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Thread: Oxy/LPG kit

  1. #16
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    Dec 2007
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    Default Oxy/LPG kit

    My other question is what is gouging and when would you want to do it?

    Would the comet 2 be much different to your comet 3 Karl?
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    Lebrina
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    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post
    My other question is what is gouging and when would you want to do it?

    Would the comet 2 be much different to your comet 3 Karl?
    Gouging is used to remove defective welds or to prepare plates for welding, possibly also useful for removing rivet heads, although there are special rivet cutting tips available as well. Sounds to me that gouging is probably not that high on your list of priorities.
    I don't know for sure, but I'm fairly certain that the only difference between the comet 2 and 3 may be in the cutting head Comet 3 tips are type 41 or 44 (41 oxy acetylene, 44 oxy lpg) and are retained by a single nut. I suspect the Comet 2 may be the older screw in style where there isa locking nut that is loosened and then the tip is unscrewed from the head, although this could be an even earlier style. I have one of the earlier screw in style heads and I know it will fit the Comet 3 handpiece, so at worst you may just need to replace the head with a newer style. Spares may be an issue for your Comet 2, but may also be fine. Things like valves etc, O rings will not be a problem.
    Those flashback arrestors should be fine and from memory were the heavy duty high flow version (note their size), theywill fit the regulator end of the hose obviously.
    The beauty of Comet 3 style torches, (possibly your Comet 2 as well), is that they are very generic and Boc, Tesuco, Uniflame, Cigweld along with many others all use the same style.
    Given your financial position, I would definitely go for LPG over Acetylene as you will eliminate one cylinder rental and your gas will also be cheaper.
    It looks like you will need at least an LPG regulator, an oxygen regulator and hoses to start with. Keep an eye out on Gumtree and ebay as well as any local buy and sell groups.
    One word of advice if you do set up either oxy acetylene or oxy lpg. You will find friends you never knew you had who just need this cut, or that heated. That's all well and good, but every time you start the gas up, it costs money, so you do need to charge to at least cover your costs.

  3. #18
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    Sep 2010
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    Lebrina
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    Just checked out evil bay and to give you a bit of an idea, $400 buys you a complete kit with heating and cutting tips, regulators, hoses flashback arrestors, flint lighter, goggles etc. So price any secondhand items acordingly.
    I would expect you local welding supplier should be able to match any ebay prices for new gear. If not, find a new supplier.

  4. #19
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    Dec 2007
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    Melbourne
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    Quote Originally Posted by DSEL74 View Post

    Some of the brands, CIG, BOC, Hampdon, UniMig, Harris, Bossweld, Tesuco.

    Cheers.
    Karl, I know you mentioned CIG & Tesuco tips. Do you have much knowledge on others?
    …..Live a Quiet Life & Work with your Hands

  5. #20
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    Sep 2010
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    Those are the only 2 oxy lpg tips that I have direct experience of, but I have used BOC oxy acetylene tips and they were fine. The main point is to choose brass tips over copper when buying cutting tips.
    If you can stump up the dollars, a complete kit may be the best and easiest option, but if cash is tight, then bit by bit, you should be able to assemble a workable set. Just be careful as a cheap buy that is broken is a total loss if not easily repaired. Hoses I would buy new unless you find an exceptionally good set such as an unwanted gift. If a seller can demonstrate, even better.

  6. #21
    Join Date
    Apr 2002
    Location
    Brisbane
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    429

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    Here are some thaughts.

    First ask ya self, " what will oxy/LPG and oxy/Acet bring me?"

    Second ask ya self what are the big gas consumers.

    Third, remember that bottle rent is no longer an issue.

    If you are talking blacksmithing .... do you currently have a forge ....... if so, a lot of your bulk heating is not an issue ....... if you don't have a forge of some sort, maybee that should be the priority.

    Most working blacksmiths and farriers work with portable LPG or LPG compressed air forges ...... if you have some space and you are handy... perhaps you could go old school wood/ coal/charcoal ..... in which case you can build your own.

    Cutting is a big gas user, regardless of the gas used ........ many of us have purchased modest Plasma cutters ...... That start at around $300 ........ and you will save that in your first big cutting session because you are burning compressed air and electricity.

    A typical $300 plasma cutter will cut 10mm plate OK and 6mm plate pretty damn fine.

    Plasma cutting also opens up a whole world of artistic cutting, they will also cut pretty thin materials well and materials other than steel.

    So back to OXY whatever ......... do you realy need oxy ...... and if you are not doing bulk heating or cutting...... you have just chopped and hacked you gas costs way down ...... so it might be work going with Oxy/ Acet ...... because it gives you that fusion welding capacity.

    Once you have Acetylene ..... and you want to save gas costs for smaller heating and brassing ....... cut out the oxygen costs by using an air mixing tip.

    In the past the choices where few ...... but now we have many more choices.

    cheers
    Any thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
    Most powertools have sharp teeth.
    People are made of meat.
    Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.

  7. #22
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
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    Emerald Central Qld
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    I just went and looked at the alternative to renting oxy/acet bottles, initially its not cheap but depending on how long it takes you to use up a bottle the savings could be worth investigating .

    I currently pay a minimum of $53.00 a month per cylinder , more for the big ones .

    It's about $800 to buy oxy/acet cylinders initially and then you pay around 160 for a bottle of oxy , bit more for acetylene, but you get a new cylinder , like swap and go gas for the barbecue.

    I am going to use up all of my small BOC cylinders and change over.
    The big bottles will still be with BOC ,as I can use a bottle of acetylene and two bottles of oxygen in a single job in a day

    Michael

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