Re: O.T. Horrible Frt Torch set


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Posted by Sherman in Idaho [72.47.153.28] on Sunday, September 14, 2014 at 15:05:24 :

In Reply to: O.T. Horrible Frt Torch set posted by Leon in PA [98.21.58.254] on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 06:26:24 :

I notice nobody has said they actually have experience with that set. But the fact is good old Victor sets are pretty cheap these days because most everyone is welding with newer technologies. I'm sure the Harbor Freight $200 set is the same one all the slightly better tool companies sell as a "light duty" set. If you're going to buy one, you might as well buy it from the cheapest supplier. The main catch with it is you still have to go buy your bottles. I have 3 torch sets -- one good heavy Victor and 2 lighter sets, but old US made.

As for Harbor Freight, I do have their little portable set that you carry like a suitcase. It's sometimes called a refrigeration torch because you can use it with the included air/acetylene burner for silver-soldering refrigeration tubing or for soft-soldering heavier gage water pipe that's too big to do easily with a propane torch. It works fine for what it is, but it's clearly not top quality. It's very convenient, though, if I just need to take it out and cut off a bolt or two or tack-weld something. I do use if for plumbing as well, especially on 1" pipe or if I can't get all the water out.

For what it's worth I have a Harbor Freight rosebud that will probably end up in the scrap pretty soon as I cannot get it to work without the fire going up inside of it.

Old torches that you find at yard sales and flea markets can be a real bargain, especially if they come with OWNED bottles that can be exchanged with YOUR LOCAL gas supplier (be sure, or else you'll be stuck with bottles you can't use), but even a good Victor torch can be "rode hard and put away wet" with valves damaged from being cranked down too tight, threads bunged up, cutting head beat up from being dropped on the concrete, hoses cracked from age or oil, etc.



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