Oxy/acetylene rig

[DavidR8]

You should check with your local welding supply store to make sure they will refill them for you.

The tanks might be worth zero if they don't have a bill of sale for the owner. My local airgas would not touch them.

Joe

Tanks can be problematic, hydro-static dates are stamped on the neck, good for 5 years. Then will your gas supply store exchange, or do you need to wait for a refill on your personal tank?

Thanks gents, I'm going to call my LWS today and see what their policies are.

 

[tjb]

David, I don't know if the way we do it around here is common practice or not, but most of my friends and I buy gas and oxygen from one of the local welders on essentially an exchange basis. On the first purchase, pay for the tank and gas. Every other purchase after that is done on an exchange basis. Bring back an empty tank, and for the going rate of the gas, get a full tank of the same size. There are obvious advantages of convenience, plus you never need to worry about tanks malfunctioning or being out of date. My source has all sizes of tanks, but the oxy-acetylene tanks I have are about twice the size of the ones you're looking at - probably bigger than I need but definitely convenient.

Perhaps there's an outfit near you that offers the same service.

Regards,
Terry

 

[DavidR8]

David, I don't know if the way we do it around here is common practice or not, but most of my friends and I buy gas and oxygen from one of the local welders on essentially an exchange basis. On the first purchase, pay for the tank and gas. Every other purchase after that is done on an exchange basis. Bring back an empty tank, and for the going rate of the gas, get a full tank of the same size. There are obvious advantages of convenience, plus you never need to worry about tanks malfunctioning or being out of date. My source has all sizes of tanks, but the oxy-acetylene tanks I have are about twice the size of the ones you're looking at - probably bigger than I need but definitely convenient.

Perhaps there's an outfit near you that offers the same service.

Regards,
Terry

There's a place like that near me, Barrel Hamel. They do exactly that.
One thing i need to consider is that if the tanks are not refillable then I've basically bought an expensive used torch set.

 

[gr8legs]

With the active components (torch and regulators) go for the well-respected brands: Victor, Smiths, Harris. Avoid 'knock-offs' from Trashcanistan.

Repair parts are generally easily available as are rebuilders through a LWS.

Tanks are slightly iffy. If you purchase a set of tanks with no owner's name cast into the valve ring then they are 'customer owned' and not a problem. Easily exchanged at most LWS operations. If there is a cast-in name like 'Airco' at the valve ring the at one time the cylinder was 'leased' meaning 'not yours' and ownership is problematic. When buying used, check there is no supplier name cast into the bottle and always get an exchange tank that is similarly unowned.

Worst case with a 'customer owned' bottle is that if it goes past the hydrostatic test date then you pay for the test when you exchange the bottle.

This may depend on the policy of the LWS. Shop around if neccessary. BTDT.

Stu

 

[C-Bag]

This issue of tanks is a new one to me as all the welding shops I deal with stopped renting tanks 20-30yrs ago. And like Terry said I used to just go in swap tanks for full one. It would be worth it to ask the owner to come with you to see if they’d swap the tanks before you buy.

 

[DavidR8]

With the active components (torch and regulators) go for the well-respected brands: Victor, Smiths, Harris. Avoid 'knock-offs' from Trashcanistan.

Repair parts are generally easily available as are rebuilders through a LWS.

Tanks are slightly iffy. If you purchase a set of tanks with no owner's name cast into the valve ring then they are 'customer owned' and not a problem. Easily exchanged at most LWS operations. If there is a cast-in name like 'Airco' at the valve ring the at one time the cylinder was 'leased' meaning 'not yours' and ownership is problematic. When buying used, check there is no supplier name cast into the bottle and always get an exchange tank that is similarly unowned.

Worst case with a 'customer owned' bottle is that if it goes past the hydrostatic test date then you pay for the test when you exchange the bottle.

This may depend on the policy of the LWS. Shop around if neccessary. BTDT.

Stu

Thanks Stu, I will definitely check the tanks for any names and dates.

 

[lis2323]

The first step would be ask the seller who he deals with for tanks.

If he is vague pass. If he names one of the 4-5 vendors in our area....investigate.

 

[Ken from ontario]

About a year ago I started a similar thread and got good info , then went on the welding web and got more info with a difference, over there you need to emphasize that you are a hobbyist and you're not making money off your O/A rig, everyone (with good intentions) direct you to get the biggest tanks, or get multiple tanks to lessen the chance of ever running out. bigger is always better over there.

I on the other hand as a retired fitter/welder only needed the biggest tanks I could own , not rent, that's the big difference, if you are more like me and just want to braze here and there , heat cast iron for small brazing projects, then in my opinion you are better off going to your local welding store and buy the biggest size tanks from them that you can own, and when you run out, drive there and give the empty ones back and get a full one, that's all there is to it. if you don't want to ever run out of either gases, get a spare tank(s)later.

As for the torches, find places that repair /clean torches and ask if they have a USA made set for sale, it will be money well spent , or buy a new set, just don't buy Fake Victor, smith, Harris as others pointed out,..
For you information, I had a chance to buy a seemingly good used rigs for $450-$550 but paid $710 locally and got a new victor and two tanks with their name on the bottles. for $200 more you will have a great set without worrying about hydro-static tests or ,LWS exchange policy and so on.

I'm not saying do what I do , just letting you know that, buying new torch with supplier's old "buy to own-tanks", is an option .

 

[DavidR8]

About a year ago I started a similar thread and got good info , then went on the welding web and got more info with a difference, over there you need to emphasize that you are a hobbyist and you're not making money off your O/A rig, everyone (with good intentions) direct you to get the biggest tanks, or get multiple tanks to lessen the chance of ever running out. bigger is always better over there.

I on the other hand as a retired fitter/welder only needed the biggest tanks I could own , not rent, that's the big difference, if you are more like me and just want to braze here and there , heat cast iron for small brazing projects, then in my opinion you are better off going to your local welding store and buy the biggest size tanks from them that you can own, and when you run out, drive there and give the empty ones back and get a full one, that's all there is to it. if you don't want to ever run out of either gases, get a spare tank(s)later.
As for the torches, find places that repair /clean torches and ask if they have a USA made set for sale, it will be money well spent , or buy a new set, just don't buy Fake Victor, smith, Harris as others pointed out,..
For you information, I had a chance to buy a seemingly good used rigs for $450-$550 but paid $710 locally and got a new victor and two tanks with their name on the bottles. for $200 more you will have a great set without worrying about hydro-static tests or ,LWS exchange policy and so on.
I'm not saying do what I do ,just letting you know to buy new torch/supplier's old buy to own-tanks is an option .

Thanks Ken,
I am exploring this option also as my needs are pretty much exactly like yours.
A new Victor torch set is $400 locally, and a pair of full tanks is approx. $400.

 

[Ken from ontario]

Thanks Ken,
I am exploring this option also as my needs are pretty much exactly like yours.
A new Victor torch set is $400 locally, and a pair of full tanks is approx. $400.

I suppose the prices must have gone up a bit .
Most Local welding stores either repair torches for their customers(welders) or know establishments that repair torches for them on regular bases, they usually have older sets with upgraded parts, fine tuned and ready to go, ask them, you may get a surprise how many is available.