some Qs on possible oxyac purchase

Dave,

I almost hate to admit this but I used coat hanger wire in my early days of learning to gas weld. -Just practice, nothing critical of course. It actually worked pretty well. I haven't used a torch to weld for more than 25 years and I was not very good at it but, I could stick metal together well enough. I might actually give it a try again some day.

Ray
 
Ray C said:
Dave,

I almost hate to admit this but I used coat hanger wire in my early days of learning to gas weld. -Just practice, nothing critical of course. It actually worked pretty well. I haven't used a torch to weld for more than 25 years and I was not very good at it but, I could stick metal together well enough. I might actually give it a try again some day.

Ray
Click to expand...


Welded many exhaust pipes with coat hanger (along with other things) and they worked well.
 
thanks, all. Got it last night. All Victor parts, all the extra tips including the rosebud, all for $250. He was getting calls about it when I got there. CL didn't require sniping like eBay so I was the fastest on the phone. He's an aircraft mechanic who weighed 350lb and started running and P90xing, interesting character.

I'm actually not going to use the system until I read up a lot and watch more videos. Maybe coat hangers for practicing. Then using the vise/hammer test and so on.

Anyway, I've wanted one of these for a few years now and finally got it so very stoked. Thanks all for tips (no pun intended)

Dave
 
There's nothing wrong with using coat hangers. They are the same mild steel as expensive welding rods and they are free.

Hopefully you got some larger tanks than the ones in that Lowes set. Small tanks are handy but they are expensive to fill and are empty all the time.

Tom
 
Hi, unfortunately, I have the very commonly sold small tanks :-( I know I eventually will want bigger ones. Too bad they charge more per volume to fill small tanks. Otherwise, I'd just get 2 more small tanks.

As to coat hangers, do you need a flux? I'm guessing they're not used for critical structures like towing hitches (I don't have any plans to weld "critical" structures except for some broken steel chairs I have. I suppose if I weld them poorly and someone sits in them and falls on their you know what, they could actually get hurt.
 
Flux is mostly used for brazing. It shields the base metal, removing and preventing further oxidation so the brazing alloy can adhere to the base metal. Brazing is a low temperature operation where only the brazing alloy is melted, not the base metal. The only welding application I can think of that uses flux is when welding aluminum with oxy-acetylene. Welding, unlike brazing melts the base metal and filler metals, fusing them together. You would use welding to fabricate an exhaust system for your car and brazing to attach a carbide tip to a steel shank as a cutting tool for your lathe.

Tom
 
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Sounds like you purchased a good torch from the beginning!
Consider checking manufacture recommendations for "check valves" and "flash back arrestors". If your torch already has them, make sure they work and are placed in the appropriate locations. If they should be used and where they should be located is controversial, please consider going with manufacture recommendations.
Same applies with adjusting pressure gauges and the sequence of lighting your torch, and shutting down, be careful moving tanks!

You will have a lot of fun and do great things with her.
Be safe and watch the puddle.
Let us know if there is anything we can help with.

Daryl
MN
 
I've used a boatload of coat hangers in the past. The ONE thing you need to do though is take sandpaper to the rod and get the clear lacquer coating off. They will pop like a 'stard if you don't. Any contaminents wil cause popping. Of course, some of the new coathangers are getting to be pretty cheap steel. Some of them get porous.
 
I read the victor instructions that came with it. THey are very confusing for a first timer and really lack clear diagrams/instruction. Supplementing them with this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxRMTxf8W9Q

As well, my next door neighbor popped in the got the set welding and cutting some steel. But I'll need loads more of practice and doing a lot of those safety tests for the check valves, hoses and so on and so forth. The o rings, fittings and all the other stuff look to be in really good shape.

I'm trying not to get too attached to the beautiful tanks, knowing that I'll have to trade them in for some ugly ones. Neighbor advised to refuse them if there's rust, unless it's superficial on the tank body away from fittings

cheers and there will be questions guaranteed. Thx for all your support (tips, advice, moral support and so on)

Dave
 
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