I took an oxy acetylene course and am now ready to buy a setup. There are alot of choices to get the basic regulators, torch handle, and cutting attachment. I'd like your suggestions. I will be doing fabs and mods for farm implements but on a hobby farm basis. I will be mostly cutting 3/8 plate and holes, bending stock, preheating etc. the usual, but probably welding with a stick welder (e.g. no gas welding)
Basic choices seem to be in order of expense:
1) A "Victor-compatible" set from Tractor Supply, etc. for $50 - $100
2) Piecing together genuine used or new Victor pieces like a 315FC handle and CA 2460 cutting attachment, or a 100FC handle and a CA1350 cutting attachment, etc.
3) A genuine Victor set which appears to run about $250-$290.
My concerns:
I do not want to get a handle which is undersized or oversized or is hard to get replacement parts for, or incompatible with other things like getting a butane cutting tip, e.g. I want the various tips, etc. to be easy to find.
With option 2), there is a bewildering number of models of Victor handles, etc. If I piece the parts together, I want to make sure they are compatible. Is this simpler than I think ? In other words are there only a few basic handles to consider (315 or 100) and its easy to tell what goes with them (2460 cutter assembly for 315 torch or 1350 cutter assembly for 100 torch) ?
I also understand the safety issues (from my course) and don't want cheap crap that may leak, etc. On this issue, even though not "Victor", and given I am not a pro but a farm hobby welder, are the "Victor-compatible" sets just junk or just missing the "Victor" name ?
Is it simplest just to spring for a genuine Victor set ? Or Harris or Smith ? Any specific model numbers ?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Bob
Basic choices seem to be in order of expense:
1) A "Victor-compatible" set from Tractor Supply, etc. for $50 - $100
2) Piecing together genuine used or new Victor pieces like a 315FC handle and CA 2460 cutting attachment, or a 100FC handle and a CA1350 cutting attachment, etc.
3) A genuine Victor set which appears to run about $250-$290.
My concerns:
I do not want to get a handle which is undersized or oversized or is hard to get replacement parts for, or incompatible with other things like getting a butane cutting tip, e.g. I want the various tips, etc. to be easy to find.
With option 2), there is a bewildering number of models of Victor handles, etc. If I piece the parts together, I want to make sure they are compatible. Is this simpler than I think ? In other words are there only a few basic handles to consider (315 or 100) and its easy to tell what goes with them (2460 cutter assembly for 315 torch or 1350 cutter assembly for 100 torch) ?
I also understand the safety issues (from my course) and don't want cheap crap that may leak, etc. On this issue, even though not "Victor", and given I am not a pro but a farm hobby welder, are the "Victor-compatible" sets just junk or just missing the "Victor" name ?
Is it simplest just to spring for a genuine Victor set ? Or Harris or Smith ? Any specific model numbers ?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Bob
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