Re: Need Advice on Purchasing an Oxy / Gas Torch Set


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Posted by Ben Aylesworth on April 04, 1999 at 21:47:48:

In Reply to: Need Advice on Purchasing an Oxy / Gas Torch Set posted by Christopher Casey on April 04, 1999 at 20:21:49:

Have you ever done any welding before? If so great, if not, PRACTICE! Anything, vehicles especially, cannot afford to have shoddy welds! I have seen and know too many hacks that think they can weld, but honestly don't have a clue. The difference is practice and proper instruction. Community/Vocational colleges are great for instruction.

Here are my thoughts...

Oxy torches are great for resto work because of their versatility. They can easily cut, weld and apply heat to stubborn bolts. The down sides to Oxy are the cost for gas and/or deposit for cylinders. Gas rigs tend to be more expensive that arc. And the learning curve. Oxy is the hardest sort of welding one can learn, (but not that hard!). The reason for this is it is entirely manual. There are more ways for error to creep in, and one does not want a flawed weld, at any cost. As far as brand names to look for, most of the big names (Harrison Calorific, etc.) are good. For any specific pros/cons, talk to a local welding shop. They should be happy to point you in the correct direction.

Electric welding (arc) is easier to learn and almost as versitile. The welding is easier, although there is clean up to do with any flux based welding. The machines are pretty solid and can be easily converted to MIG (metal inert gas) mode, where the ease of arc is combined with the cleanliness of oxy. The up sides to arc is the ease, and some versitility. Set your wire feed high, on a higher heat setting, and you can cut (in my opinion) better that oxy. The down side is their limitations. All they can do is weld. Oxy can do alot more. As far as names, I have a Lincoln Electric wire feed. It's been great so far. It was the cheapest (and I had a coupon!) Getting parts is a bit of a hassle, as they are kinda stingy on their coverage. Miller and Hobart are probably the best, and most $$$. Century is poor in my opinion. Whatever the case good luck!

Okay, I'm off my soapbox now. Hope that helped, if you need any more advice (good and bad alike) feel free to contact me

Ben Aylesworth
screwloose0601@yahoo.com


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