[AT] Torch kit

[Henry Miller]

You can weld just fine with propane, my grandpa used to do it, and run down people who wasted the money on acetylene.  As I recall the flame temperature on propane is 2600 degrees and steel melts at 2300 (better look both of those up as I'm probably wrong),  so the heat is there, but barely. You need a different size tip (bigger), and different pressures. Propane is a different flame so the technique is different as well. 

If you don't weld often gas isn't too expensive, and if you want a portable rig for field work gas is great. If you won't practice often gas being slower makes for better welds.

As for the original question, I paid more for the 7 years I leased my tanks than new tanks cost. At the time the big welding store didn't sell tanks (and wouldn't touch them). Now I live where the local store doesn't know why you would lease tanks, they sell them.  I haven't bought any though, marriage change a lot... 


On February 13, 2016 7:22:29 PM CST, Richard Walker <richardwalker at pobox.com> wrote:
>Do you want the outfit just for cutting and heating?  Then using 
>oxy-propane is FAR more economical than oxy-acetylene.  Acetylene 
>prices, and to a lesser extent oxygen, are astronomical these days 
>compared to what they were thirty years ago.  The downside is 
>oxy-propane is not hot enough to weld with.
>
>Any oxy-acet rig can be converted to oxy-propane by swapping cutting 
>tips; getting an adapter so you can hook up to a 5-gallon barbecue tank
>
>or forklift tank; and maybe also going to new hoses, although a lot of 
>guys retain their old ones.  Sounds like you intend buying new from a 
>dealer, so you could have it set up for propane at time of purchase.
>
>As an aside, I switched from oxy-acet cutting to a plasma torch ten 
>years ago.  Big initial outlay, but very economical to use.
>
>And last, for anyone thinking of also using a gas rig for welding, be 
>advised this is prohibitively costly, unless you're only welding thin 
>sheet metal.   Arc (either stick or MIG) is way cheaper and much
>faster, 
>producing higher quality welds.
>
>
>-  Richard
>
>
>> OK guys, I've had the need too many times now that I need to move
>from 
>> my MAPP gas torch up to an oxygen/acetylene torch rig. From doing
>some 
>> looking it appears that Victor is or was the main brand that is the 
>> most copied. What would you guys look for when buying a new torch
>kit? 
>> Do you rent or buy the tanks? I see a set at Horror Freight that
>looks 
>> like a Victor clone, but I don't want to buy junk, as I've seen these
>
>> things last forever. I also took a look at the Hobart brand carried
>by 
>> my local Tractor Supply. I know they make pretty good welders. Any 
>> advice is greatly appreciated.
>
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