Oxy acetelyne shopping

[fusername]

So I am shopping for an oxy setup for my dad. He wants to build a smoker/grill out of a old 375 heating oil tank. I suggested, after cleaning, the best way to cut doors, cut-outs etc would most likely be a cutting torch so he told me "fetch". Now I remember looking for one for myself about a year ago and seeing those little portable setups crop up for around 75. Now it looks like I can't find anything under 175 that has a tank, 250 for both tanks. Is this about right?
My intended use is that one cutfest on the tank, and then the rare stuck nut removal, and a lot of heating metal to bend it. This is not something I am going to use for a living. Any reccomendations or pointers? Brand names to avoid? How about craftsman, cause there is a decent getup for sale right now. Obviously I am looking at used setups to try and get a deal, but if a torch is a bad thing to buy used I can get one of the tiny getups they sell at SEARS and the Depot.

[Dale M.]

With a used setup, its BUYER BEWARE unless you know history of set....

I have VICTOR J100 series (about 30 years old) and it still goes strong....

Pretty similar to this: http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldi ... Jumbo.html

OR there is this unit, though it is limited on welding tips (only one) and no rose bud for heating: http://store.cyberweld.com/viwecuoufi25.html

Avoid no-name units, because if something self destructs you can not get parts.....

I think for most uses a "mid size" give one a good amount of versatility...

Mine came with 3 welding tips a cutting tip and a rose bud tip... So far there is not anything I have not been able to cut or heat.... As for tanks I use a 40cu-ft oxygen and a "B" size acetylene cylinder.... All chained to small hand truck....

Once you have one you will find more uses than you ever imagined.... I find I can make a lot of "brazed" items for buggy and do some ornamental iron just for giggles, for heating items to bend or straighten...

Actually with a little skill and some patience a 4.5 inch electric grinder with cut-off wheel will make decent cuts in drum for BBQ and its a lot cheaper..... Just use face shield and apron to keep cutting dust/metal out of decent clothes.... Lot cheaper too....

Whatever torch combination you buy its going to cost about $150-200 or more for tanks and (and fill) and cart, and some other goodies.... Like gloves and goggles and tip cleaners if set does not come with them...

I know online prices are better, but you also have to consider shipping costs. Also by buying locally you get to look and feel what you are buying and you are also getting the knowledge base the welding supply people have to help you...

Dale

[Ol'fogasaurus]

When I bought my setup I looked and asked around and ended up at a welding supply house. I asked about the cute small tank setup and the fill cost was as much as the larger tanks. I asked about used ones and their answer was; why is that person selling his, are the gauges in good order and are/have the tanks been inspected. The same with hock shop deals. Bad tanks, bad deal. Bad gauge setup, bad deal.

Spend the big bucks on a good setup as this is usually a once in a life time purchase.

[david58]

So I am shopping for an oxy setup for my dad. He wants to build a smoker/grill out of a old 375 heating oil tank. I suggested, after cleaning, the best way to cut doors, cut-outs etc would most likely be a cutting torch so he told me "fetch". Now I remember looking for one for myself about a year ago and seeing those little portable setups crop up for around 75. Now it looks like I can't find anything under 175 that has a tank, 250 for both tanks. Is this about right?
My intended use is that one cutfest on the tank, and then the rare stuck nut removal, and a lot of heating metal to bend it. This is not something I am going to use for a living. Any reccomendations or pointers? Brand names to avoid? How about craftsman, cause there is a decent getup for sale right now. Obviously I am looking at used setups to try and get a deal, but if a torch is a bad thing to buy used I can get one of the tiny getups they sell at SEARS and the Depot.

Are you talking about the back pack torch set? Here in Georgia it costs something like 13 bucks to fill one of those little itty bitty bottles. I really like the small torch set I use. It makes a much finer cut than my Man Sized torch set. So I would recommend the back pack set for cutting out the door for a grill. I haven't looked into seeing if I can get a finer tip for the big set up because I have the back pack. Really though to cut out the doors a plasma cutter is the way to go. You will have a tighter fit than with a torch , and a lot less heat exposed to the metal. Especially if you are like me and just dabble into the metal fabrication world. I would get a estimate from someone that has a plasma cutter and compare it to the cost of a torch. But I would still buy a torch.

