Welding Tips and Tricks

I’m looking to add an oxy/acetylene rig to my shop.
I’m looking at two used rigs. One has Victor torches the other doesn’t, they have similar size tanks.
The rig with Victor torches is $50 more.
All things being equal, is the set with the Victor torches the preferred route?

Here are the two ads:

http://r.used.ca/classified-ad/36292148

http://r.used.ca/classified-ad/36399466

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All other things being equal...probably. Especially since you didn't mention the other brand, so the assumption is "no brand" and we all know what that usually means.

I'm no pro when it comes to oxy acetylene, but I do know Victor and that it is top notch kit. Hard to imagine it wouldn't be worth the extra $50...maybe even $100 extra or more.

I wouldn't hesitate for a second...all other things being equal.

Thanks Spartan, the regulators on the other set are Craftsman so likely much older.


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DavidR8 wrote:Thanks Spartan, the regulators on the other set are Craftsman so likely much older.

David,

One thing to keep in mind, both look like they have non-cutting torches on them.

A cutting torch will have a lever to blast the oxygen, but those look like heating type torches.

Ideally if you could find a set that had both types of torches would be better, IMO.

TraditionalToolworks wrote: David,

One thing to keep in mind, both look like they have non-cutting torches on them.

A cutting torch will have a lever to blast the oxygen, but those look like heating type torches.

Ideally if you could find a set that had both types of torches would be better, IMO.

I did check on the set with the Victor torches and there's both cutting and brazing torches.

DavidR8 wrote:I did check on the set with the Victor torches and there's both cutting and brazing torches.

Hard to tell in the pics. If that is the case I would give the nod to the Victor set.

FWIW, nothing wrong with Craftsman welding gear, it is most often Victor or Harris. Sears didn't make their own tools. I have a mix of a lot of different stuff, some of it is Craftsman some other.

The most useful for a non-cutting torch is a rosebud. That's what you want for preheat, IMO. The Craftsman has a bunch of different tips and such in the box, hard to tell if that's a lever for cutting or not...there's a chrome extension of such...

EDIT: the hose set looks nicer and longer, presumably Victor, on the $400 set.

TraditionalToolworks wrote:

DavidR8 wrote:I did check on the set with the Victor torches and there's both cutting and brazing torches.

Hard to tell in the pics. If that is the case I would give the nod to the Victor set.

FWIW, nothing wrong with Craftsman welding gear, it is most often Victor or Harris. Sears didn't make their own tools. I have a mix of a lot of different stuff, some of it is Craftsman some other.

The most useful for a non-cutting torch is a rosebud. That's what you want for preheat, IMO. The Craftsman has a bunch of different tips and such in the box, hard to tell if that's a lever for cutting or not...there's a chrome extension of such...

EDIT: the hose set looks nicer and longer, presumably Victor, on the $400 set.

Indeed, I'm inclined toward the Victor set, primarily because of the torch set but also because the condition looks better overall.
The owner of the Craftsman set bought it used and knows very little about it.

The craftsman cutting head that’s on the fourth pick looks like it’s broken and missing one of the tubes.

Poland308 wrote:The craftsman cutting head that’s on the fourth pick looks like it’s broken and missing one of the tubes.

Thanks, that’s a good catch.


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