portable oxy-acetylene kits

[charby]

I'm looking to purchase a oxy-acetylene setup to do a little weekend welding, heating and cutting. Does anyone know about how much time the 20cf oxy and 10 cf acetylene bottle sets burn? I already know how to oxy-acetylene weld and braze.

I'm deciding if I just want drop the $250-300 on a Victor Portable Torch Outfit or not.

-C

[Leatherneck]

I bought one of the minis a few years back. Useless little thing. The O2 runs out too fast and you just can't get the heat for a decent weld. Maybe for model-making or something, or simple brazing, one would be OK.

I bought a used setup at an estate/farm auction for $100 that has served well for over five years now and gives me a great deal more flexibility. Now I can burn anything with impunity!

Check Northern Tools.

TC

[charby]

TC

Did get the tanks with it also? If you are able to get the tanks were you able to get them filled at a gas supply place?

Now I'm thinking about picking up a used Harris or Smith outfit, then purchase larger cylinders for it. I imagine some days I'll be doing a lot heating with a rosebud tip.


-Charby

[Brad Johnson]

I think Victor, Bernzomatic, Harris, and Uniweld all make protable kits.  If memory serves the last kit I saw (I think it was the Bernzomatic) came with a 20cf oxy tank like the one you mentioned.

If you're just going to use it sporadically it's probably okay.  If you are getting it to do a lot of work it may not be enough. By "a lot" I mean using it on a daily or near-daily basis.  I have a buddy in the HVAC business and he has a 20/10 setup.  He uses it a good deal - at least two or three times a week from what he says - and I never hear him mention anything about it having too little gas.

Brad

[280plus]

Yea, the O2 goes pretty quick if you're cutting. Get the big tanks.

Just don't burn your eye out... 

[charby]

I just bought a used Harris outfit on ebay. Not a portable set...  pair of two stage regulators and a cutting torch with flashback arrestors.

I thought about the ones sold in Harbor frieght or northern tool, but I wanted something I could rebuild and get parts for from the local welding suppy place and not trying to trace down some manufacturer in China.

Now time to find some tanks... 

[Tallpine]

I used to rent tanks from the welding shop/supply.

[charby]

I used to rent tanks from the welding shop/supply.

I called Praxair which the gas place in town and they want .32 per day per tank to rent, plus the cost to fill them.

That figures out to $236 a year for two tanks.

[Brad Johnson]

Flip through the Welding Supply listings in your yellow pages.  You should be able to find one that has a lease/deposit exchange program.

Brad

[charby]

Flip through the Welding Supply listings in your yellow pages.  You should be able to find one that has a lease/deposit exchange program.

Brad

already did that.. see posting above. 

[Brad Johnson]

No one else in your area sells welding supplies?

Brad

[Bogie]

They will also sell/swap tanks... I own the tank for my CO2 beer pump, and it cost something like $5-10 to get it refilled.

[charby]

No one else in your area sells welding supplies?

Brad

next closest place is Des Moines, which is about 35 miles away.

Airgas is there

I live in Iowa not a whole lot of competition because we don't have the populace and farms have gotten bigger so less people need the tools to repair equipment.

[280plus]

Call around to any plumbing supply you might find, they usually will let you have the tanks on deposit, while the deposit might be high you will get it back should you ever decide to turn the tanks in. I never heard of renting them before, except at a general rental shop maybe but nobody will rent them to the GP around here anymore.