O/A welding tips ???

Gordon Gould · Dec 22, 2019

I have been thinking of replacing my ancient Linde torch set. It has no arresters and needs new hoses plus tips are not available except used and abused ebay. If I look at a medium duty Victor set like the Preformer 2.0 it covers what I need as far a heat goes at not to much money but I need to add a several extra tips to cover what I do. So what I would like to know is what is the difference to a back yard welder like me between a Victor tip at the LWS or Amazon at $90 and a Victor compatable tip on ebay for $15. If I go for the expensive tips it gets up there in dollars pretty fast and I would have to rethink this. Suggestions ??

gg

RNeumann · Dec 22, 2019

Go with the knock offs. I doubt an occasional user will know the difference.

Gordon Gould · Dec 22, 2019

Thanks, I suspected that. I should add that I don't have a tig set-up so I use the O/A instead. That is why I use so many different size tips. The other thing I wonder is maybe a tig welder would be money better spent and just heat and cut with the O/A.

gg

yomax4 · Dec 22, 2019

I've sold all of the top brands of oxy-fuel for many years and funny as it seems, Even the knockoff torch sets seem to perform great in non industrial applications. Some don't offer replacement parts but how many parts do you ever replace plus the kits are 1/4 the cost. You can get the complete cutting attachment for the price of a valve. I wish it wasn't that way but we've become a throw away society.

ruffdog · Dec 22, 2019

I have a Victor 315c and ca2460 with a bunch of extra brazing heads/tips, also a rosebud somewhere. Now that I'm retired, I have to find bottles and regulators or just sell the torch stuff. Where I worked, switching to the Victors was a big plus.

edit....then the company switched to using MAP gas so I also switched over the torch tips.

Tractor Seabee · Dec 23, 2019

I have used many different O/A torches in my life. I have found that the HF medium duty set is a good tool for the non-production scenario. They are compatible with Victor series 100. I get the extra tips (such as heating torch) I needed on Amazon, also Victor knock offs. Never had a problem. I also have Victor J, 100, and 300 sets. HFs portable set is Victor J series and their heavy duty is Victor 300 series. It would be nice if they offered a full range of tips. Stay away from the cheap stuff you see on CL, E-Bay, and other internet markets. HF is even less than buying used Victor branded stuff. I have a little side-line of buying and selling used welding equipment. Most O/A stuff I set up in sets with everything needed to go to work. That is a better market than individual pieces. I flesh out into sets (most are missing a lot of tips) from Amazon. They have knock off tips for most popular brands. A set of medium size tanks will last most home small shop users a long time.

I find the J series is my go to for soldering and light brazing especially on plumbing remodel work. In my early days in refrigeration work they were very popular. I find the small 10 CF tanks with the small portable sets a waste of time, but they have their place if you have to pack up and down stairs for small jobs.

The novice user tends to use too large a welding/brazing and cutting tips. The smallest size that gets the work done timely is the best. Cutting 1/4 steel I use a 0 size tip. A 2-4 like is in most sets will just make a mess. I have 000 and 0 tips for soldering and brazing. A #4 heating tip will to most light work. I have a #6 for heavy work.

Ron