cutting torch

[nodlenor]

Anyone have any experience with one of those portable cutting/welding torches. (The ones with the small bottles) I need a cutting torch but I really don't need a large one as I won't be using it all that much. I already have a stick welder so the welding part is taken care of. I just need something I can heat something up with and maybe do some small cutting jobs. How hard is it to find a place to fill the bottles? What brand would you suggest? I saw a Victor at Tractor supply ($359), that is a well known brand or at least used to be. Can parts be purchased for these at a reasonable price and time?

 

[Shield Arc]

I would go and talk to your local welding supply, before buying bottles. Every area is different when it comes to filling bottles.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I use the small setup in my landscape business. It fits my needs much better than the full size bottles. The small rigs are getting more common and I think you will be able to find parts easily. The gauges attach to the bottles differently, but beyond the gauges, everything is the same as a full size torch.

Most of the oxygen and acetylene suppliers don't want to sell you a bottle anymore. You have to rent them. I just paid my annual rent on a small oxygen bottle and it was about $55 for a year. I own 2 acetylene bottles and one oxygen bottle from a few years back, before they quit selling them. I have 2 sets in case one runs out. I just have to go exchange when one runs out. And, they don't last very long, but for me that's OK because I don't use them much.

 

[k0ua]

Anyone have any experience with one of those portable cutting/welding torches. (The ones with the small bottles) I need a cutting torch but I really don't need a large one as I won't be using it all that much. I already have a stick welder so the welding part is taken care of. I just need something I can heat something up with and maybe do some small cutting jobs. How hard is it to find a place to fill the bottles? What brand would you suggest? I saw a Victor at Tractor supply ($359), that is a well known brand or at least used to be. Can parts be purchased for these at a reasonable price and time?

I don't think you would have any problems finding parts, I have the Harris set. Good for heating, and it will do some cutting, just not much of it. Cutting emptys the O2 bottle pretty quick, and the little MC ace bottle does not last that long either, but if you just need to heat and bend something or cut something small, they are fine. I exchange the bottles at the local plumbing supply. Just bring in the empty and walk out with a filled one. It is pretty easy.

 

[CNC Dan]

check Craigslist first. many people buy them and then don't want them once they find out how small they really are.

 

[2458n]

I do not like Craigslist for things like this. It is to easy to have someone sell you a stolen bottle,without proof of ownership you will never get it filled. More stuff should be like this. if you are just going to be cutting go with a different gas. Shield Arc is giving you the best advice.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

In a similar situation as the OP, purchased the smaller tanks, wished I would have gotten bigger, you'd be surprised how much acetylene you use when trying to heat something with a rose bud tip.

 

[k0ua]

In a similar situation as the OP, purchased the smaller tanks, wished I would have gotten bigger, you'd be surprised how much acetylene you use when trying to heat something with a rose bud tip.

Not to mention you cannot use even a small rosebud tip on an MC tank without violating the old 1/7 rule, not to mention the new 1/10 rule.

If you didn't follow all of that, you CANNOT in any way use a rosebud tip on one of the small oxy/ace kits we are talking about. you can use a welding tip or cutting tip to heat smaller pieces of metal with. But no rosebuds.

 

[muddstopper]

I think for the limited amount of use you expect out of that cutting rig, i would just go with propane and a small oxy bottle. Youll get tired pretty quick of having the small act tank filled and with propane, if you run out, you can just rob the tank off the bbq grill, or run down to the local convience store and pick up a fresh bottle. And with propane, you only renting or buying one high dollar tank instead of two.

 

[Hedgepeth]

the old saying you get what you pay for. as a professional welder, I prefer victor. bought from a welding supplier. Then you have purchased
an industrial use torch better quality. a victor super range combination is what I like. it's small and lite well balanced.
purchase your tanks from a welding supplier also. you will want a bigger bottle of oxygen and a mid size bottle of acetylene. you will use the oxygen up faster than the acetylene.
ask the welding supply if they give life time rights on the bottles.it cost more up front.but it is cheaper than 1 yr. or 5 yr. rights.