[TheForge] switching torches

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

i have e-mailed smith several times and i have telephoned smith several
times. they give me telephone numbers for local distributors. when i
call the 'local distributors' 90 percent of the time they no longer
stock smith and have to order it.

why do i go through cutting and welding tips so often? it is caused when
one of my children or one of their friends uses the torch for something
and either changes the tips and does not put the tips back in the
welding draw of the tool box. i found my 000 propane welding tip in the
driveway run over by a car. they do not bother to check the tips while
in the shop they wait to try whatever is in the torch at the time they
pick it up if that does not work they keep trying other tips.

today, i have a ride to aurora, il so i am going by harbor freight to
pick up a new set of tin snips ( again since someone borrowed my old
tin snips and never returned them. ) and stop by the large welding
supply house and see what they have.

someone suggested a hoke jewelers torch. i talked with a jeweler
yesterday about them and he said it would be too small for what i needed
to do. he had not used the smith equipment little torch but from other
jewelers he had talked with it would also be too small for what i needed
to do.

i did find out that airco torches are made by smith and the tips are
interchangable.

On Thu, 5 Dec 2002, Peter Fels and Phoebe Palmer wrote:

peter> At 01:11 AM 12/4/02, you wrote:
peter> 
peter> 
peter> Terry;
peter> I use Smiths too..a great cutting torch..you can buy aftermarket tips for 
peter> it which work just fine..one of the companies Lincon bought  makes a wide 
peter> assortment..if you are going to order tips, just buy the copper tip, not 
peter> the mixer that is screwed onto it.
peter> Harris ( a company that Lincon...) is the master at propane. If you use it 
peter> a lot buy a torch just for propane..( not hot enough to weld steel).
peter> Victor is ubiquitous..(everywhere) and a good welding torch  with a nice 
peter> flame shape.
peter> Be aware that if you buy a new torch you will win the additional 
peter> weight  and length of mandated flashback valves.
peter> Have you tried Emailing Smith? They used to be real friendly..especially if 
peter> you can talk to the techs ( not the sales folks).
peter> Why are you going through so many tips that they are a cost factor?
peter> Spatter  dip helps and being real careful when you clean out the little 
peter> holes. If you work the tip cleaner a little sideways  when using it, it 
peter> makes the jets trumpet shaped and ruins the flame shape.  If you are 
peter> cutting  rough stuff or in corners or holes, it helps to dunk the tip in 
peter> water  when it hots up.
peter> 

-- 
Terry L. Ridder ><>