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Anyone know there way around O/A torch brands?

M

Mcgyver

Ultra Member
My torch is driving my crazy, well not sure if its the torch or the regulators. You'll get the flame set and then it keeps changing, constantly needs adjustment which is hard/impossible to do when you're concentrating on the braze. Just messed a silver solder job and I've it with this POS.

It was bought probably 45 years ago as a kit, and probably because it was cheap cause I was poor, er, poorer. My thought is that's the problem, cheap crap. It's Uniweld so I go looking online looking for something better ..... wait a sec, Uniweld doesn't look like cheap crap! It's kind of expensive.

The branding is slightly weird .... did Uniweld once have a cheap crap entry line? Embarrassed at how dirty they, the regs are clearly Uniweld.

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On the torch though these is sticker that says uniweld

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No Uniweld logo but there is this cast in shark logo. I internet doesn't think Uniweld ever used a shark logo


torch 20250531_164824-1300x1300.jpg



If it was the full Uniweld brand, why a sticker, why a shark, why not Uniweld logo? Someone on a welding forum mention Uniweld was a knock of Victor, so do I have a the cheap crappy knock off of a cheap crappy knock off?

Bottom line, is the quality of my torch and regulator the problem and if so what should be looking for?

thanks
 

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After 45 years it may not be a question of quality it might be that all you need is a tuneup!

I’m no expert on OE gear but if it has lasted 45 years then it must be pretty good, good enough to invest a little in. You might be surprised at the result.

I sent my Liquid Air/Purox torch in to the local torch & regulator shop and it came back working like new and nicely glass beaded to boot. I don’t recall the price but what I do remember is that it wasn’t much and it was well worth it.

Instead of popping for a new rig you might find you have better gear than you can buy new today with all the race to the bottom “improvements”.

D :cool:
 
It's lasted 45 years but I don't think it was ever a great one, that's 45 years in my garage with low duty cycle. I'm going to ask our Messer Rep tomorrow if knows the story behind that version of uniweld (with a shark and stick on name badge) and if its worth doing anything with.
 
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I run oxy-propane for the most part. I have a smaller oxy-acet rig I inherited which is nice for finer work. As others have mentioned the torch handles can get loose after using them awhile and it's annoying when you bump them. I want to say mine are Harris but I'd have to look.
 
It's quite likely there is a "premium" and "not so premium" line of kits from Uniweld...lots of companies do it.
At 45 yrs of home-gamer use though...I'd say you've done alright, really.
I have an older Smith torch, got it from an estate sale years ago.
Turns out, at some point, Miller bought them up. Perhaps to add a value line to their offerings?
I learned this, while researching and shopping for the needed tip to run it on propane.
Bit of a head scratcher to deduce, the guy @ my local Praxair was like "I don't think I've seen one of these for a while now, with those lead seals" Not confidence inspiring lol. But we were able to order the right one in.
Sadly, this unit seems to be a tickle out dated. I can't find a reasonably priced rosebud or even a brazing tip for it.
Again, those lead seals might be the culprit to availability...
 
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I have been a welder for 50 years ,,,, oxy-acetylene is ok for some things like sheet metal FYI you can't use steel TIG wire for o/a ,,, it has to be o/a wire and opposite is true for TIG you need to use triple deoxidized stee wire ,,, to the point oxy-acetylene is like a bomb literally ,,, if the equipment is giving you trouble either have it serviced or scrap it ,,, and know the safety ,,,,weird things can happen
 
I recently gave up my TIG and reverted back to a gas torch. I just didn't do enough to justify the TIG setup. I have a very old VICTOR J series light duty torch that I had refurbished and that I have set up for both Oxy/ Acetylene and Oxy/Propane. It's very versatile for soldering, brazing, heat treating, general heating and the occasional light duty weld. It works for me.!
 
Does it do it with a full tank? Sometimes high pressure regulators are not the greatest on the low side. Gauge shows a couple hundred PSI, but that could be off a bit, and I've had torches act pretty funny with low Oxy before. They will light fine and act normal, but then flutter and flicker, flame changes, then act fine again. It's now the first thing I check, and it's always the tank getting low, but still showing a few hundred PSI on the reg. Theoretically it should still be fine, but...
 
Looked at the Victor journey man and decided to live with it for the time being. :) I don't use it enough warrant spending big bucks on a new quality one. Shop is so crowded torching cutting is out (too dangerous spraying hot material everywhere) and even welding, its so constricted doing it at work is a lot easier
 
We had these at school in the Oxy/ace lab and they were very nice for welding/brazing.

https://canadaweldingsupply.ca/coll...tachments/products/victor-wh411c-torch-handle

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Very compact and comfy in the hand. $268 isn't terrible, but not enough to justify over my current Victor 100 series for what is basically just a plastic handle over top.

There was a dillon/henrob on marketplace recently that looked very tempting. Have always read they are the epitome of welding torches, but it didn't last long. Edit: Nevermind, just found it https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...place_top_picks&referral_story_type=top_picks
 
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