Oxygen & Acetylene setup advice

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my5thmopar

my5thmopar

Life Long MOPAR Owner
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I'm thinking about adding a torch to my tools. I have mig and stick welders. I've been doing some projects lately that I need to heat and bend steel and bar. It would be nice for the occasional cutting and bolt loosening. I've also had several occasions where mapp gas wasn't hot enough. Any thoughts on the Victor kits? Apparently there are different types of gauges and cylinders. This really would be used infrequently but, I don't want to buy some oddball set. Suggestions please. Craig
 
Don't know what you mean "different types" exactly. There are single and dual stage regulators, and of course the dual stage are more accurate with changing torch/ pressure conditions and larger and more expensive. In my opinion, unless you get really serious with "pro" every day work, single stage gauges are fine.

FOR CERTAIN GET SOME flashback arrestors (check valves) if they are not provided.

Tanks are going to depend on how they are handled in your area. "Most" of us decades ago when I got mine got 80 cf O2 and called them 60 Acet, but I don't thing that's the right term. Whatever is somewhat smaller looking than an 80 O2

If you think you'll use more just buy bigger.

Here I deal with Ox-Arc. A few years ago I feared I was gonna get stuck with tank pressure check fees, so I took my tanks in--even though both had a little gas--to trade them in. They told me they no longer "stick" customers for pressure check fees. So you might want to check into that.

Also "around here" there were some (large tanks) that were such as property of the RR, and if you bought a used tank, you-might-just-get-stuck with a tank which is essentially stolen. So go talk to the local suppliers and find out what you are up against

And Yeh........brand name, and Victor is it for me. Harris is also an old brand. Probably who-deals-what the most in your area is a good guide
 
I’ve got one of those Victor set ups with the small portable tanks and I’ve been using it for 25 or 30 years. Works great. If you use it a lot you might want a bigger tank set up but you can always exchange. The gauges and torch don’t care how big the tanks are
 
Having a welding supplier close by is a good thing when you are in the middle of a project and run out of Oxygen or Acetylene or Both.
They will have the torch sets and the replacement tips and regulators should something go wrong with your setup.
 
I get my gas from a local supplier. All good suggestions and I'll ask them. I said different types because I thought the cylinders had different fittings for the gauges. I was specifically looking at the small portable.
 
my5thmopar said:
I get my gas from a local supplier. All good suggestions and I'll ask them. I said different types because I thought the cylinders had different fittings for the gauges. I was specifically looking at the small portable.
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The really small ones yes. I believe there are 3 different fittings. The "suitcase" tanks acet is one size, the O2 are all the same. There is a larger --I think it's called a "B" acetylene, uses a second type fitting. Most any acet tank that is large enough "for a cart" uses from there on up are the same "larger" fitting. If you have gauges that fit the larger "cart" tanks you can get acet adapters for the other two

I was mostly right LOL: NOTE: The drawing is not to scale, they are not "stubby" these are the ones you have seen.

How to Identify Your Cylinder Fitting CGA Number

acetFITTINGS.jpg
 
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67Dart273 said:
Don't know what you mean "different types" exactly. There are single and dual stage regulators, and of course the dual stage are more accurate with changing torch/ pressure conditions and larger and more expensive. In my opinion, unless you get really serious with "pro" every day work, single stage gauges are fine.

FOR CERTAIN GET SOME flashback arrestors (check valves) if they are not provided.

Tanks are going to depend on how they are handled in your area. "Most" of us decades ago when I got mine got 80 cf O2 and called them 60 Acet, but I don't thing that's the right term. Whatever is somewhat smaller looking than an 80 O2

If you think you'll use more just buy bigger.

Here I deal with Ox-Arc. A few years ago I feared I was gonna get stuck with tank pressure check fees, so I took my tanks in--even though both had a little gas--to trade them in. They told me they no longer "stick" customers for pressure check fees. So you might want to check into that.

Also "around here" there were some (large tanks) that were such as property of the RR, and if you bought a used tank, you-might-just-get-stuck with a tank which is essentially stolen. So go talk to the local suppliers and find out what you are up against

And Yeh........brand name, and Victor is it for me. Harris is also an old brand. Probably who-deals-what the most in your area is a good guide
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Yup, all good info. We used Victor's on the railroad, enough said.
 
