On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 22:43:32 -0800, Enoch Root
wrote:

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

Sounds like you done pretty darned good to me.

I paid $300 for:

40cf c2h2 tank 200psi (missing knob, I used a wrench to test)

That is more commonly referred to as a "B" size Acetylene tank. And
they don't come with a knob, you use a little dogbone wrench to open
them. Put a piece of small chain in the other hole and loop it around
the regulator to keep the wrench from wandering away.

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"

Make sure there are flashback arrestors on the hoses at the torch
handle.

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...

They are non venting regulators, when you turn it down the output
pressure will hold until you open the torch valve to bleed it.

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.

Use a welding tip for testing - you really shouldn't be using a
Rosebud tip with a single B cylinder, and you have to be careful to
check the gas consumption charts with the larger sizes of welding
tips, too. You can only draw off 1/7 of the Acetylene in the tank per
hour (about 5 CFH on a B) or you start sucking the Acetone inside the
cylinder out with the gas and burning it, which does wacky sooty nasty
green-colored things to the flame.

For running big torch tips you need big acetylene bottles, and/or a
manifold system to share the load between multiple bottles.

And you do NOT want that Acetone level to run low inside the
cylinder, or the pressure past the regulator to EVER go above 15 PSI.
Google "Acetylene Deflagration" and learn. (It just decides to go
BOOM!!! and levels the garage - this is not good...)

And running Acetylene through copper tubing or high-copper alloys of
bronze or aluminum bronze can form acetylide oxides that are explosive
and unstable - not good. The bronze alloy they use for the regulators
tips and fittings is deliberately chosen. Same thing for any oil or
grease in the Oxygen system.

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...

The small sizes are all customer owned, they just exchange them
one-for-one and charge for the refill.

They usually lease you the larger size cylinders for an annual fee,
with an immediate exchange. And if you use them enough they'll send
the truck by your shop to deliver fresh bottles when you call.

If you're going to do real work, you'll want to get a second set of
Acetylene and Oxygen cylinders anyway - per Murphy's Law, at least one
of them will run out 5 minutes after the local welding supply has
closed for the weekend.

Keep your Scrounging Eye open - I got two of the smallest MC size
(10CF) Acetylene tanks for $1 at a Garage Sale simply because I knew
what they were, and exchanged them straight across for a B tank at my
welding supply. You can do the same thing with exchanging surplus
Medical Oxygen tanks for Welding sizes, as long as they aren't marked
as owned by a supplier.

-- Bruce --

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
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