I'm ordering an Oxy Acetylene Outfit
 

I'm going to order an oxy acetylene kit in the next week or two for welding sheet metal, both aluminum and steel. How does this look and what am I missing?

Victor J-28 Torch handle
0-W-J Welding Nozzle
1-W-J Welding Nozzle
2-W-J Welding Nozzle
3-W-J Welding Nozzle
Smith Flash Back Arrestor - Regulator Mount
Smith 2 Stage Oxygen Regulator
Smith 2 Stage Acetylene Regulator
Welding face shield

I also need a set of hoses. I was thinking of hooking together a light weight hose set and a standard house set for added length. What would you recommend?

What am I missing?

You might want to look at what Kent has for sale.
Tinmantech.com ( I think)

You will find a "gas saver" to be quite useful. In proper welding it is about the torch setting. You set the torch and the gas saver turns both gasses off at the same time. You don't have to reset just relight with the gas saver.
A stand will keep the gas saver next to the work saving time and aggravation

I have a picture of my gas saver set up in my album.
I use Kent's hose it is great.
Mike

Gas savers are great. The electric/battery ground piezo strikers will save even more gas vs running a flame on your gas saver, that is also sometimes good for a quick burn if you're not paying attention.

I would also add my vote for Kent's small Meco torch and lightweight hoses. I haven't bought one yet, but have been told by two of the more esteemed legit experts here that is it the best torch they have ever used for sheet metal work. These items are on my must-have list.

I do have one of Kent's TM2000 aluminum gas welding lenses, 15+ yrs and still love it. It is the best. If you're going to gas weld aluminum, it is a necessity imho.

If you are not going to weld enough to warrant leasing large tanks, you might consider buying 40cf tanks or whatever is the largest tanks you can simply exchange in your area without inspection. Around here, anything larger than 40cf must be sent off for inspection before refill. Any tank that fails inspection is discarded with no reimbursement. Smaller tote along tanks aren't big enough. Having 3-4 40cf tanks lets me work for a while, usually can spend a full day welding if needed.

Having a basic torch kit with everything to cut & weld is a good starting point, really a must have for any shop. These other items will supplement that. I have an airco/concoa torch I love. I have a cheaper victor set that I don't, but that whole set came with a rosebud and was still less than the rosebud tip alone for my favorite torch. Buy a good torch, not just a cheap one. You'll enjoy using it much more and your welding will benefit. If you can weld well with a bad torch, a better torch is like magic....

I really like the idea of the stand with the gas saver and piezo ignitor. I think I'll order gas saver, piezo ignitor, and hose set from Kent. I think I'm going to hold off on the aluminum welding supplies, but maybe I should just go ahead and spend the money.

With the gas saver, should I have a set of arrestors at the regulator and at the output of the gas saver?

Ask Kent what you need. He won't steer you wrong. I only have one set of arrestors on my hoses, maybe not what is recommended but that's what I have. I don't have one of the piezio ground igniters yet. RockHilWill has them at his shop and they're great. With smaller tanks, everything you can do to conserve gas is a big plus.

My old Conocoa torch welds AL great, as well as steel. Using Kent's lens and flux helps you see AL bead much better. The MeCo is a step up that I'll afford at some point. If you have a good torch, it'll do a lot especially if you practice, practice, practice.... Nice thing about gas welding equipment is that it's easy to add to a basic rig so doesn't have to cost huge money to get started.

With a comfortable torch and well planned workspace, Gas welding is a happy place.

Don't forget the fire extinguisher.

I'm really impressed with the Meco Midget that Kent sells. I have a Henrob and it works fine and will do lots of things that a torch alone won't do such as cut. But, when I've tried the Meco, my welds were much better. With my eyes, I don't think I will ever master gas welding aluminum but certainly acknowledge that, if I could, my roadster welds would be better with less distortion.

The lot of you are making me reconsider the Meco. I've used a small victor in a workshop and really liked it and thought it was very comfortable. I was considering the Meco, but I was worried it may be too small. I'll sleep on it and make a decision in a few days.

