Been gone so long-Which oxy/ace set-up?

By wyatt Date 09-27-2003 07:10

Want to buy a quality kit, but not real sure what to be looking for! I went to the local shops today and checked out a Victor DLX, a Prostar(?) made by Victor for $200ish (complete kit with full cylinders listed below and cart out the door for $490) and a Smith MS (medium duty) set for $240. Just plan on working around the shop and want something that will last. Some come with 3/16" hose and others 1/4", but don't know what benefit I get by going larger. Is 25' the standard length? I also noticed each kit says it will cut and weld a different thickness. I guess this refers to the torch diameter and could always be changed if I went with the Victor? One of the salesman also said a #3 60-75cf ($98 empty)acetylene and size Q 92cf ($121)oxygen cylinder would be large enough! Any and all advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Wyatt

By dee

Date 09-27-2003 19:53

Wyatt,
Its been decades since I've bought any thing other than a hose or perhaps a tip or two for the equipment. I'm thinking it's best to first define how serious the equipment really has to be... how heavy, how much knocking and abuse, how many hours per day, etc. will it see... It translates to "large enough for what?"

Both Victor and Harris are established name brands. I'd expect both to offer a selection of tip sizes for any torch they build.

You'll need more heat (flame size, BTU's, or however you want to describe it) input for thicker work, and the flame size you'll require establishes the volume of gas you'll consume- the big hose will deliver greater volume of gas for larger torches and thicker material, but it's undesireable to empty out your tank at too high a rate- laws of physics and all that... your tank size will determine the biggest torch you can safely feed from it, not merely the working time... the hose is relatively cheap and possible future need for hose would not be a selling point for me... consider also any safety issue of excess hose (tanglefoot, more length to inspect for damage, etc) and then come up with the best length for your needs (will you be bringing the tanks to the work? etc)

I cant discuss the merits of internal mixer handle design. In the end they all produce a flame but there are different advantages to different engineering; all I can do is drop the "heads-up " about it... ...nobody's been able to thoroughly explain it all to me. In practical terms there is probably no difference for your purposes. Evaluate them on how well you can adjust the controls (including the cutting torch) with your gloves on- I have some I prefer over others I own so on this point theyre not created equal.

I don't know the regulator design of these models, but I suspect they're "single stage" devices that meter the varying pressure within your tank to a constant rate of flow; "Two stage" regulators regulate the varying pressure within the tank to a (comparatively high)fixed pressure within the first stage, and reduce that fixed pressure to the desired working pressure... its a more complex and expensive mechanism and probably an unnecessary luxury for your needs t assure the flame won't change as the tank depletes unless you plan on heavy consumption.

How much welding and cutting do you plan on?

Regards,
d

By aircraft (**)

Date 09-27-2003 19:58

buy the torch setup that you like first, Victor, Smith or Harris all of these are great brands and reconmend you choose one of these. The determining factor would be availability in your area for the brand name that you choose.

The bottle size will be determined by what tips you have and the CFH of the tip. EXT: we have a rose bud that comsumes 30CFH which means you must have a bottle 7 times that size. The bottle must be at least 210CFH so we use a 290-300CFH bottle. If it wasn't for that one tip we would use a 150CFH bottle.

By jwright650 (*****)

Date 09-27-2003 20:36

aircraft,
I have seen some shops put several bottles together using a manifold for those really large rose buds. I'm talking like ten or more bottles all piped into one line leaving the manifold. They had an angle framed cage that those bottles fit in and they moved it about the shop with a fork truck. All of ours is kept in a large bulk storage outside and piped into the building to each work table.
John Wright

By aircraft (**)

Date 09-28-2003 03:47

Yea I know, the rosebud we use really is not big at all that's why I say be careful of your bottle choice. That Victor rosebud is the smallest or next to the smallest they have for that torch handle and this small rosebud draws 30CFH. The hose size is gaged on CFH also if too small it will starve the torch. Usally this is only a concern with large tips or long hose runs, just remember even a small rosebud IS a large tip. Pay close attention to your manual's CFH for that tip.