torches

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Kessik221

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Nov 2, 2016
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Never bothered with this before, but I'm thinking about getting a propane\oxy acetylene torch for some of my smaller knife work, is there a decent one from harbor freight? Never used a torch before other than starting a wood stove, where to start? thanks.
 
You don't need an oxygen torch for most knife work. I use a couple of air/acetylene torches made by Smith's.
I also have a standard propane torch with hose and hand piece.
 
What does one do with those little bottles when they're empty? Are they disposable/replaceable? Refillable? I know with the larger bottles around here, they have to be one of about two brands to get them filled (swapped). In fact, most places here don't sell them, they have a 'lifetime lease' but they still own the bottle and no one but them are allowed to fill/swap them. If someone brings a torch setup from out of the area they can't get anyone around here to fill/swap them.
 
For me I can fill them at my work or exchange the larger tanks and then fill the small ones like that. Those little bottles can be refilled just about anywhere that has propane.
 
Jesse Smith said:
In fact, most places here don't sell them, they have a 'lifetime lease' but they still own the bottle and no one but them are allowed to fill/swap them. If someone brings a torch setup from out of the area they can't get anyone around here to fill/swap them.
Click to expand...
That policy varies from area to area. Around here they just swap out any legal bottle you have, even if it's out of date. When I moved here I brought bottles from a place several hundred miles away that had not been filled for several (many?) years. The local welding supply swapped them with no problem. A couple yr later I needed to fill again, took to a different place 30 mile away from first place, they also swapped just fine.

The torch setup I linked to says "Thoroughbred cylinders can be exchanged at over 1,300 locations", but I would check for sure before I spent $300. There are some of those small oxy/acetylene bottle sets that are NOT refillable. Be sure to check on that. Sometimes tanks can be found local on Craig's list.
 
My local suppliers refuse to fill or swap those small ones as the oxygen cylinder doesn't have a tulip cap. I've seen guys use them in Canada so it must be down to the specific retailers descretion, but its something to keep in mind. I'd recommend asking the place you'd intend to fill/swap with before buying anything.
 
thanks for the info guys, was looking for something specifically from harbour freight as I had a gift card, but they don't seem to sell what im looking for. Off to lowes I guess!
 
basically what im looking for is something small I can use to do straightening, tempering, and peen tangs and maybe possibly burn through tangs if im desperate.
 
My AirGas supplier will only fill their cylinders, so a suggestion would be to work backwards and call your supplier before buying cylinders. Also the little cylinders don't hold much and are much more expensive to have filled than the larger ones.
 
The harbor freight oxy acetylene kits are the same as present day Victor. They aren't purox or smith, but they'd work well enough. Could buy the torch and regulator set with your gift cards, and get the cylinders from praxair(linde) or air liquide (air gas)
Its not as small and nimble as a jewelers torch, but a full sized oxy acetylene set is very useful to have.
 
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