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Author Topic: Cutting torch repair?  (Read 1876 times)

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Offline Twilight Fenrir

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Cutting torch repair?
« on: July 14, 2014, 11:28:33 AM »
Hello,

I picked up a pile of cutting torches/regulators/hoses at a rummage sale a while ago, and one of the torches has a dent in the inlet, where the hose connects to the body, making it leak. It's just barely there, but it would obviously need to be fixed before it could be put into service.

Any ideas what would be the best means of repair? I'm guessing the inlet needs to be reamed, but with what?
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Offline Aunt Phil

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Re: Cutting torch repair?
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2014, 01:44:45 PM »
SCRAP BUCKET before you kill somebody!
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Offline amecks

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Re: Cutting torch repair?
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2014, 02:22:17 PM »
Can you use one of the other torches?  If not then take it to a welding supply outfit.  Sometimes repairs are reasonable.  Drop it off and ask for an estimate.  Make sure you tell them to check the whole torch since you don't know its condition.
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Al
Jordan, NY

Offline Nolatoolguy

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Re: Cutting torch repair?
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2014, 03:20:22 PM »
I wouldn't touch any used oxy fuel torches, regulators, an hoses.

Mainly I don't know there condition internallly. I have heard horror stories of idiots oiling the gauges when there not meant to be or vise versa. Then threads can be messed up or like you said some idiot put a dent in it.

You can buy rebuild kits for some torches but it's something I myself don't trust myself to do.

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Offline rusty

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Re: Cutting torch repair?
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2014, 05:25:24 PM »
> best means of repair?

None, sorry.

The metal shape of the inlet fiting is precision made to match the precision made piece on the hose, it is a metal to metal fitting, and what keeps it from leaking is that the 2 pieces fit into each other **exactly**, if you damage either end, it doesn't work, and without the tooling and jigs to make the piece on the torch exactly the correct shape, it is gonna leak.

The only repair possible is if you can replace the base part of the torch, and very few torches have that piece removable, it is generally all made as one piece.

This is why when some klutz throws your torch on the bench, you chase the idiot around the shop with a 48" pipe wrench ;P

Until you have seen an acetylene explosion, you can not possibly image how violently the stuff can misbehave. Gasoline is a kiddie play toy, acetylene explosions with just a few cubic feet of gas can break windows two blocks away...

The very very last thing you want to be playing with is a leaky torch, a leaky hose, or a leaky regulator...

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Offline Twilight Fenrir

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Re: Cutting torch repair?
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2014, 09:47:34 PM »
Well, welding gear from around here tends to have a pretty good background. I live in Minnesota. I swear 90% of the population here were welders for the mines at one point or another :P And, I more or less knew the people I bought it from. The regulators, and hoses are fine. One of the other torches needs a new o-ring, nothing too big...

It is worth pointing out, I'm using oxy/propane, not acetylene. Acetylene IS terrifying stuff! There are SOOOOO many things that make it just explode XD But, propane is waaay cheaper.

I have a history in plumbing, so I knew they were metal to metal fittings, as that they were machined to fit one another. Just wondered if there was a special tool available for it or not.

It's a lovely antique brass torch, and I would really like to have it working. But, I use my grandpa's industrial Smith torch for everything anyway :P Sucker will cut up to 9" of steel with the right tip, which, is terrifying...
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Offline Chillylulu

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Re: Cutting torch repair?
« Reply #6 on: July 14, 2014, 11:48:11 PM »
Quote from: Aunt Phil on July 14, 2014, 01:44:45 PM
SCRAP BUCKET before you kill somebody!
+1

Chilly

If it is a good looking tool, hang it on a wall.
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Offline scottg

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Re: Cutting torch repair?
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2014, 01:40:32 AM »
 If its cool looking, just cut off the offending part with a hacksaw, then even it up with a file. Now its a nice decorative object and can't pose a danger to anybody.
 
I had a really unusual torch once. It was a Victor. It was really short, but it was really really wide.  (Short fat fanny? Wasn't there a song?)
  It was made to take a big tip. I always wondered if it was for shipboard or heavy equipment or other close quarter work.
  I gave it to a friend to hang on the wall. 

 Completely rebuildable, quality, heavy old torches are easy to find.
I sold a real pretty, and bulletproof reliable Purox torch, with a couple of brazing/welding tips, for 25 bucks and it took me a while to find a buyer. 
  Only reason I sold it was because I got an Oxweld with lots of extra parts.

 Oh yeah the good stuff is out there, if you look around much at all.
     yours Scott
   
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