Cutting torches

SHALER

Member
Any recommendations for a oxy acetylene cutting torch set for a small time farmer that would use it maybe a half dozen times a year.. cutting off old bolts, fasteners, frozen bearings on shafts. possibly light steel cutting, half inch maximum.
Don't want to get something that will break or prove to be too light duty after a year, and don't want to go overboard. TIA.
 

Go to your preferred local welding supply store and see what they carry. You're going to have to get your tanks from them anyway. Victor and Harris are the 2 big names I'm familiar with.
 
I use propane way cheaper I have a 5 gal propane bottle and a 4 ft oxygen bottle all you need to change is the tip to a propane tip and up size it mine is a a #3 have used it for 20 years like that
 
I got one of the portable kits from Northern tools, real happy with it, but tanks do not last long if doing a lot of work.
 
ditto on the victor and harris. also, i discovered our local rural king sells welding gasses on an exchange basis. havent checked their prices yet, but it would be handy as they have loner hours and open on weekend if you need a refill.
 

Victor or Harris get my vote, but be a bit careful. I think there are Chinese knock-offs being sold under those names and they are NOT the real McCoy.
 
The Victor knock off copies are a pretty good torch for the money. A real Victor is a Great tool if you are willing to spend a few bucks more.
 
(quoted from post at 17:08:58 02/21/18) Victor { I was brainwashed by a Victor salesman years ago]. Patented mixing chamber.
I have had a Victor for 43 years. It's a journeyman and have cut everything with it. My friends from the railroad borrowed it to cut rail. I'v cut tractors -bolts -welded with it -brazed- After you get one you will wonder how you lived without it.
 
I really like my Smith MBA-30510 (owned by Miller) medium duty kit. Its the entry level kit offered by Smith that has a lifetime warranty on the torch. It is US made best I can tell and wasn't much more than the cheaper kits offered by Smith and the local farm stores (branded as Hobarts, also owned by Miller). Tanks at the farm stores are WAY more expensive then the supply house. In my area they were triple what the local supply house was charging.
 
I used an oxyacetylene torch for years just like you are proposing. I had leased tanks and it seemed like every time I really needed it one tank was empty, requiring a trip to town to exchange it and the lease was expensive for what little I used it. I replaced it with a plasma torch and what a difference. No warm up of the metal to be cut, just pull the trigger and it's cutting. No tanks to deal with but it does require a decent air compressor and 220 volt supply. If you go with a plasma torch, get one with pilot arc, not the drag start one.
Lotos Plasma Torch
 
Buy Victor one time and shall last forever. When I was working I sold Harris and Meco, but had a few of other brands in the shop. I traded for almost any brand and they all operate the same but Victor tips cost less than others. I could sell two victor tips for what one Union Carbide or Smith tip cost. I had seat reamers for Meco and rebuilt then but when Meco went out of business I could not get parts and now have them in scrap. Buy the big Victor with the small head
 
In my opinion there is Smith and everybody else as far as name brands go. Smith is the only one with seals rather than brass on brass like eberyone else for the tip seals. There is little difference as far as far as regulators and hoses are the same, so the only real difference will be In the torch head. The difference in the Smith is that if you drop the tip from other brands it will almost always land on the sealing surface, if that is damaged and then you try to install it you will also damage the head and need to get repaired. I my opinion that makes the Smith worth any extra it might cost.
 
I own a Harris set,if I sell you one it, will be a Victor. Buy a set with a rose bud,they are about 70.00 buy themselves and cheaper with the set. Except to pay about $450.00 for a set of tanks.
 
Once you have one you'll use it much more often than you think. Buy a good one from the local guy that has spare parts. Tell him what your needs are and let him pick out the size.You will never say 'I wish I had bought a cheaper one, I never use use this thing". When I am out of gas my shop feels incomplete. I like the Victor.
 
My choice many years ago was the Smith Airline series. I have also bought the Smith medium duty (lifetime) set thinking it would cut heavier metal. I soon found the smaller airline torch would cut the same thickness with the same speed as the medium duty torch. The smaller airline torch is my go-to preference (lighter weight and can get into places the bigger torch can't). But I think what is most important is how your choice of brand feels in your hand. (Balance, weight, ergonomics, etc). Only you can judge, so go to a welding shop and ask to try their different torches. Both genuine Victor and Smith torches are the quality you'll never be sorry owning. Recent Smith torches also have flashback protection in the torch handle (maybe Victor does too, just don't know).

Paul in MN
 
Another vote for Victor. My Christmas present from my parents in 1976 when I was in high school was a used Victor O/A set. It was old then, I think manufactured in the early 1950's. In the last 42 years I've had to rebuild the oxy regulator and replace a couple o-rings. It's been a very, very good and useful set up.

Something no one has mentioned is Airco which is no longer made (maybe bought out?) but were big players back in the 70's and 80's. I still see new Airco torches and tips for them on ebay.
 

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