Stick with Victor, l bought mine in 1977 and it is ever faithful and dependable.
 
Both victor and harris are good equipment. Buy new not used. If you buy used and it needs to have the torch seats recut so it doesn’t leak you will spend more in the long run. Techs recut the seats by hand with special purpose cutters that look like reamers and it is labor intensive and expensive. Ask me how I know.
 
I'm late enough to this party to have everyone else beat me to it. All the above is sound advice and I agree with the Victor recommendations. Don't scrimp on torches, lines, tips, or anything else. Blowing yourself to kingdom come is a real possibility if you try to cheap out on cutting torch stuff. I agree with Del, get flashbacks for both sides of the torch.
 
my5thmopar said:
I get my gas from a local supplier. All good suggestions and I'll ask them. I said different types because I thought the cylinders had different fittings for the gauges. I was specifically looking at the small portable.
Click to expand...
Our supplier had adapter fittings for my gages to tank as they were different and all is good cost was a couple hundred bucks with adapters and flash back arresters.
 
Well M5M looks like you have a consensus. To have this many guys, from all walks of life, and all across Country, in all kinds of trades all say the same thing “Victor only” settles it. You have been on FABO long enough to know this very rarely happens. We can’t even agree on what kind of free beer is best. Much less music or cams! Go pick you up a set of Victor and move to next thing.
 
I agree with everyone on the Victor setup. Besides the cutting torch and welding tips, I would look into some rosebud tips for heating metal. They are more efficient for the use you referred to.
 
George Jets said:
Having a welding supplier close by is a good thing when you are in the middle of a project and run out of Oxygen or Acetylene or Both.
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It’s nice when they are close but it doesn’t make much difference when you run out on Saturday morning and they are closed until Monday. Happens every time! Learn to turn the tanks off as soon as you are finished or you’ll go through a lot of gas you don’t need to.
 
I bought a new set of Smith gauges with dual stage regulators 25 years ago and have never looked back. I also put anti blow back valves right off the regulators on both the oxygen and acetylene lines. If you want the utmost safety make sure to get a pair of anti blow back valves while you're at it.

Tom
 
The nut with the groove on it is left hand thread and is for fuel only.
 
On gas cost, What I have found is that the really small tanks don’t cost much less than a larger tanks to fill. If you don’t need portability, get the largest (within reason) tanks you can afford. 60-80 cubic feet, as mentioned above are nice hobby garage sizes.
 
One thing no one has hit on is your homeowner's insurance. You might want to make sure in your policy that having torches will not negate coverage if God forbid you have a fire. I only bring it up because I know someone who was in that very unfortunate situation. His entire shop, several customer cars, engines and several of his cars burned to the ground a few years ago. He HAD insurance, but neglected to tell them about his torch setup. Yup. They refused to cover it. Just something to think about.
 
RustyRatRod said:
One thing no one has hit on is your homeowner's insurance. You might want to make sure in your policy that having torches will not negate coverage if God forbid you have a fire. I only bring it up because I know someone who was in that very unfortunate situation. His entire shop, several customer cars, engines and several of his cars burned to the ground a few years ago. He HAD insurance, but neglected to tell them about his torch setup. Yup. They refused to cover it. Just something to think about.
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That's a really good point. I had leased my tanks for 20 yrs and never thought about it. But the insurance company did know I had a barrel stove in my garage and they had no problem with that. My neighbor with other insurance said they couldn't have one. I guess you never know.
 
One thing I find disturbing is the high price of local used torch parts. I occasionally search C/L and attempt to search Phlakebook Marketpharce, and some of what I find is so high priced you might as well go buy new. This is especially true when you add in the possibility of damage by poorly trained users, and just plain wear and tear. Some time back, Ox-Arc had the little Harris suitcase setups on sale complete with full tanks, and I am kicking my *** for not buying one. I tried to get them to trade me for a Victor torch by paying some boot but that did not go over well.
 
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