That would have been a tad high around here, but it's a reasonable price IF
those are owner tanks. Many many tanks sold as owner tanks are actually rental
tanks, which you find out when you go to the welding supply to swap bottles, and
they say "oh, those are owner tanks, thanks for returning them" and you're out
your $$$. Hopefully this isn't the case.

When a regulator's secondary gauge shows a steadily increasing reading, you have
a bad seat. Your seat seems to be a little sticky but working. I'd just go ahead
and use it until you have reason to believe it isn't working. Victor regulators
can be rebuilt, don't worry.

Pay close attention to the setup in that book, and follow the steps exactly.
Especially set your gas pressures as it indicates. If you don't know what to set
them to, try 6 and 10 for your acetylene and oxygen respectively, for a small
welding tip.

To shut off the torch, quickly shut off the gas valve on the torch, then repeat
with the oxygen valve. Then go to your cylinders, and shut off both cylinders,
then open one valve on the torch to bleed off the pressure, then the other, then
spin out the regulator handles until they turn freely. This last step is
important, otherwise when you open the cylinder valve again the seat will slam
against its stop and over time it will fail much more quickly.

Grant

Enoch Root wrote:

Today I bought and dragged home a welding outfit and I want to know if I
done good.

I paid $300 for:

40cf c2h2 tank 200psi (missing knob, I used a wrench to test)
60cf O2 tank 2000psi
sturdy hand truck for the above.
~25ft hose (gas and oxy) no cracking when I bend it
2 weldmark cutmaster regulators (apparently they're made by victor?)
(see below)
victor torch handle (wh-260c)
victor rosette (6-mfa-1)
victor cutting attachment (ca-250)
victor welding tips, 3 (0-w-1, 2-w-1, 4-w-1)
Original "super-Range" box and styro packing
Victor "oxy-fuel welding, cutting & heating guide"

All the copper is red-orange, all the brass is yellow, except the
largest welding tip is a bit discolored. They're all smooth and show
factory milling marks.

I didn't test it 'til I got it home. I found that initially the
acetylene regulator wouldn't stay at the original pressure I set it too
on the low side (3psi), and that when I was easing it up there was, for
a section of turn, no change in pressure, then a chunking sound when the
pressure jumped up a couple psi, then repeat... no change, then a chunk.

When I brought the pressure up through another chunk to 5psi, the
pressure remained constant. I don't know (yet) if lowering it to 3psi
again will show constant pressure when I open up the torch gas...

I used the rosette to test... I couldn't get the flames described in the
manual with that and don't know if I'm getting a good flame, but it was
way too bright to look at without protection anyway, and you can't see
colors through that glass!

I'd try again with a welding tip, but I'm reluctant to litter my place
with more soot.

The thing is, I was so eager to get this I didn't quibble about the
price, and the guy's real straight, clarified the price of each item for
me, and it felt good. He said the tanks are $100 each and you get them
replaced when they're filled, or charged that if you don't already have
them, so I got that welding kit minus the tanks for $100...

er