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Gas welding kit advice?

Arbutus

Arbutus

Ultra Member
Premium Member
This is for small machine parts: steel, brass and bronze. I'm not likely to be oxy-cutting, but I do braze and silver solder occasionally. In the past I have used a 00 tip which seems about right.

I've been looking at full size welding outfits and they are just too much for what I need. Both the cost and the size. Propane also seems to be a good option vs. acetylene.

If I was looking for a good used torch, hose, regulators and a small oxygen tank, what should I be looking for, and what should I steer away from?

:)
 
Would a plumber's set up work for you? A B Tank I think (50 cu ft) of acetylane. There is already a thread on here about the cost of gas. I have the small oxy/acetylene torches. Last time to fill them both I think was about $150. Saving grace is I only do that once every few years. I save on the contract fee.
There are these too . I have no experience with them. A general search gives lots of options. Others with more experience will chime in.

Good luck.
 
ShawnR said:
There are these too .
Click to expand...

I have a set of those. I rarely use them as I have OA with full, size tanks and torch.

When I do use them, they work great. But there is a huge problem brewing. You can't get real mapp gas anymore. Apparently they closed the only plant that makes it. I've heard that folks are working on a suitable replacement gas but its a big IF last time I looked.
 
Stay away from a small oxygen tank as it won't last long and you'll spend the difference in purchase price filling it all the time.

Propane is a good option (especially if you have a propane BBQ) cuz you can swap them just about anywhere, just about anytime.

If you're not in a hurry you can usually find an oxygen tank on Kijiji 80-125cuft for $100-$200.

Occasionally a whole torch/tank/regulator setup will come up for cheap.

As long as you get a name brand torch/regulators you should be able to find parts when needed. I would stay away from the princess auto type stuff.
 
Jswain said:
As long as you get a name brand torch/regulators you should be able to find parts when needed. I would stay away from the princess auto type stuff.
Click to expand...
Agreed, I have a Harris set of torches. I needed new hoses and I wanted some different tips, so I bought a Harris stye kit. It was a POS and nothing was even close to being Harris or interchangeable. I think I gave them away......
 
Arbutus said:
This is for small machine parts: steel, brass and bronze. I'm not likely to be oxy-cutting, but I do braze and silver solder occasionally. In the past I have used a 00 tip which seems about right.

I've been looking at full size welding outfits and they are just too much for what I need. Both the cost and the size. Propane also seems to be a good option vs. acetylene.

If I was looking for a good used torch, hose, regulators and a small oxygen tank, what should I be looking for, and what should I steer away from?

:)
Click to expand...
I went back to gas welding. I found a Victor J series torch (small) on Market Place with a full set of acetylene tips. The previous owner used it to braze microwave radio wave guide and only ever used one tip. I have a cart with O2, propane and a B tank of acetylene. I have quick connects on the propane and acetylene bottles so I can swap the hose to Acetylene if I need welding heat. I did have to buy a set of Propane tips. Acetylene tips do not work on Propane. Propane works great for soldering, silver soldering, brazing and heating. I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post.
 
Victor torches are usually pretty easy to find used, especially full sized torches. The smaller 250/medium duty stuff is a little more difficult to find used, parts are harder and more expensive to find as well, new or used, just less common.

you can modify a standard welding tip for propane use by drilling a small recess into the end of the tip, kind of like a dish, it came up in a thread here a while back. I did it, it does work....you of course need a different tip for cutting and heating though. (with propane as opposed to act)

As for actually welding with propane (not just brazing/soldering), technically no (according to everything ever written in a text book), some say you can, I dont know if it makes something that looks like a weld but is actually sh!t inside, ive never tested it, Ill go with what the books say. Acetylene is much nicer to use anyhow, so if you intend to weld, just run act

Did i mention i have a distain for gas welding ? i did gas welding and brazing 4 hours a day for 2 months when i was in college, it really makes you appreciate tig...It still amazes me they used to gas weld pipelines...dont sign me up
 
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