Cutting Torch Opinions

Sure hope ya get to register Rudi, knowledge is power. I learned to OX/Acet weld in College. MOO U ya know. Whow ! and it was a college then too not a University. I had a Japanese fella as a prof. Man he was tough. He welded in a Japanese aircraft factory in WWII . The things he taught,I still have today,althought Im rusty it all comes back when I fire up the torches.
Good LUCK
Roger

thanks don mccombs for that SAFETY bulletin --never too old to learn or at least bring back to mind

Mike, where I come from we called Mich. State 'moo U'. My nephew and niece went there, but pretty sure they never learned welding.... Both of my grandfathers were welders and I know less than zero, but surely wish I had enough sense back then to ask the one I knew to teach me.

in excitement to get new tools I overlooked the most important tool of all,ventilation. Unless you have the good fortune to be blessed with good weather and can use the torch,welder or plasma cutter you need to invest in some sort of ventilation/filter.
When cutting metal with a torch you use the oxygen to blow away the molten metal.You don't notice it right away and it's not as bad with a torch but you're filling the space around you with microscopic pieces of metal. It is much worse with a plasma cutter.You'll notice a few days after you use the torch that everything inside is covered with a gray dust. Add a little humidity and you'll start to see rust.
A lot of fabrication shops have a table set up so that they are cutting over a tray of water to capture some of this "dust".So ventilation and a good fire extinguisher!! Now burn some metal!

I just remembered if possible look into the inline flash suppressors , it's very easy to get your lines tangled up in your work, something about an ounce of prevention.

Decided to revisit this thread cause it is so interesting and of course -- since I have been on my basic welding course I am learning just enough to be dangerous I don't think I have taken a course that has impressed me as much nor kept my interest at such a high level since I first took my Architectural Design Tech course back in the early - very early 70's. This is one of those courses where you cannot wait to go and dread the end of the course each evening. We are halfway through our 30 hour program and I have to admit, I have learned so much.. and we are only touching the surface. I already know that I want to take the advanced course down the road after I get some decent fabrication practice under my belt. So far I am pleased and my instructor is pleased with my progress. I hope it continues. Did I mention I really am enjoying this course



Thought I would share a little of what I learned and what I have acquired since I started my course.

In another thread I asked for opinions on different torch setups and who preferred what. Got some interesting and I guess rather expected results. I added that to my cranial library and then played with a couple sets at school. By far my favourite from the outset had to be the Victor torches. I haven't gotten to the Harris as they do not have a set of those, but I did get to play for an evening with the Smith set. It became rather clear to me immediately and as the next 3 hours passed -- frustration piling upon frustration that I really did not like the Smith torches at all. Just not for me. Way too finicky and way to touchy on the valves. That may be primarily a cause of the number of students using the set, so I took that into account. The big kicker had to be the feel of the Smith combination torch. Balance just wasn't there. Hand fatigue set in rather quickly. Compared to the Victor torches the Smith set just did not cut the mustard.

I set in my mind that I would try to find a set of Victor's or at the least a decent quality level of Victor Style torches. So I started scanning my local Kijiji. Boy is that an under utilized venue A number of hits after an initial search led me to a set that intrigued me. So I did the research on them. This is the set I ended up buying.



These are original Union Carbide/Linde torches -- one is a dedicated cutting torch the other is a brazing torch. Blew me away when I saw them cause they were advertised for $75.00. I looked them up on the net .. Purox Type E Torches - and found out that these are still being made today -PUROX® Type "E" Cutting Torch and that they are one of the best on the market -- made by ESAB. My instructor was just blown away as these are the same class of torches he apprenticed with. Oh -- they are NOS -- never have been used.

I ended up with a cutting nozzle and one set of regulators for them, so I only have to buy a few things. I wanted about 50 feet of hoses, so those are on the list along with a new striker and another set of regulators. Flash suppressors are also on the list -- I guess I need two sets now as these are dedicated torches. I wasn't sure about getting dedicated but -- I guess this is the best way to go if you can. Combination torches like anything else that combines 2 uses into one tool is a compromise.. (as we learned in class) so maybe this is a bit better. I know I certainly could not have afforded dedicated torches on their own if I had to buy them new or even at normal used prices.

Oh, and no.. these are as cool as can be. I checked.

One of the other things I learned .. is safety. Proper setup up is critical and the correct fittings, regulators, hoses and suppressors are essential. Ventilation is also an essential ingredient in playing with flame. Acetylene gives off a lot of carbon .. C2H2 - even when set correctly. There is off-gassing and particulates to be concerned with (especially if like me you suffer from some form of PF or COPD or both) so ventilation is critical. Wearing a respirator is a wise thing especially if you are compromised. So.. now one of my searches will have to be for a comfortable yet safe respirator. I may end up using one similar to my finishing respirator - but with appropriate cartridges. The other item will have to be a respirator that will fit nicely under my Auto-Darkening helmet for the other welders.

Rudi you may want to get just 24 ft or so of hose and use a dolly, you loose a lot of air and gas in long hoses when you cut them on and off. Just a thought.
Nice find by the way.
Boss

Rudi you may want to get just 24 ft or so of hose and use a dolly, you loose a lot of air and gas in long hoses when you cut them on and off. Just a thought.
Nice find by the way.
Boss

Rudi
I agree with Boss, wastes a lot of gas = $'s
Dave

Thanks guys... that is the kind of experienced opinions that are needed. I will probably go with the 25 footer package.

Years ago I worked a a welding supply store a customer comes in with his new used torch set up which looked really nice just one large problem seems they were former rail road company torches the Rail Roads had such a large problem with theft of torches that they had them custom made to their specs meaning all fittings had the reverse threads and parts were only available to the rail road this guys set was useless but pretty ,,,,,,,, just thought Id pass that on probably not likely that anyone would come across old railroad torches but ya never know, also thought it might be an interesting story just to pass on..

I believe I see Southern RR on them

David:

They actually came from St John Ship Building (which is where our City Class Frigates were built along with our MCDV's including the HMCS Moncton which I helped bring to Shediac for it's Commissioning) and kinda has a connection to me and my two oldest from their Sea Cadet days at RCSCC 122 Moncton. They both are growed now and live in St John with a nice view of the former shipyard ... . Course the Irvings also own NB Southern Rail Road.

When it comes to stuff like that our local CN shops (they were closed back in 1982 in favour of moving the shops to Quebec -- oh no.. I won't go there ) - and still today many a tractor, pickmeup and other items can be seen carrying the distinctive CN Orange paint job much like EZ's CN Cub. Back home in Timmins - stuff like that was called hy-grading as it was a practice sometimes take up by the same folks who liked to hy-grade gold out of the mines

Rudi
I don't know if ya can lease your bottles up there but I think it was the best deal for me. I only pay for the gas I use. When Empty I return them,pick up another set of fulls. I own the torches. My hoses are just 25 foot ,thats a plenty. I also went with a Bottle cart ( spoke bicycle wheels) from Harbor Freight. GOOD investment. I still weld alot of things with Acetylene.