I had a bit of a flashback using a rosebud last week. Scared the bejeezus out of me, too! Dang Victor, made in China crap.............

Sold it all on ebay and got me a little airline Smith torch and some tips. I like to gas weld and silver braze.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have built in flash arrestors (Victor's werent' so hot), so I can't use it yet. However, this thing is made like a watch, very nice and made in the USA!

I plan on getting the FA's that attach to the regs so the handle stays mobile. It also use sthe A size nut and gettting that size for the torch would be problematic.

Any body see anything wrong with this?

Pix attached.

How in the HELL did you manage to steal my torch out of my truck box and get it back in the packaging?

I have about 3 feet of 3/16 whip hose on mine, with 1/4" nuts on one end. That way, I can unscrew other people's torches from their hoses, and use my torch on their gas. It really annoys a lot of people, but it beats hell out of using their crappy torches.

I think with the whip I can also put the flash arrestor between the whip and the 1/4" hose, but I'd have to look. Of course, that's gonna be hard cause Mike swiped my torch.

Actually, the 3/16 hose has a lot of friction in it, and ain't good for more than about 25 feet from the regulators anyhow.

Mike that particular model is a PITA to get accustomed to adjusting if you aren't used to Smith torches. I find it best to purge the hoses a few seconds before lighting, and let it burn acetelene only for a few seconds before turning on the oxygen.

BTW, Smith is now an ITW product, so it's just a matter of time till they make them in the land of sloped foreheads, just like Miller & Hofart components.

Well, sheet! I wish I'd of known it was hard to adjust before I bot the dang thing. All I read was rave reviews. Funny, though.......the book calls for 10 psi in both gases for ALL tips...........I even called them to make sure. Not getting the cutting attachment. Going to get a Harris, I think.....

Hey, do the Western quick disconnects have built in check valves? maybe that's an option..

SCREW quick connectors, they all leake sooner or later.

That little torch will cut 2" steel, what more do you want?

They ain't that hard to light, just a little different than the cheap torches. Once you get it figured out it ain't hard.

Quitcherbychin and get to cuttin.

Well yours MAY cut 2" steel, but mine says 3"!

And OK, I'll get the cutter, too (sorry, bad word, bad word)

You got the same one?

I got a set of quick connects going from my regulators to my hose then from my hose to my torch... I put my regulators and torch in a tool bag then roal my hose up and lock both in my tool box on my truck... Everyday i take my stuff apart i wouldent know what to do with out quickies.... But i hear every one gritch about them scrueing up... I havent had it hapen yet....

Yo Mike ! I don't know what Victor you're using, but mine are made right here in the good ol' USA.

Before I bought my equipment, I did the requesite "researching", and yes, I believe that Smith® makes the best........(do you hear me Uncle Franz......I said SMITH).

Now......after researching the "big three", namely: Smith, Victor & Harris......I bought Victor.....BECAUSE.....everyone uses Victor !

I was looking "down the road".......Victor tips & replacement parts are more readily available.

I love to use my O/A equipment......for cutting AND welding, and I can honestly say that the Victor outfit has never given me grief. It has worked PERFECTLY since the day I bought it.

Marko.

Well, marko, they may not have been made in China land before, but they sure are now. I've been using Victor for 30 years, too!

Now about my problem/ It was my fault, probably. Using a rosebud drawing acetylene faster than the 1/10th (today's figure), that thing was drawing 20 cu ft out of a 145 cu ft tank that was MTY!

Plus, I was in a corner and didn't clean after POP POP POP..............

Still.......once I get burned I never could trust that thing again.

No more rosebuds for me, either!

And about your forge. Building one is easy. Deciding HOW you want it, ain't. Everybody welds using propane around here. You can even get welding heat with a Benzomatic and a tin can! Yup, pack it it mud around a smaller can, and poke your burner in. Everything else is just eye candy.

Of course, with your money.............you can have that too :)

I use a small (#2) victor rosebud. I have a #4 aceytlene (about 150cf) & a 150cf O².....and I don't think I've ever "taxed" them.

I think the rule-of-thumb is 1/7th total acetylene on draw-down........(Uncle Franz will correct me, if i'm wrong).

Now, on "poping a tip"......My opinion is if you pop a tip........SHUT DOWN.......get out the tip cleaners, and ream out the little holes.....(this goes for rosebuds, welding & cutting tips). ;)