[TheForge] Recommendations on gas welding set

[Woolley]

Marc,
IMO, just get it over with and get a dependable name brand combination 
torch.(Victor, Smiths, Air Products)  I would try to find a used set 
first, then new, and I personally lean towards Victor, they are 
everywhere.  The beauty of a nice combination torch is you fit the torch 
with whatever head you need for welding ,heating , whatever.  Unless you 
do ALOT of burning and heating with it I would go with acetylene, 
although a weed burner-propane set up is good for heating up sheet 
metal.  If you use a small tip and regulate  your gas and air right, you 
can get clean cuts on 16 guage and certainly thicker.  Although it may 
be possible, I've never seen anyone braze with propane.  If you have a 
gas distributor in your area the bottle rental is not that expensive and 
you can look for used bottles to buy as well to eliminate that cost. 
 Keep in mind, bottle inspections are dated so if a used bottle you may 
pick up may end up having to be tested, it is a cost to you before a 
distributor will have it filled.  I like acetylene much better for 
heating and beating around the shop, it burns hotter than propane. 
 Propane is normally used by scrappers that burn all day at a reduced 
cost. Whenever I went on a field construction job that was using propane 
for burning
I'd be disappointed.  I  wasn't alone either. Good luck.

Regards,
Bill Woolley
 

Marc Godbout wrote:

>I've decided that I've been a good enough boy this year to buy myself a
>new toy. We use an OA torch in class to weld, braze, and do localized
>heating. It seems a natural addition to my shop. My needs are a little
>different than class, so I don't think I need that type of setup. But
>what should I get?? Here's what I'm thinking.
>
>First, I already have propane for the forge, so I want to stay with
>oxy-propane. Also, I've got a TIG setup - no foot control, yet, but I'm
>working on it. I can use that for any fancy welding, letting me stick
>with propane. So what I would use the torch for is:
>
>1) Cutting. I'd like to do clean, curved, cuts, like leaves, petals, ...
>in sheet from 10g down to 16g, and then other stuff maybe up to 1". I
>don't see myself cutting bigger stuff very often and would probably
>borrow or pay someone for that. So can torches do nice cuts on 16g? I
>know - get a plasma cutter. But I haven't been *that* good a boy.
>
>2) Localized heating for bending, forming, etc. Maybe up to 1" square,
>but mostly in the 1/4" - 1/2" range.
>
>3) Brazing. Same sizes as above.
>
>
>I think I would be better off with a smaller, lighter, setup than the
>normal welding kit. I've seen writeups on the Henrob, but that's a
>little expensive. How about the Versa-torch? Any other ideas?
>
>Thanks, and have a very merry Christmas.
>
>-Marc
>
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