[Dale M.]

Plasma set up is probably 4X what torch set will be.... And though it is a fine cutting tool that is all it is.... Its not for heating or bending or welding ...

Dale

[david58]

Plasma set up is probably 4X what torch set will be.... And though it is a fine cutting tool that is all it is.... Its not for heating or bending or welding ...

Dale

Exactly why I suggested farming it out and getting a price. Then buying a torch.

[fusername]

Plasma set up is probably 4X what torch set will be.... And though it is a fine cutting tool that is all it is.... Its not for heating or bending or welding ...

Dale

Exactly why I suggested farming it out and getting a price. Then buying a torch.

sounds good, but then i lose my subsidy on the rig. It's fun working for my dad, he understands the value of good tools. Although last summer when I made him that rotissery, you should have seen the "lathe" me and my buddy came up with to make the spit. /tangent
So far 2 duds, one guy tried to sell me a setup with no valve on the Acy tank, a bum reg on the 02, oh and the 02 tank expired in 01. thanks but no thanks.

I found a rig with a victor torch, going to go look at that tonight. a bit more than I wanted to spend, and a bit more than I need (welding, cutting, bunch of tips, big tanks) but it's reasonably priced and he said the tanks are both full so I can have him show me the regs work before I leave. If not those links look really nice, cheaper tahn the depot, and brand name you say. Of course I still need to tack on 170 more fora set of tanks, but still.
thanks for all the pointers guys.

[Dale M.]

Check pressure test date on tanks!..... All the extra tips and tool will always be usable at one point.... Over the years I have used the three welding tips that came with mine and bought additional.... If you find tanks to big, you can allways down size...

Dale

[fusername]

well I 'bought' a rig today. Giant tanks, more than I need, but about as big as I would have liked. Now I just need to make a cart. Going to take it down to the local welding shop to tripple check the tanks aren't leased and that they aren't expired. O2 was deffinatly good (07) but I couldn't figure out the markings on the Acetylene tank. But for 5 regulators, smith and harris, a big purox torch and a little victor torch, I think I did alright. None of the torches were the 3 tube style, which I understand means these are lower quality, but victor I was told was quality stuff, so I just sprung for it. Guy was good enough to let me test all the regs and give me a receipt saying I could return it if the shop wouldn't fill the tanks, as he inherited the thing and wasn't 100% on what was going on with it. I spent more than I wanted to, as I had just set out for a cutting rig, and I think I ended out with a welding/cutting setup. oops?

gotta have toys. First project is going to be cutting two holes in a tool cart to hold the tanks and wheel em around.I haven't used on of these since high school, so there may be more excitement than planned.

[david58]

The wheels on a most tool carts won't support the weight and the wheels are too small to move it around easily.

[helowrench]

at work, well at my last job
we had a cart for oxy/acetyl rig that was made of a hand truck.
nice big wheels, made for that much weight.
it had an aluminum divider installed to segregate the two tanks.

Rob

[fusername]

well my buddy who gave me hte cart (I'm a sucker for other peoples trash) said he used to roll V8s around on it, and it sure looks and feels sturdy. That said, I will give a second peek at the wheels, the steel is definatly strong enough tho. Gotta hit the store before it snows too much, gotta fix the blower again.

[david58]

Just remember the bottles are top heavy.

[fusername]

Just remember the bottles are top heavy.

yeah, the cart will haave some design requirements, cause pressure vessels scare the poop outta me.


I think the cart will work out fine though, and I have some railroad ties? I dunno what they are called, but a bunch of inch plate that I can weight the bottom of the cart with if needed. gonna put my mig welder on it as well, make an all in one metal melting cart of doom, if you will. of course pics or it didn't happen.