Harris or Smith propane/oxygen torch set

[dirt ditch]

Have been looking at 2 propane/oxygen cutting torch sets from different manufactures and need to decide which set to go with. One is a Harris cutter pac sold by Sears (2007-2008 Craftsman catalog page 135 #0920225). The other is a Smith Equipment HD-510LPT Heavy Duty Dual Guard Outfit on ebay.

Have a good idea which set will probably get but thought I would see if any one on the forum had used either of these torches or knows something about them.

 

[RickB]

Harris has always been a top torch maker, but if Sears is involved, I'm immediately thinking it's a lower spec model. Sears doesn't sell industrial strength anything. Victor is my personal favorite, but you didn't ask about them.

 

[dirt ditch]

I have not seen any Victor sets, but I just ran across these 2. I do like the Smith set better. It will be a couple of months so I can keep looking.

And your right about Sears.

 

[AGRIMAN]

I agree on the Victor. I have used a smith a few times and they seem to be fine. Don't think I have ever used a Harris.

 

[laurencen]

I use Smith at my shop, tried the Victor and so so, you pay a bit more for Smith but 20 years from now you can buy any part you need

 

[MJPetersen]

I have used both of those brands and both are quality. For all around cutting with Propane, either will do all that you need. Check the rated capacities and make sure that you are comparing equivalent units.

Mike

 

[bota7800]

I don't own either as I am in the market myself but the Lincoln Electric/Harris unit I saw at Sears was the same or higher priced than some Victor and Smith units available at Cyberweld.com - Welding Supplies - Miller, Hobart & More or WeldingDepot -- Mig Welders, Arc Welders, Welding Supplies. My local welding supply has a sale on right now that includes a much nicer Victor for not a lot more that the Sears unit.

Unlike a previous poster, I often find Sears tools that are speced slightly better than the brand that manufactures for them. However, an O/A kit is not where I want a homeowner or hobbyist quality unit at all. I jsut don't want to worry about it.


I have a related question. How long do the smaller tanks in porta-a-torch style units last? Are they a reasonable alternative for occasional use? The Victor unit I looked at had the same torch as the lower end Victor but a shorter hose set. The reason I ask is that the separate cylinders are pretty expensive but if the porta-a-torch does not last long enough to be practical; I don't want it. Thanks.

 

[sandman2234]

Those porta torches are made for soldiering and if you need to burn a piece in to, you better start with a full bottle and hope it is a small piece to cut because your ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF OXYGEN!
As far as the O/P, I have both Harris and Smith torches (and victor also)
I use each about as much as the other and actually prefer the victor over the other two, in the torch end. However, the flowmeter on my Tig torch is a smith, and it is at least 30 years old. I have had it for 20 and it has never failed, never been rebuilt, and the two victors sets I have for the torch both have been gone thru and they are only 15 years old. Might be comparing apples and oranges, but Smith appears to make a very good product. Might also look at the warranty on the Smith, as for some reason I think they might be lifetime.
David from jax

 

[dirt ditch]

Victor and Harris is what I have seen around here. Never even heard of Smith until I started looking on the net. Smith does have a lifetime warranty on their torches. plus they are made in the good old USA. Found Smiths website and it has a lot of information about their torches.

Smith Equipment. Cutting and Welding Equipment: Cutting Torches, Welding Torches, Brazing Torches, Gas Pressure Regulators.

 

[Bill Barrett]

Those porta torches are made for soldiering and if you need to burn a piece in to, you better start with a full bottle and hope it is a small piece to cut because your ARE GOING TO RUN OUT OF OXYGEN!
As far as the O/P, I have both Harris and Smith torches (and victor also)
I use each about as much as the other and actually prefer the victor over the other two, in the torch end. However, the flowmeter on my Tig torch is a smith, and it is at least 30 years old. I have had it for 20 and it has never failed, never been rebuilt, and the two victors sets I have for the torch both have been gone thru and they are only 15 years old. Might be comparing apples and oranges, but Smith appears to make a very good product. Might also look at the warranty on the Smith, as for some reason I think they might be lifetime.
David from jax

I agree on the small tanks, I have 3 sets. They are more for silver solder than cutting, if your cutting you better be fast, thats why 3 sets LOL.
I've had a full size Smith for years, it ok. Small set is a Harris, had it close to 30 years, it's time for hoses.

 

[Bill Barrett]

Victor and Harris is what I have seen around here. Never even heard of Smith until I started looking on the net. Smith does have a lifetime warranty on their torches. plus they are made in the good old USA. Found Smiths website and it has a lot of information about their torches.

Smith Equipment. Cutting and Welding Equipment: Cutting Torches, Welding Torches, Brazing Torches, Gas Pressure Regulators.

Smith is big around here. I have some 40 to 50 year old Victor stuff that was from the Navy, its work of art, Oxy regulator is heavy as my whole Smith set! Meybe the age and was Mil spec.

 

[AlanB]

They are all good, kind of like the welder debate, lincoln, miller, hobart.

That said, When I had to buy a set, I bought a Victor because in my area, there was the most variety of tips etc for it. Not like I have had to buy much else, but it is nice, if I have a tip problem, to be able to get replacement tips etc. easily.

 

[bjcsc]

I have the Smith HD-510A set and it works great. We have a hand-me-down Smith at our shop that is decades old (and gets lots of use). I've never used their propane setup...

 

[bota7800]

Thanks Bill and Sandman. That is what I thought but wanted an opinion. I guess I will buy the tanks. I probably won't weld with it much, though. Primarily cutting and preheating for stick.

I was on a welding forum discussing this topic and several posts seemed to like their Smith units and parts availability.


AlanB has a good point about tip availability. Both shops near me sell Victor but I haven't checked about Smith.

 

[mopacman]

check out the price to fill bottles. I find it is about the same amount for big bottles as it is for the smaller ones......Larry

 

[xlr82v2]

Victor, Harris, Smith all make good equipment, and you won't go wrong with any of them. I'm kind of partial to Smith, because I like their Mix-In-Tip design, I just think it's safer should you have a flashback occur. But they're all equally good.

The little portable mini-torch units are great if you need ultra-portability, but like the others said, you have to really be conservative with your oxygen, because that little bottle won't last very long. I definitely wouldn't recommend one for a shop torch, just too expensive to operate. Like somebody else said, it's almost as much to fill that little bottle as it is to fill a large one. You're paying for the service, not the gas.

 

[MJPetersen]

I guess I will buy the tanks. I probably won't weld with it much, though. Primarily cutting and preheating for stick.

At the beginning you mentioned cutting with the Oxy and Propane. If you are going to weld at all with it you will need to use Acetylene. Although I have not tried, I understand that you cannot weld with the propane. It has gotten me curious and I will have to research why now.

Mike

 

[bota7800]

At the beginning you mentioned cutting with the Oxy and Propane.

Mike

I did??? If I said propane it was a mistake. I am looking at O/A

Sorry if I confused anyone.

 

[dirt ditch]

I am getting a Oxygen/Propane torch set for cutting not welding. Already have a mig welder for most of the thin stuff. Its been 30 years since did any welding with a torch and that was to pass the brazing test in high school shop class. If I ever did need to weld with a torch then I can use my fathers Oxygen/Acetylene set.

 

[chickenman]

does anybody have any experience with the Petrogen gasoline/oxy setup?