Hey guys.

I did a search, and didn't find much. I wanting to get a torch for doing small amounts of fab work, not to mention removing the ocasional stuborn bolt. Since I move quite a bit, and currently rent my house, I've been looking at the small all in one torch kits you can buy at places like tractor supply company. I've talked to a local gas supplier, and it sounds like the full size setups are going to be too much hassle if I have to move soon, but he said he can refill the little bottles for about $11 a piece.

My questions is... are these little setups worth a darn? Do the run out of gas too quick to be of much use? I plan on augmenting this with my sawzall and hopefully a chop saw in the near future, which will hopefully save gas. Also, should I buy the complete kit (cheaper) or build my own setup (more expensive, but get the torch, fittings, and hoses I want). Are the torches in these kits as good as the other ones on the shelf next to them? Thanks for any opinions...

Chad

For your use those little bottles should be fine...I assume you are talking about the 10#ers. A friend uses that set up at work. Built a little portable rack that can be mounted to the bed of their p/u's...even thrown it in the trunk of a car for a short while :D Still isn't exactly "light" but it is portable and should last plenty for the kind of light maintenance you are talking about.

No opinion on the torches...if it was me I would probably just buy a cheap kit from HF :flipoff2:

I've never heard of those mini-torches. Any more info - online links??? I don't have room for full tanks and don't do enough cutting to justify buying a full size setup.

unless you plan on really using it "just a little" i'd get a fullsize set of bottles. the little bottles don't last very long. here's a pretty deluxe set from northern. they can be gotten cheaper.

mini torch set (http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=9038&prmenbr=6970)

- jack

I've never seen the kits that I'm talking about online, I have done a couple of searches for them. They are usually found at farm supply stores, or possible industrial tool supply stores. They (seem to be) regular torch setups with regulators and the hose and torch assembly along with some accessories, and a couple of tips. But they also include two small (apparently 10#) bottles, that you own rather than rent, like most of the full size setups.

Two advantages I see are portability and easy storage. The tanks would easily fit in most trucks or car trunks. Also I think the hardware can be used with full size tanks too. So sometime down the road when I quite moving around, and get a real shop setup, I can keep the hardware, and just get the full size tanks. Plus I always have the little tanks for portable work. The only down side is the short life of the tanks. I like the idea, but would be disappointed, if the tank ran dry after cutting the 1st arch in my second spring hanger while doing my SOA. However if I use other methods for most cutting and only use the torch when absolutely requried, I think I can get a decent life out of them.

Here in Kansas they will fill the small bottles with out a lease. But not the big ones. Might check into that there before you decide.Depends on how much you will use it.

Originally posted by brector
I've never heard of those mini-torches. Any more info - online links??? I don't have room for full tanks and don't do enough cutting to justify buying a full size setup.

Brian, what I was talking about is a normal torch set up (regulator, hose etc) mounted on small bottles. I borrowed my friends and he said they were almost empty. threw them in the trunk of the car and went home and cut through about 90" of metal between 3/16 and 1/4" before the O2 ran out.

all i have is the mini set. it works fine for small jobs. when a big project comes up they are a pita. as stated they don't last all that long for big jobs.

I have the small set, with the molded plastic case that keeps it all together. It works fine, but the botlles dont last long for big jobs.
I also have the adapters though that allow me to hook up to the big bottles. I just rent the bigger bottles when I need to do larger projects, and I keep them on the job site until I use em up.

Just looked at that mini set from N Tool. Those bottles are at least 1/2 or less the size of the one I borrowed. That one had std size torches/ regulators mounted on like 2' tall cylinders...about the equivelent of a 10# CO2 tank. The whole set up with a welded steel holder was HEAVY, guess around 70#... but still portable

Those small 10#'s go so quick i personally wouldnt recommend them...

The plant that I work at has a few of the little portable oxy/acy outfits that your talking about and we use them mainly for sweat copper jobs. I once took one out into the area to try and cut 5/8" bolts out of a pipe flange to keep from pulling hoses up 6 floors and found out the hard way...It's a POS....for real cutting jobs!! I'd say don't waste the money and just get the real thing!

Originally posted by Chark
The plant that I work at has a few of the little portable oxy/acy outfits that your talking about and we use them mainly for sweat copper jobs. I once took one out into the area to try and cut 5/8" bolts out of a pipe flange to keep from pulling hoses up 6 floors and found out the hard way...It's a POS....for real cutting jobs!! I'd say don't waste the money and just get the real thing!

