dromomaniac

I used a neighbor's Victor Journeyman to heat frame ends for straightening. Worked great but I ran out of time that day and the job needs finished.

I looked into what's out there and there's just a lot of models. Won't spend $400 for just regulators and torch. This would be mainly for cutting (and heating as above) but I wouldn't mind trying out some actually welding with it (I would likely use my mig, which is better for me as I'm not a gifted/highly-trained welder).

For example, I'm looking at the 350 series as the upper end of what I need: claims to cut 3/4" with included tip, which would handle most any scrap/salvaging I'd ever encounter.

Anyone have experience with the cheaper Victor rigs like this?

Are the welding and cutting specs accurate?

Anything else I need to consider?

Thanks!

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Just what size cylinders do you plan to get? You need the cylinders may as well get the torch set the same place.

Are you planning to use Acetylene or maybe propylene or then again propane

as two different regulators and cutting tip style.

If your not used to cutting with a torch it will take lots of practice most all the specs are with new clean steel.

I don`t even think they teach oxy/fuel welding in school any more.Except in the HVAC class

I have never had luck trying to weld with single stage regulators but they might have got better in the last 10 years or so.

About all I use the torch for is to silver braze and for cutting .

To heat get yourself a nice rosebud.

Make sure you are buying a Victor Torch and not a Victor style.

Although Smith still makes good torches.

That set should do you just fine.

Cheap torches tend to wear out faster and start leaking .

85sr5excab

I had to take a sheetmetal welding class when I took auto collision. The first half of the semester was oxy/acetylene welding. It's very tricky and I don't see any real practical application for it when mig is so readily available. Also I was looking into a Tig welding course and oxy/acetylene is a prerequisite to that class.

dromomaniac

Well, welding with it would be for curiosity's sake only. I've used an oxy torch to cut a few things, but nothing that required precision.

As far as cylinders go, I'll be getting Lil ones. Like I said, I can run my mig with tolerable results and with flux as I don't have a garage. Maybe the wind will stop some day. The things first job will be finishing the frame ends, which I just hit with a rosebud until I can pound them straight. I'll put on reinforcement with the mig...sorry, rambling.

Guess I'll just go with the victor 350 which is cheap from amazon.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Just be aware some of the smaller cylinders will not have enough of a flow for cutting with any but the smallest tip you can get .

dromomaniac

Good call. Honestly, hadn't even thought of that.

Twas in Wyoming that I experienced the coldest weather I've ever seen. -25 with 60 mph wind. Tough stuff.

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

A few years ago how time flies I had thought about getting a small set of tanks .

With the idea of using it to cut 40' I beams into more moveable lengths .

After talking with several of my customers those little tank set ups are just for brazing where your pressures are like 2 to 4 psi

They sell the cutting heads if you ever plan to use that set up on normal size cylinders.

Which kinda put the kibosh to that idea.

dromomaniac

No kidding. I woke up this morning thinking about that winter in Wyoming. Must've been 2010? Good lord. I remember when old dudes used to fret about how time moves faster when you get older. Too true. I blame it on work, mainly.

Stopping by airgas after work to see what they've got.