I've never used a small torch other than the Meco and Henrob. And I'm certainly no expert. HOWEVER, I'm under the impression that the Meco can do anything the small Smiths etc can do and the parts are readily available. I believe Kent also manufactures and sells tips for older small torches.

Meco +1 :D

I used the Meco at a class Peter Tommasini held in PA this past fall and I loved. In fact everyone loved it. I just ordered one from TMTech myself.

Me Tooooooooooo!
 

I put a LOUD vote in for Kent's set up including the lightweight hose set up. I hadn't done any gas welding since 1962, yes that's before some of you kids were born. My first try I fit about 3/4 of it up really tight,16 ga iron, and had about a 1/16th on the rest. With a #1 tip, I used that one just because it was in the middle of the three I bought, I managed to fusion weld the 3/4 of the 24 inches and added a little filler for the rest. I do recommend the Green shade lens to anyone, no mater how pricy it seems. I still have a the full set of the victor, you'll need the rose bud for the Alum. That green shade takes all of the glare away and you see exactly what you are welding. Kent is a straight shooter and would never steer you wrong. He'll listen to you want to do and then give you the advice.

very appreciative
 

Guys, I'm very appreciative of all of your positive comments. Thank you everyone, very much.

The green lens was the first product I started my company with - and I learned quickly that I was also becoming responsible for the flux, the torch and the tips, and the "how to," as well.

Thinking back, I started torch welding with a little old Purox model in 1969 and then started using the Victors J-20/J-27/J-28 on a daily basis.

After four years' handling the Victor small J torches I bought a new J-40 and used that/those until I was introduced to the Meco in 1995.
Attachment 40221
L to R - Smith A1W1, Victor J-27, Victor J-40, and Meco N Midget, arranged for size comparison.

Tip varieties and longer necks needed improving so we added those and made improvements to existing parts, like adding our new ultralight hose for the small "welding only" torches.

The "economizer" or "gasaver" has been a venerable component of torch work since WW2 or even before, and it has become a fixture on one of my bottle sets, along with the piezo "sparkie' igniter.
Attachment 40222
The "eternal flame" is now replaced by "Sparkie."

Attachment 40223
It's easy to hose clamp on a length of 1X1 angle with a platform brazed on square to one end ....

For those wanting a very soft flame for brazing or welding at low temperatures (1000F to 1350F) these long tips are probably the best choice:
Attachment 40220
(Shown next to the standard "n" tip.)

These are just some of the soldering/brazing/welding products we offer.

Thank you, again.

Kent's light weight hose is a must have in my world. I used to fight with hoses weight tugging while trying to move smoothly and steadily along a weld. The super light flexible hose is fantastic product.

Thank you Kent!

Kent,
I noticed in your picture of your gas saver with your Meco hanging off of it that you have an additional hook on the Meco. You can eliminate the additional hook by reducing the included angle of the gas saver lever. 60 degrees works to keep my Meco on the hook with no problem
I will put a picture in my album.
Note: make the bend sharp.
Mike

thanks Mike,
...but I like my swiveling hook that enables me to hang my torch from any angle. Since I move a lot when welding I don't want to have to re-position the rig since I am too lazy to get up from my comfy seat ..... :rolleyes:

Kent,

Do you use the Meco when annealing aluminum? Or, do you prefer a larger torch with a heating tip?

What about body leading?

Thanks

After everyone's recommendations, I ordered a Meco today. Actually, I went ahead and ordered one of Kent's aluminum welding kits since it came with most of what I was going to buy plus a few extras.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Do you mind if I borrow it for a while...?

Yes, I anneal my aluminum with a 2 or a 3 on the Meco. For larger flames I may go to a 7, and then to my big air-propane weed burner.

I use a 3 or 4 tip when doing autobody lead work, and set a big soft flame.
Sometimes if I am doing a large area I will use a 6 tip set small and soft.