Oxy / Acetylene Gear - Harris

It's been a while since I've done any real wrenching on anything. Hopefully that will change sooner rather than later. Driving me nuts. If I need heat I use a little propane torch and hope it's enough. So far so good. Still want a torch set up........and a plasma cutter.....and and and.

 

Confusing Yes, As it seems like everyone that's ever made a High Pressure bottle has a little different size and filling volume...............I just looked at mine and I noticed they tagged the Argon bottles with stickers that have Cubic Ft volume greater than the bottle is marked...........

Argon 100% for Tig 1) 9.25" x 55" 336 cuft. # 2 Argon is a spare 7.5" x 51" 125 cuft
Argon 75%/ 25% CO2 for Mig 7"x 45" 138 cuft.
Cutting Torch:
OXY: 7.5" x 51" 125 cuft.
Acetylene: 8.25" x 39" 145 cuft.

Speaking of gauge types & Manufactures.............I got these gauges , welding & cutting kit from my Dad..... National Brand..........I have to think these have been around since the 40's maybe early 50's but can't really say these were his original ones. Just before WW2 started he worked in a steel mill and was a certified welder........when he tried to enlist........they said no way Sonny , we have a greater need.......spent the next 6 years away from his regular job building ships and submarines.

The last tag when these gauges were in for service is dated 1973........Looks like a new low pressure gauge was replaced..........I guess they just don't build them the way they used too!

And not to say that you should not , but ever since I first had a torch in my hand.....about 45 years ago , I have never backed off the regulators on any equipment that I own.........most if not all have minor leaks at the hose or regulators and even though I have worked hard to seal them it stills seems after a week or so the gauges are back to zero.

 

They are all owner bottles..............and purchased new years ago as needed , during the refill process you either exchange or send yours end for refill......the problem is if your bottles are over 2 years since being tested and you want yours back they charge you a fee for testing............if you exchange no fee..........the guy that's now doing my stuff has a refill plant so he will refill mine while I wait..only takes about 15 minutes for the 336 refill..............and he's cheap.

 

My feeling about backing off the regulators is that it's simply adding one more level of leak prevention - with substances that could easily level a building.

Our FD responded to the local state highway shed last month - had a midnight acetylene leak, very lucky it didn't go boom.

 

Yep , secondary to the tank valve first being turned off............. been a while since I've been in a shop environment whereby there are large quantities of bottles either being stored or manifolded together outside for supply to the shop inside............I'm just wondering if they now shut those bottles off each day after use?.............I know years ago they never did when stored outside as there feeling was the dilution of gas to outside air was too great for combustion?

 

Around here we have refinery's and lots of these gas products are coming off the refinery process.......C02, Acetylene , Argon and others............Air Gas (the company) has been buying up all the small welding supply vendors around here and just closing there doors..........and in doing so , has in my opinion somewhat caused a price spike in certain consumables like gases.............although the internet keeps them at check for most other hard parts.......

This one vendor is owned by two brothers that I now buy gas from exclusively and has been around for decades.....at one time I used them allot when I worked up that way more frequently , and honestly I miss the political chatter once inside , but they are now 20 miles away to the North and those bottles seem to get heavier each time I lift them.......they sell there gas at 50% or less of what the large vendors get for it and still smile all the way to the bank...........there store is just like what you would want it to be........stacked to the ceilings with stuff to the point you have to crawl over things to get down an Isle......and if you look you'll always find something you need...........a couple of times I've asked them about a certain rod type and how it welded......they just opened a box and handed me a pound and said try it out!

The brothers work together in concert.....ask one if they have a certain Item and the other brother from across the store will answer follow me over here............I guess I like the old school attitude they have and will support them for as long as they survive against Big Brother..........even though it's 20 miles away...

 

Terry - what's your ArCo usually run you at their place? I seem to think my 95cf bottle runs me about $65 for a swap. I have MJB Supply and AirGas here locally.

 

I'm not sure on the Ar/Co2 mix don't use the Mig that much and have not needed to re-fill that yet................But on the 100% Argon..........Are you sitting down?......................$85 for the big bottle.

And you know Glenn that Air Gas or Airco store near me as it was called years ago used to be a pretty good store..........in fact I bought my first Miller Heliarc machine from them around 1983 and the store manager threw in the 336 cu in and the 125 cu in bottle to make the deal.............but in the last few years when I went in that store.......first you get treated like last years news and second........they have nothing on the shelf.........it's always I can have it here in a few days.....Pretty Sad.

And just to show you how strange things can be ..........while I'm typing my buddy who drives a Tanker vessel for Linde calls.......he was in Fresno delivering Co2 and wanted to see if I had time for lunch tomorrow.......small World!

 

Well Dane ...............I hope you got a little more than you asked for in your original question........point is the old stuff is probably better if it can be fixed , and there still is a few folks out there fixing regulators.

 

I'm good.

I have working regulators, a working torch set and a full bottle of Acetylene.

Empty O, Empty ArCo.

I melted a bunch of sheet metal today, ground it all smooth, hit the hard spots with the sand blaster, then got some primer on the parts...

Garage smells like success tonight. Paint fumes du jour.

 

Being a Rigger and an Ironworker all my life I have used all kinds of torchers, gasses and oxygen in my job. Everyone has their favorites. When I worked at the Steel mill , they used all Oxweld Torches and equipment. At the mill they used natural gas most of the time as it was available in every building as was oxygen. The only difference was the torch tip, in the cutting torch. Natural gas and Propane used the same tip, for acetylene there is a different tip. We used the same hoses, gauges, and torch body on all gases. As for a Rosebud set your gas and oxygen about the same pressure, no more than 12-15 lbs. You need a lot more gas and less oxygen for heating, too much oxygen causes the back flash and the KA- BOOM when it relights. In the field we used Victor Torches, they were the least fragile for Ironwork, you could drop them, beat them, and drag them, and they would still do the job. Pipefitters liked Smith Torchers, but most of their work was on the bench or stands, where the torch didn't get too beat up. In the trades you had to learn to cut of bolts without cutting into the base metal, cut out rivets without burning the base metal, and wash welds off, without cutting into the base metal. It is all about someone showing you how, and setting up your torch right, and Practice, practice, and practice. Good Luck, Rick