Oxy-acetylene equipment choices

[Mike Switzer]

And here in the upper midwest NOBODY sells cylinders anymore, they only rent, that is how they make their $$$$, the margin on the gas is non-existent

[Aaron Novak]

Up here in WI we own our cylinders, few people rent. Mine are in the 150 CF range and I have 7 total. Airgas is about 80% of the business here.

[Bugs66]

Meco Midget torch with light weight hoses is what I used for my project. Once you use this little torch you won't use any other for O/A thinwall welding. www.tinmantech.com

[Mike Switzer]

Up here in WI we own our cylinders, few people rent. Mine are in the 150 CF range and I have 7 total. Airgas is about 80% of the business here.

It must be a regional thing, I have worked construction jobs in MO, IL, & IN & we always had to rent, it was about impossible to find anyone who would fill our cylinders.

[Aaron Novak]

Can't say as I blame the welding suppliers, I wouldn't trust a Bears fan to own cylinders either . The Meco is a nice little torch, and with longer necks it is handy for tubing work, however.....I have found that it has its limitations on heavier sections like landing gear fittings. Back in the days of aircraft production with O/A they would commonly use a "full size" torch for the heavy sections, and the "aircraft torch" for everything else. The sheet welders had small torches like the Midget, or a Victor J-40 or a Marquette P. I find myself doing the same thing.
-Aaron

[Mike Switzer]

Hey now.... I am NOT a Bears fan (even though they started here in Decatur). My family has always rooted for the Packers.

Although I'm more of a baseball guy, as long as the Tigers are still in the race I don't watch much football.

[Jeff Point]

Ditto the Bears comment. And since when is central Illinois in the "upper midwest?" Last time I was there I detected the hint of a southern drawl. Does it even snow there?

[Mike Switzer]

Well, it sure isn't Dixie. Illinois is the state that gave us that no good Yankee president


(And yes people, that is a joke)

[Aaron Novak]

Hey Guys,
I was going through the shop this weekend cleaning off the shelves and realized that I had some duplicate torches and parts. As an FYI I kind of have a small museum collection of O/A welding torches that were used in aircraft type production, about 70 of them, most being brands that havent existed in 50 years. Anyway I have a spare Victor J28 setup with a handle from 1950's and a full set ( 000-#4) tips that are about 5 years old. The handle is in like new condition as are the tips. If anyone is interested send me a PM or e-mail me at aaron_novak(at)mercmarine.com.
Thanks!!

[Frank Forney]

It's been a while but let's see if I can revive this thread.
What size cylinders are other builders using?
What length of hose are you using?
Do you raise the outlet pressure to compensate for pressure drop?

The reason I ask is because my shop is small, it would be most convenient to mount the cylinders to the shop wall and use 25 ft. hoses. This would enable me to reach everything in the project, including outdoors in front of the shop where I will start practice work and small part fabrication.

Alternatively, I could use the 10 ft. lightweight hose and a cylinder cart if it really is best to be right next to the regulators, and if standard hose is too ungainly and pressure drop is unacceptable in the longer hose.

The equipment I have so far is the Miller Smith Airline AW1A torch and tips and a rudimentary welding table. Since I will have to wrangle the cylinders myself into and out of the car, they can’t be too heavy. On an EAA forum thread, somebody said 80 cu. ft. of oxygen is enough to weld more than one fuselage. Can that be true?