acetylene torch

[motoman]

I find the cost of a acetylene torch set isn't priced that bad. Its the filled tanks that is the biggest cost. I have been looking and find two ways to use the tanks. Rent them or buy them. Seeing I will be using this very lite duty this was the reason I was thinking about getting the bernzomatic oxygen/mapp set. At my age I just don't want a investment in tools that I wouldn't be using that long anymore. I would guess at what age do you stop taking in customer repairs. I am to the point in life now I want less customers then more.

The filling is cheap. Try looking at H-Frt. They have a small set of tanks which might suit you well. Incidentally, I finally bought the H-Frt wheeled tank dolly for my large tanks. It has bicycle tires and is good value . ( No, not everything they sell is ok, ok?)

 

[reynoldston]

The filling is cheap. Try looking at H-Frt. They have a small set of tanks which might suit you well. Incidentally, I finally bought the H-Frt wheeled tank dolly for my large tanks. It has bicycle tires and is good value . ( No, not everything they sell is ok, ok?)

Yes I have looked at HF. As I under stand I would still need the tanks inspected and filled. I can buy the complete outfit with filled tanks for 319 dollars from the welding supply store. I will have to find out more on the tanks if that is owning them or renting.

 

[7394]

I think you can find a lower price, if you search more..

However owning the tanks requires a re-certification at refill time IIRC every 10 yrs (at min)..They stamp the dates into the tanks..


My big set (I sold) had not been re-certified in about 18 yrs, but buyer was very happy to get my whole vintage Victor set-up.. $300. for that thru our local Pennysaver..

Which is a good place to look as well, if you have such a paper.. Here it is Free to sell & buy anything..

 

[bertsmobile1]

Don't have any idea about the cost structure in the USA, but medium bottles ( E size ) cost $ 150/ yr each down here.
A bought bottle costs $ 400 once up and $ 55.00 for a test so it is a no brainer.
Trouble is you have to take your bottles to a filling station and wait an hour or more to have them filled as the bottle fillers are also the bottle renters.

 

[motoman]

I'm not up on current purchase price of bottles since I have just exchanged the depleted bottle since 1960's. But the refills are always waiting on a cement dock here. Have never had to wait. It's been about 5 years since the last refills so I don't remember the cost of the gases, but seems like $30 or so each. But there is a potential recurring problem with valve leakage. What I have seen is with the valves tight off and doused with soapy water there may be a slow appearing bubble. Unacceptable.

 

[7394]

motoman- I'd do the soap/water testing right at your exchage location.. And pick a leak free one.

Like on my BBQ grille, my Propane bottle only leaks a little as you are opening it (midway), once Fully open leak stops.

 

[motoman]

motoman- I'd do the soap/water testing right at your exchage location.. And pick a leak free one.

Like on my BBQ grille, my Propane bottle only leaks a little as you are opening it (midway), once Fully open leak stops.

Yep, carry a little squeeze bottle with me to the supplier. They are very quick to right the situation (safety). The delivery of oxy-acetylene bottle is done in open platform trucks so the bottles stay in the airstream. Cannot emphasize enough to be careful with either gas. Somewhere is a famous picture of a garage where a heated acetylene tank made like a V2 rocket and took off the roof. I once transported my bottles in a closed U-Haul which was stupid. A potential rolling bomb. Don't forget the oxygen is also dangerous as it is an accelerant to fire such as contact with grease or petroleum products. Also strap or chain 'em up if you have the bigger bottles. (Go thru a 6.9 E quake and get religion).:laughing:

 

[bertsmobile1]

Yep, carry a little squeeze bottle with me to the supplier. They are very quick to right the situation (safety). The delivery of oxy-acetylene bottle is done in open platform trucks so the bottles stay in the airstream. Cannot emphasize enough to be careful with either gas. Somewhere is a famous picture of a garage where a heated acetylene tank made like a V2 rocket and took off the roof. I once transported my bottles in a closed U-Haul which was stupid. A potential rolling bomb. Don't forget the oxygen is also dangerous as it is an accelerant to fire such as contact with grease or petroleum products. Also strap or chain 'em up if you have the bigger bottles. (Go thru a 6.9 E quake and get religion).:laughing:

A little over the top.
Secure the bottles so they can not roll around and you shold be sweet as you need the gasses to be within a very specific ration and an ignition source.
Been shifting them in a closed van for 40 years.
Soapy water is a good idea. I started to do that a while back when I though the gas was not quite full.
Even made a supplier weigh a bottle before he relented and gave me another.

The gas does not need to be flammable .
There is a bottle embedded into the wall of a major hotel's cellar.
It was slid down the loading ramp end on then a second was dropped down defore the first removed.
Took off across the cellar, went right through a stainless steel beer keg, a few stacks of soft drink then through the wall and into the earth on the other side.
The gas was "Safe" tavern gas ( CO2) for pumping beer through the lines.
There is a You tube video of a truck loaded with bottles having a prang on a highway, catching fire and bottles torpedoing every where

 

[bertsmobile1]

New I had it some where
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQFphkoiq3g

If you watch it to near the end note you hear the bang, see a pallof flame & smoke then the empty bottle 200 feet back.