RioCamp
I Like Smith, they are versatile and durable.
Just My ΒΆΒΆ's
Marshall
You might give www.ramweldingsupply.com or www.weldingsupply.com a look. They are both good places to get stuff. Ram generally has better prices on there tools and free shipping.
Ordered lots of stuff from RAM. Always had great service.
I was just looking at a new set of Victor torches... When did they stop being made in the USA and did the quality go down..??? Who are they made by now???
I don't know when they quit making Victor in the U.S. but the quality went down several years ago. I switched to Smith. Best torch made in my opinion.
Victor are assembled in Mexico or at least parts of them are. I have heard that some of the parts are now made in China, I don't know that for sure.
Can anyone tell me which Smith torches are the same as the 100 and 315 Victors. What about Barrel torches? Both of mine got pilfered also.
100 is the little victor handle and the 315 is the big victor handle.
If assembled in Mexico that means anything goes. A guy from shop in town goes to Mexico over holidays to visit his relatives and has been in factories where they work down there was telling me saw them put stuff together with parts from boxes that said China, Taiwan, Japan ..... then put made in America or even put made in USA flags on it. Now I'm wondering about my Harris torches if they are still made here. Was just looking at Smith too wondering who sold them. I bet Harris isn't all made here only packaged here ?
http://www.smithequipment.com/http://www.smithequipment.com/history.html http://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/history.asp
So does Victor not have a lifetime warranty on them anymore...??? I have a Victor thats 10yrs old an I have never had a bit of problem with it... I want stuff made in USA too... Im bummed they arn't anymore... I like there stuff
1 part on thermadyne website says 5 years. Don't if that applies to All of torch and regulators though.
What you need to do is buy some of the cheap chi-com crap. rig it up to go KABOOM the first time it gets used leave it out to get claimed by those lowlife P.O.S and then bask in the satisfaction that they are going to be in need of a good Doctor.
So victor is no longer American, Bummer!
NO!
Please do not "rig up" any torch to explode! It is a federal Crime, and you most probably will just hurt someone other than the thief!
NO Rigging for me, but I do have a lead on the Sorry son of gun. He just don't know it yet.
I haven't bought any torch equipment in several years, but I am/was a die hard for Victor. I have two size torches a big one and a little one. I could look up the model number and all, but, since they are no longer American made, probably wouldn't do any good.
I don't know how it is now, but 30 years ago Uniweld interchanged with all of Victor apparatus. I had heard way back then that the Uniweld was actually made by Victor, just a different name. Whether that is the truth or not I don't know.
Haven't had the opportunity to use Smith, but I would imagine, if it's made in the U.S. then it's probably pretty good. But then again I'm prejudice when it comes to American made versus anywhere else. I know this thread is not chocked full of information, just adding my 2 cents.
Take Care
Steve