Tips for buying a used Oxy setup

woodlandfarms · May 30, 2011

I think I am going to by a used Oxy Acetylene setup. My neighbor has a number of setups but no tanks. He will give me the hose, guages, handles and tips (He builds metal buildings for a living and buys this stuff all the time) for free. The downside again is no tanks. I have to call our local suplier, but my gut tells me new tanks are going to be $500 for two.

And I do not use something like this frequently enough to warrant a new purchase.

Also I am looking at CL for a complete setup. They seem to be around the $300 price point in my area.

So what do I look for? What is a no and what is a yes? Or should I just buy new cause I am going to blow myself up otherwise.

Carl

Haywire · May 30, 2011

Make sure you can still buy replacement parts. I bought a nice little mini-torch that was used a lot for welding sheetmetal in aviation. Come to find out the company was taken over by one of the big names and they stopped supporting legacy products. I have a sticky valve that cannot be repaired.

Ian

Al 2 · May 30, 2011

Go with propane and oxygen and just use a BBQ tank and get a propane tip for your torch. Lots of info if you search around.
Al

dcyrilc · May 30, 2011

Al 2 said:
Go with propane and oxygen and just use a BBQ tank and get a propane tip for your torch. Lots of info if you search around.
Al

I've heard this recommemded as well. Cheaper and much more readily available.

woodlandfarms · May 31, 2011

Fascinating. I have read through a bunch of references and it is quite tempting. The only caveat is that I have been interested in also welding with gas, not just cutting (although I am not sure how much welding I would really do).

Going to have to think this through.

But this all said, in looking at used gear is there anything to keep an eye out for?

lostcause · May 31, 2011

you're obviously going to have to get the tanks exchanged/filled/tested at some point, so figure out who you want to work with and talk to them about what they require for accepting customer owned tanks.

what i mean is that many gas dealers have certain policies about tanks in order to ensure they aren't some other dealer's property. in some cases it's related to the name stamped in the neck of the tank, and others it could just be a matter of size - smaller cylinders are often owned, but larger ones are more likely to be leased.

just contact your local dealer to see what they require for proof of ownership before you purchase used tanks from someone.

chuckhole · Jun 2, 2011

lostcause said:
you're obviously going to have to get the tanks exchanged/filled/tested at some point, so figure out who you want to work with and talk to them about what they require for accepting customer owned tanks.

what i mean is that many gas dealers have certain policies about tanks in order to ensure they aren't some other dealer's property. in some cases it's related to the name stamped in the neck of the tank, and others it could just be a matter of size - smaller cylinders are often owned, but larger ones are more likely to be leased.

just contact your local dealer to see what they require for proof of ownership before you purchase used tanks from someone.

Excellent advise. I was fortunate enough to go ask first. I just bought my setup less than two weeks ago. I went to Airgas (my nearest dealer) and asked them about how they handle tanks - new or used. I was going to purchase new tanks and the Airgas folks said they typically do swap fills and not refills. This means that the new empty tanks would have benefited somebody else and not me. So I purchased the largest owner bottles I could from Airgas. They were much cheaper than new and I can easily swap them out for my next fill - which won't be long. Also the good thing about getting the large tanks is that a refill of them is not much more than a refill of a tank at half the capacity. So in the long run, I will save money on fills. I am so lucky that my land purchase in the country not only bought me a piece of heaven but great neigbors as well. When it comes to advice in just about anything, I listen to them. They are like the "Second Hand Lions" to me.

In case you are interested, the two OA tanks and first fills were about $475.

The OA set I purchased was the Victor Edge Contender package along with extra tips, cart, etc. Grand total was a little over $1100.

Iplayfarmer · Jun 8, 2011

Check for the obvious stuff... cracked hoses, bent or dinged up knobs and tubes, stuck valves, etc. Check for leaks. Turn on the tank valves, but keep the torch valves closed. Listen for any hissing.

Also, watch the Acetylene gauge as you turn on the oxygen tank and vice versa. If the wrong one moves, you have leaks in the system. Play with the regulators to make sure turning the knob actually changes the pressure (this has to be done with the torch valves at least partially open).

If you can, use the thing. Make sure it does what you think it should do. If not, don't get it.

Beltzington · Jun 8, 2011

If you are not in a hurry Craigslist is a good way to go. I bought a nice Smith torch and gauge set with cart and acetylene tank for $175. Found a certified oxygen tank for $50 dollars from a local welder and exchanged both tanks for full ones for about $100 at Airgas. So for $325 I have an awesome professional grade setup that has been setting unused in my garage for about two years. Originally I did use it to cut up a junk trailer on my property plus the cool factor is priceless. Advice would be to make sure the tanks can be exchanged at your local gas supply. Good Luck.