Oxy-Acetylene Torch recommendations

[Morphious]

I am in the process of finally stocking my garage with new tools, have my small mig welder and alot of the other tools that I've needed. I'm now in the market for a cutting torch for some projects that I'm working on here at the house. I grew up using an old victor torch set, but would like to hear other peoples opinions and see what other options are out there.



These are two of the options I'm looking at:



http://store. cyberweld.com/smmedutoxweo.html



http://store. cyberweld.com/visurawecuou.html



So lets hear the opinions.



Morph

 

[Jong]

I just got a set of ESAB torches to repalce my Harris torches, and love the ESAB way better.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

It was suggested to me when I was looking to buy a torch setup to go with Victor - they are the gold standard. When I received mine I had a bad regulator which was replaced promptly and I haven't had any problems with it since - a couple years now. For the victor that you are looking at consider going with these guys: http://cgi.ebay.com/VICTOR-SUPERRAN...6472253QQihZ003QQcategoryZ67057QQcmdZViewItem . Their price is a little cheaper than cyberweld but they include the adapters to use it with either tank type (CGA 300 or CGA 510) - cyberweld you have to choose one or the other. I've bought a ton of stuff through IOC off their ebay buy it nows and have been 100% satisfied. They ship FASSSSSSSSSSSSSST (I received $2700 worth of stuff including a tig welder 31 hours after I clicked on buy it now on a holiday weekend).

 

[MChildress]

I'v have the Victor journeyman set and a Victor super range set both are excellent. I would recommend Victor.

 

[Tee]

Victor, no need to say more

 

[Grunt]

My Victor torches must be well over 25yrs old... and no problems with either set.

 

[JoeZimmerman]

Have You considered a plasma tourch?



Joe Zimm

 

[Morphious]

No plasma right now. Just spent 2k buying a miller matic 135, chop saw, angle grinder, and other tools as well at 500. 00 in steel for a new workbench and other stuff. Need to cut some 3/8" plate for the top of the workbench, and have other uses for heating up that a torch can provide. I was leaning towards the victor torch setup, but haven't had experience with any others so didn't have anything to compare with.



Steve, how's it going? Haven't been on here in a long, long time. Works kept me hopping for the last 9 months, with 70 hour weeks and travelling to San Diego and Norfolk quite often. Has the chat room ever picked back up after the freaks quit using it?



Morph.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Nope, chat room's still pretty dead. I've been too busy to get in there myself - have a lot of pans in the fire. Good to see you around.

 

[6naline01]

cutting torch

I have been welding for a long time,pipe,structural steel,truck bodies, etc.

I have always used and would reccomend without hesitation the Victor Journeyman.

respectfully, 6naline01 Mike

 

[cojhl2]

Victor is no doubt the best,, but 35yrs ago when I bought a Oxy/Acet System I bought Craftsman (Harris). My reasoning was and still is: since I don't use them as a professional I did not think I could jsutify the additioal cost.



My Craftsman (Harris) have served me without a glitch for all these years.

 

[GHarman]

I am a retired welder with 35 years of welding experience. I have welded things that some people never dreamed of and will be the first to tell you that I dont know everything! Oxyacetylene equipment is all good stuff, just some's better than others. I've used SMITH, VICTOR, and HARRIS. The journeyman series of torches are fine if you do a lot of work on thick section steel. A mid size torch works better if you are standing on your head in a gas ditch welding a service tap onto a 2" pressureized natural gas line. A dedicated Cutting torch works best for continuous cutting of heavy section structural steel. Small torches work best if you do fine work at a bench. There are track torches for cutting pipe and plate. There are ROSE BUDS for heating applications. I personally own a mid size SMITH. It has worked well over the years. I did replace the single stage regulator with double stage LINDE regulators. Smith torches have o-rings where the torch tips seat into the torch body. Victors have brass seats. I like them both. Oxyacetylene safety is VERY SERIOUS, learn it. GregH

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I've got a serious set of SMITHs with hoods. Works fine for me.

 

[Troll]

I just got a Victor set yesterday and It works great. The set was bought locally and is called Weldmark Cutmaster by Victor. Try weldmark.com, I got mine locally for $175.