Mix n match Oxy/acetylene gauges
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Topic: Mix n match Oxy/acetylene gauges
Posted By: Thad in AR.
Subject: Mix n match Oxy/acetylene gauges
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 6:01am
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I have a old torch set. Harris heavy duty. The torch wore out so I bought a victor handle and torch. It works but the pressure drifts constantly and you have to continually adjust. I believe the oxygen regulator is shot. I see all kinds of regulators for sale. Can I mix n match? Is it a no no to buy Harbor freight regulators and use with my victor torch? I also don’t have back flow preventers . I’d like to get up and running again and safely. |
Replies:
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 6:44am
| By mix n match, do you mean like brands /type? If so, yes. Personally, I would never put any used regulator on my oxygen tank, that's asking for trouble if you don't know what all it's been through. |
Posted By: Thad in AR.
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 7:58am
Tbone I mean buy a new reg of a different brand and possibly A cheap brand? Maybe a a matched pair of cheap but still use the victor torch handle. |
Tbone95 wrote:Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 8:17am
| Yeah, I mean, as long as the fittings fit up, and the regulator does what you need, I don't know why there would be an issue. If you don't need "top shelf", and I don't know why you would, I'd think you'd be fine. I only meant, if you go cheap, I wouldn't go cheap by going used. |
Posted By: Dorix
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 9:04am
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I don't know if this helps you but some years ago I bought a set of used Dockson requlators, and sent them to Dockson to be rebuilt instead of buying new.
And yes ox requlators that you get used could be dangerous.
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Posted By: Dakota Dave
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 9:22am
| Torch dosent care what brand regulators you attach it to. Get both while your at it and don't use it till you put backflow preventers on it. You've probably been using for years but one backfire with a little low pressure and you'll be paying in pain. A complete harbor freight set won't be much more than regulator and backflow preventers and you'll have new hoses too. |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 10:10am
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I just had my oxy regulator rebuilt by a local shop and it came back as good or better than new. All new parts and total cost was only $80. |
Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 2:38pm
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When I closed the shop where I was manager , I saved around 20 regulators and flow meters , many were Nitrogen regulators and some other gas types , most were 2 stage so the drift ad pressure in tank dropped the work pressure did not change dramatically . So my 4 sets of Oxy / Acc torches are equipped with all different brands or regulators as well as torch barrels - From Victor , Wards , Harbor Freight , Harris , Smith , and as one gives trouble , the hoard of used regulators gets raided . Found the diaphragms' in most will hold up to many different gas types , as will the flow controls used on my wire feed units . Acetylene regulators work on MAPP as well as Propane , Nitrogen regulators will control Oxygen with the change of the input pipe , Have a few converter fittings where one type of regulator can be easily hooked to a different output tank . Seems from using 3 different types of gas , now have 5 or 6 different ones that I myself use or son does in his side of shop. ------------- Life lesson: If you’re being chased by a lion, you’re on a horse, to the left of you is a giraffe and on the right is a unicorn, what do you do? You stop drinking and get off the carousel. |
Posted By: HudCo
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 7:01pm
| just make sure that if you use any kind of pipedope or teflon tape that it is oxegen rated , i have seen some pretty mean oxgen explosions have from things done wrong when doing some pipe fitting and welding out at the steel mill several years ago |
Posted By: KJCHRIS
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2022 at 7:24pm
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Regulator brand will make no difference. Use regulator for the product it's designed for; ie., an oxygen regulator on oxygen, acetylene on acetylene. ------------- AC 200, CAH, AC185D bareback, AC 180D bareback, D17 III, WF. D17 Blackbar grill, NF. D15 SFW. Case 1175 CAH, Bobcat 543B, |
Posted By: Thad in AR.
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 4:51am
Where would I find the proper thread sealant? Thanks . |
Posted By: Thad in AR.
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 4:54am
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As someone mentioned, I can buy the whole HF set for the price of a regulator. Would this set come with built in flashback protectors? I’ve been reading reviews and think I’ll buy the heavy duty Victor type. |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 6:59am
This is why I made my comment about not getting a used regulator. You never know what somebody may have done, for example take an oxy regulator, maybe use it for something else, maybe dope it or whatever, it's just not worth the risk. Back when I worked at the U, a great old professor I did research with had a good friend who was also a professor. A grad student of his friend put together a regulator for an oxygen system, sealed the threads with something (don't know what exactly), and when he turned it on the regulator blew up, a hunk of shrapnel sliced the side of his neck and the kid bled to death. The friend of my boss killed himself, he just couldn't stand the thought of that kid dying, thinking he should have taught him about what happened. (*EDIT*) Thinking this over, I'm not sure it was actually a regulator the student installed. May have been other piping or valves or whatever. Been a while!
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Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 7:06am
Should be a dry sealed system, not needing a sealant on the threads? But there are sealants safe for oxygen if need be.
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Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 10:46am
| Come guys come out and say it. NEVER EVER NEVER use oil used as lubricante on treads around pure oxygen. There use to be safety posters with that in most welding supply store here. Not so much anymore. Just because all of you know that............................you just never know what kind of freebe guys might stumble onto this. Let them earn their Darwin award without our help. |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 10:52am
Yes, Ray, but "oil" isn't inclusive enough! Some surprising things have enough of a hydrocarbon structure to go boom under enough pressure.
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Posted By: Ray54
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 11:04am
 Thanks T I like the hydrocarbon term. |
Posted By: Coke-in-MN
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 2:29pm
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Neighbor's friend decided a oxygen cylinder and regulator would make a good portable air supply for spray painting his motorcycle tank a new color . Worked great for a few minutes UNTIL full system reacted , he lost a eye and part of his shop along with gas tank and rest of his painting supplies . ( Sometimes the good intention and well planned shortcut don't work out ) ------------- Life lesson: If you’re being chased by a lion, you’re on a horse, to the left of you is a giraffe and on the right is a unicorn, what do you do? You stop drinking and get off the carousel. |
Posted By: DMiller
Date Posted: 08 Dec 2022 at 2:59pm
| Only time had to match Regs to Torch was on a Airco Cutmaster. Hoses were Larger, Regulators had to Flow faster at a given pressure to feed the head. Only Two valves on head, Fuel and O2, would end up both Wide Open to feed it hard enough. Torch head itself was designed for Shipyard work, on extra thick Armor Belting and almost four feet long. Tip looked more like a rocket motor. Swapped that to LP for awhile, Airco had special regulator JUST for the Cutmaster and LP with a different tip. Rough mother to handle and HAD to wear leathers. |