torch/welder question

[Doc Arroyo]

My "forging" of parts has outstripped the ability of my little propane torch. My shop is small, and I really don't want to give up a bunch of room for a full sized oxygen/acetaline welder, or build a forge in the corner.

So is there a compact sized O/A torch out there at a reasonable price?

 

[Bountyhunter]

I guess it is all about how you define reasonable price.

Check out the Indian Jewelery places. Santa Fe Jewelers, and there are two big ones I cant remember the name of in Gallup and Albuquerque. You can find them on the web. They have good catalogs, and they list real nice small O/A sets that run $200-300 as I recall.

 

[Norskie]

Have you checked out the small oxy propane sets in the hardware stores? Lot of heat there in a small package.

 

[bighole]

Have you checked out the small oxy propane sets in the hardware stores? Lot of heat there in a small package.

AKA MAPP gas w/oxy. Cost around $30 at Menards more at Home Depot or Lowes. Heat is close to oxy/acy. It's small size doesn't last too long. Package says how long around 20-30 min.

 

[chipper]

Harbor Freight has a small bottle set up for $250 complete with everything but gas.
Depending on the application your trying to fill, you might be Ok with a home made Ron Reil burner that runs off of propane. If you google propane forge, you'll see lots of plans on how to make one. They run hot enough to weld with. You can build one out of stuff from Home Depot for less than $20.

Regards

 

[ol vern]

Check with some welding supply stores, some times you can find a used outfit for a good price.

 

[peter]

find your local welding gas suppliers and find out what types of equipment they have and what their policy on filling gas bottles is. Here in NJ they only fill the bottles they sell, and will not fill a bottle that does not have their name stamped in it. This includes the argon tank for my mig welder. My brother bought a small oxy/acet. set up from harbor freight and no one would fill it. Hate to see that happen to you.

 

Doc,

Just a thought here. If you're using it primarily as a 'forge', why not think about buying a small propane farriers forge like an NC Whisperlite or such. They run about the same cost as a Oxy/Acy set-up, they take up less room and you can run them on propane which is a heck of a lot cheaper and easier to deal with. Its really a different animal though and whether or not you need one depends on what you'd use it for. It's not a cutting torch. My dad is still shoeing horses at 63 years young and has one of these little forge set-ups mounted in his truck on a swing out arm. Handy little critter. I haven't been able to fire up my coal forge for 6 months due to wildfire danger, so I'm considering getting one. I've seen some pretty slick ones on e-bay for reasonable prices too.

On the little oxy/acy hobby torch set up. I have one and am considering just renting the bigger tanks. The little ones run out and it's a long way to the welding supply shop here.

Sean

 

Peter,

Out here you don't generally buy the big tanks. You pay rent on them and take them back when you drain them. The little hobby tanks are different though. Those are yours. A torch kit will run ~$175 with hoses, torch, tips, regulators, etc. Tanks are around $50-100 to rent/yr + gas. The small hobby torch kits run $200-250. If you buy tanks used from someone else, check the stamping around the top of them and consult your welding supply store to ensure they are current. If not they'll have to send them out for hydrotesting to ensure they are safe to fill.

Sean

 

[Zonie]

The problems I've found with the little inexpensive Bernz-O-Matic MAPP/Oxygen torch are:

1. Very difficult to adjust the oxygen to get the right flame and for reasons unknown to me, the pressure changes all by itself.

2. The MAPP lasts a long time. The Oxygen is gone in about 8 minutes.

3. The Oxygen that doesn't last long at all costs about $8.00 a cylinder.

On the positive side, if you can keep it adjusted and are needing to use it only once in a great while, it does work for brazing and welding.
Obviously with such a limited Oxygen supply, cutting is out of the question.

 

[flashpanner]

I have used a small portable oxy/ace setup. Tanks are about 18 inches tall. Thsi small setup is used alot in the HVAC industry. You might inquire with your local A/C and heating service company to look at these setups and ask a few ????. I am currrently using a propane tank from a BBQ ( 5# size) and a standard oxygen bottle. I bought the oxy bottle, regs, hoses, and torch at an auction for $100.00 works great for smaller forgings, and general heating/bending. You might keep an eye open in the want-ads for estate sales, auctions and ads for shops tools for sale.
IMO propane is sometimes lacking in BTU's to get very large sections hot enough. Up side is that it is relly nice for brazing because you can "sneek up" to the right heat without over heating the brass. Another side beneift is that no sooty smoke ashes floating in the air like acetylene gives off.
M

 

[Teach]

I would agree with Sean,propane and pipe forge is the way to go.
Cheers teach.

 

[Grizzly Bear]

Try using a propane wand, they work great hooks up to a 20# tank and the temperature goes up to approxiemately 2000 deg. You shaould be able to pick them up at any hardware store they advetise them for burning weeds.

I know harbor freight carries them for about $50



Am small miss small

 

Doc,

Google: coffe can forge

The internet is filled with iprivised devices that are exactly what you want. Most are small with parts scrounged as needed/no cost.

 

[Mad Professor]

You can buy the small size oxygen/acetylene tanks. It's a large investment but then you never have to pay the rent which adds up over the years. The small tanks hold plenty of gas unless you are doing cutting which uses up a lot of oxygen.

Anyway, I picked up a good set of used torches with several tips/cutting tip and brought the small tanks. It will do anything a full size setup does and has plenty of heat. I've had these for 20 years now so the tank purchase has now become less than renting the tanks all those years......