oxyacetalyne kit

[97ranger22bronco]

I'm looking at getting an oxyacetalyne kit to have; I'm not familiar with them as with welders, any recommendations from anyone would be welcome.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Don’t buy a cheap one, lol. Get something that at least takes Victor or Harris parts if not one of those two brands. Cutting tips and welding tips can get worn out or damaged and those two brands are the ones it’s easy to find replacement parts for.

All of my junk is old. Dad gave me an old Sears Craftsman set he had, that was my first torch set. Still works great but parts are getting hard to come by. It has the convertible torch so you can use it for cutting or welding with acetylene. My big torch set is set up for cutting only, forget the brand of the torch but the regulators are old AirCo that I had rebuilt years ago. Make sure you shut the tanks off, crack the valves on the torch to bleed off pressure, then back the adjusters off on the regulators when you are done with the torch, keeps the diaphragms from getting worn out that way.

For just heating and cutting you can use propane and oxygen (or I’ve even seen shops run compressed air if they have a big enough compressor). For welding you have to use acetylene and oxygen though.

 

[97ranger22bronco]

I'm looking at this one maybe? https://harrisweldingsupplies.com/h...-duty-ironworker-acetylene-torch-kit-4400367/

 

[superj]

i like oxy-act welding. welds look like hte metal was never cut

 

[scotts90ranger]

I would recommend starting used, tanks and everything add up quick, that looks like a decent kit but I got two tanks with cart, hoses and two sets of regulators and everything for $150 used, see them at auctions for $200 fairly regularly...

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'm looking at this one maybe? https://harrisweldingsupplies.com/h...-duty-ironworker-acetylene-torch-kit-4400367/

That’s definitely a nice kit

 

[Shran]

Personally I like Victor because that's what I have but Harris is good too.

First advice I'll give you is figure out if you'll ever use a rosebud tip or not. If so, you will need larger bottles than you would for cutting or welding. I'd talk to your local welding supply place, they can tell you what size bottles you need based on your equipment.

Second - buy some flashback arrestors regardless of what kit you buy. They will keep your regulators alive longer.

Third - nothing wrong with buying used torches, tips, etc as long as they are in good shape but regulators do wear out over time. I'd be hesitant to pay very much for a really old set of regulators that probably need a rebuild. Hoses... same deal...

Fourth - buy hoses that are way longer than you think you need, I started out with a 25' hose and it was never long enough.

 

[holyford86]

As previously stated, lightly used and name brand is smart. I picked up a small Victor torch and regulator set that were unused as surplus from a vocational tech school for a reasonable price. Got a 40 cubic foot oxygen and 35 cubic foot acetylene tank from a friend on a "you can borrow them as long as you need but I'll never need them again" sort of deal.

I don't have a garage so I have them set up with quick connects on the hoses so I can break them all down and carry them quite easily or load them in the truck and take them with me without needing assistance, which is nice. The bulk of what I use them for is heating, brazing, and a small amount of cutting so the tanks last a long time.

There are some off brands that use consumables from major manufacturers as well, (I believe harbor freight does this) so if you're buying new that may be an option as well, just do your research.

 

[Shran]

Oh yeah... quick connects... if you get those, buy twice as many as you think you need in case your supplier switches brands or they get discontinued. I got a set of Hansen quick connects with my torch and recently wanted a second set for a smaller torch I got - those things are SPENDY and very hard to find - Zoro carries them but virtually nowhere else. Just the male ends for the torch were like $20 each. I have more invested in quick connects than I do the torch itself.

 

[holyford86]

Oh yeah... quick connects... if you get those, buy twice as many as you think you need in case your supplier switches brands or they get discontinued. I got a set of Hansen quick connects with my torch and recently wanted a second set for a smaller torch I got - those things are SPENDY and very hard to find - Zoro carries them but virtually nowhere else. Just the male ends for the torch were like $20 each. I have more invested in quick connects than I do the torch itself.

I bought a kit off ebay, I think I paid about 50 bucks, can't remember the brand but were US made. I have similar on my welder, that's where I got the idea from, quite handy to have.

 

[97ranger22bronco]

I would recommend starting used, tanks and everything add up quick, that looks like a decent kit but I got two tanks with cart, hoses and two sets of regulators and everything for $150 used, see them at auctions for $200 fairly regularly...

They're $500 ish in DFW area for used