The one I have, is the same as a full size unit, just the bottles are smaller, and the fiitings are different. They go for about $200 at Home depot, and come with a 10lb oxygen and Acetylene bottle. They dont cut any different than when they are hooked to the larger bottles, they just dont last as long.

The POS is was talking about uses little torches and smaller regulators etc....looks like something a jewler uses.

I like the portability of these kits and for all my fab jobs they have been indepensible...got back up tanks also...I can swap these to the large tanks also....and I can take it on my trail runs...those who I lent em to due to breakage are not complaining either!


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What 5spd has posted a picture of is what I currently run on my commercial A/C truck on Phoenix. As you can imagine, air conditioning is somewhat high in demand out here. We use oxy/acy to braze the lines that contain the refrigerant, and it costs money when you run out and have to drive to the supply house to fill up. At $60-75 an hour, you do the math. I keep two small tanks as pictured of both acytelene and oxygen in my truck.
For small jobs such as blue tipping the occasional stuck bolt off, cutting out a few brackets, etc. you'll be fine. It's a pretty neat setup for the light to medium user. Weighs about as much as a sack of rock salt and is easy to refill.
I would go for it for what you're gonna do with it. You won't be unhappy with it. I've got my work oxy/acy setup and my own bigger setup so it's pretty rare I run out of gas. If I do, I just go to my truck and unscrew whatever tank is empty and get back to cutting.
Time is money out here, and the setup you described will work just fine for whatever you have in mind.
Later,
Pat

Just wanted to throw a warning out there, for anyone not experienced.

With all the talk of bottles on trail rigs and in trunks etc., be aware..... YOU CANNOT lie down an acetcylene bottle for transport and then just stand it up and get to work. It has to stood vertical for some time (quite a long time) before it is safe to use.

If you're not familiar withthe concept, find a good text book or take a course at your local college.

Originally posted by paniolo


Brian, what I was talking about is a normal torch set up (regulator, hose etc) mounted on small bottles. I borrowed my friends and he said they were almost empty. threw them in the trunk of the car and went home and cut through about 90" of metal between 3/16 and 1/4" before the O2 ran out.

Cool - I see what you are saying now. For what I do - it would be a killer set up! I don't own my house - and it just has a car-port so I keep all my good toys inside :D

check out a/c supply houses. they will have the small set up you are looking for. i use one all the time, but it doesn't last long when you are using the cutting torch. i also see them in the pawn shops all the time for 100 to 200 bucks. mike

quick update, I picked up the Lincoln version of these kits on Saturday, two small bottles in a carrying case, two regulator setups that will work with the big bottles, and 10' of hose, a torch, goggles and a striker for $280, cost another $20 to get the bottles filled. I played around with it Saturday and Sunday, probably close to an hour total of constant use, and the bottles were still around 3/4 of what full was, including alot of wasted gas trying to get everything set right. The kit came with a cutting and welding nozzle. I've only done cutting with it so far, but it worked pretty good once, got the regulator settings figured out.

Just a word for those new to flame cutting, this is pretty damn tough to do smooth. I was expecting the nice smooth straight cuts that I see out at work, instead my cuts were sloppy crocked, and probably used twice as much gas as a pro. Everone talkes about the practice needed for good welding, but I picked up welding with my mig alot quicker than this skill is coming. Oh well practice practice. BTW anybody got any good resources on cutting or welding with an oxy acetylene setup? Or tricks of the trade for making good clean straight cuts in 1/4 or so metal?

shop used.... I picked up a cutting set, with two welding tips, full bottles and a crappy cart for $200. Check the bargain trader rag in your area.

And a related question:
The book I've been reading to learn about this stuff says not to use acetelyne if you're flowing out more than 1/7 of the total volume... or someother such gobbledygook.

Anyone want to translate that for the layman?

set your aceletelene at about 7 psi and you ox between 15 and 20. use a piece of angle iron as a pattern for the straight cuts. just lay it about 1/2 in beside your cut and drag the torch down it. makes straight cuts easy. mike

Thanks for the advice on the pressure settings, I need to get a better manual for torch work than the owners manual. Also the angle iron guide is so simple it's got to work, thanks for the advice

Mo believe me I tried to find used, but most of what I found was either junk, or almost as pricey as new. Plus when you figure in the cost of buying the little bottles by themselves, they are almost as expensive as the kit with the two bottles and the torch setup.

Thanks for all the advice guys, any more would be appreciated.

chad