Oxy Acetylene

[bitternut]

What is a good brand of oxy acetylene gages and torch for the home shop? I need something for occasional heating, bending or cutting. Should newer types with check valves be a priority or are older style used items without checks worth getting? I don't have a plasma cutter yet but plan on getting one sometime in the future which would handle cutting light stuff. I see lots of kits in plastic cases advertised or on shelves but don't know a good set from a bad one. Any help would be appreciated.

[Bob]

Purely an amature opinion: I bought a Sears set about 20 years ago, came with check valves, cutting attachment. Torch has a pilot light feature that will keep it lit and preserve valve settings so you can stop and restart without readjusting.
I am a light user and keep everything inside the house for the long spells it is not in use. Still works like new.
I would avoid any cheapy set ... I got one of those first and returned it almost immediately.
Do some window shopping at a "welding store" (as opposed to Home Depot, etc). Try Praxair, Airgas, and such ... ask lots of questions.
Bob

[Dave Haak]

bitternut,

You should be able to add check valves to just about any set. You can put them between the torch body and the hoses, between the hoses and the regulators or both....Here come the opinions.

Dave

[cope]

Depends on what is popular in your neck of the woods. In Texas, Victor is king. Other parts of the country something else. Victor, Harris, Smith, are all good quality. Most of Sears is made by Harris.

[WildBill]

I have a victor solid body cutting torch which i love and a 315fc victor torch body with many tips and i love that 2 , my voye is for victor and dont skimp on the regs i learned the hard way.

[Stu Bass]

oxy acetylene

Bitternut: I work in the heavy construction trade and we use mostly Smith & Victor gauges and tortches . It's personnal preferance really I like victor myself. Blow backs(or check valves) are a must. Any weld shop should have these. In the Mi. const. trades OSHA requires them Either on the gauges or head or both is better. Seen to many people hurt without these. Also I would be very careful buying such used equip. unless you are familiar with it. If they have to be rebuilt what have you gained? Stu

[Sberry]

I seem to favor Victors also. I too use the Journymans but the Rangers are nice too. I dont much care which regs I use but Victor was running a special a while ago, 75 a peice trade ins and I offed an old one for a new oxy and was going to do one acyt but didnt. I like the cut bodies for field work and thats what I use on trucks and a combo in shop. Linde is good too as well as Smiths but I dont care for Smiths tip seats as much or the feater flame, the seats seem to be damaged easy. I like Victor tips and the flame characteristics best. I think for small home I would go for a Victor Ranger set. Never obsolete.

[Stu Bass]

sberry27

sberry27: I agree with you esp. on the smith's. I really like the feel of the Victor combo. I've used from the rose bud to the 00's with this tortch and hardly ever had any problems.I've got a half dozen sets and I think they are one of the best all around. Little more exp. than some but worth it in quality. Stu

[cope]

Re: sberry27

Originally posted by Stu Bass
sberry27: I agree with you esp. on the smith's. I really like the feel of the Victor combo. I've used from the rose bud to the 00's with this tortch and hardly ever had any problems.I've got a half dozen sets and I think they are one of the best all around. Little more exp. than some but worth it in quality. Stu

Stu, Victor may be more expensive (we don't see much else in Texas) but replacement tips are sure cheaper than other brands.

[Sberry]

I see we dont get many gas axe questions here. I was really starting to feel like a dummy after reading from some of these guys for a while. Just when you think you know a litle about it you can find out you know nuttin. ha

[DaveD]

I have what was a top of the line Craftsman set from 40+ years ago that my buddy and I bought new as a teenager. It has two stage regulators. So the question now is.... are all gauges/regulators two stage today and is it something that the buyer should be aware of (el cheapo ones single stage today?)?

For my home hobbyist work they still work well today.

[cope]

DaveD, My old Craftsman were two stage also. Not necessary for a home user, but for production pr idustrial use it sure helps because the pressure is much more stable. Most DIY store sets are single stage; two stage does cost more, but you can buy good once or cheap several times. I lucked into a set of Victor two stage reconditioned over 20 years ago and they are still working fine.

[Sberry]

Most all the newer ones are single stage today. No one wants to pay the price for doubles and theyre really used on manfold systems or where pressure consistancy is critical. I have a set or 2 of doubles but mostly singles. The main thing for reg saftey is NO OIL and stand beside them when opening tank valves, especially on hi pressure like oxy and open valves SLOWLY.

[Stu Bass]

oxy-acetylene

DaveD: Sounds like a good set of gauges. 40+years. If you're nervous about the age look into a rebuild job and keep what you have. If you don't have blow backs,you should get some. Like sberry says open slowly,no oil,good advice. I would stay away from the cheapo's if your like me you won't be satified knowing you have a second class piece of equip. Stu

[bitternut]

Thanks guys for the replies and your help. I think I will be looking for a Victor Ranger or its equivalent in a Harris. If I find a used set I will be sure that I try them out first. It appears from some of the comments that if I purchase a good set they will last for many years, but I guess that is true with most things. I will be looking for quality.

You guys are definitely right about standing off to the side when cracking open the valves. I have never seen one that blew but you hear about it quite a bit.