally the last place I would buy a new welder just because of that. I know you can get the extended warranty but that's not the point!