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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Gatton, QLD
    Posts
    35

    Default O/A kit - recommendation

    I've been wanting to try gas welding for years, but the cylinder rental scheme put me off. Now that I can get cylinders at Bunnings effectively 'rent free', I'm keen.

    Although I have stick and MIG exposure, I know little about gas welding kit. What would you recommend that is reliable, SAFE and hopefully economical for a 'newbie gas welder'? I don't expect to do a lot of cutting, mostly welding.

    Thank you,

    Ted

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi Ted,
    No cutting is good, as that is what consumes lots of your oxy, big time.Heating consumes loads of oxy and acetylene. Welding, brazing and silver brazing consume very little by comparison.

    As for the torch,welding nozzles ,hoses and regulators buy the best.

    In cylinder size you can choose from D and E sized cylinders.D in the long run can be be more economical if you will be using the rig a lot.

    What you need, capacity -wise depends on what you envisage doing.

    In my opinion we Aussies have have one of worlds best oxy acetylene equipment makers in Cigweld which have been the gold standard for many years.

    Theres a smaller Cigweld kit that plumbers use and for the life of me cant remember what model its called for the moment.Someone will be along later with the answer,hopefully.

    Cigweld hopefully still sell the Comet 3 torch and other one and fittings that well exceeds Australian standards. Others may not have the high quality internal seats/ valves of stainless steel where needed.

    Be very,very,wary of certain overseas imports that could blow up in your hand or worse.

    Do keep in contact and show us what you end up choosing.

    Cheers

    Grahame

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    Just to add to what Grahame said the plumbers kit does not include a cutting torch, if you are ever going to do some cutting buy the basic welding & cutting kit, if you buy the cutting torch separately it works out to three times the price. I second the Cigweld although not made in Australia any longer it is still the highest quality, Cigweld's parent company is now Linde Gas

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Gatton, QLD
    Posts
    35

    Default

    First of all, 'Thank you' for your helpful replies! Much appreciated!

    I'm sitting on the fence with the O/A set up, I have a cheap AC 'buzz box' that suits me just fine, but of course it's tied to mains power unless I get a generator. So to gain portability for the 'buzz box' I'm looking at putting out at least a $1,000 (probably more) for a cheap generator. Which will require some maintenance, but also has back-up power capability.

    The O/A set up probably around $500.00 (not counting cylinder deposits), has no back-up power capability and I will have to gain a new skill (no problem there)! But has the advantage of thin metal welding capability, which I currently don't have with stick/arc.

    So to help me decide, can someone familiar with O/A give me the assurance that O/A is suitable for welding RHS and cattle rail 2mm - 4mm thick? The O/A would primarily be used for small out of shop welding jobs here on the farm. Any in shop work I would use arc (or O/A if this material).

    Thank you again.

    Ted

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by twebb01 View Post

    I'm sitting on the fence with the O/A set up, I have a cheap AC 'buzz box' that suits me just fine, but of course it's tied to mains power unless I get a generator.

    But has the advantage of thin metal welding capability, which I currently don't have with stick/arc.

    can someone familiar with O/A give me the assurance that O/A is suitable for welding RHS and cattle rail 2mm - 4mm thick?
    Well Ted you will hate my answer as its yes and no.

    Is oxy acetylene suitable for welding 2-4mm RHS and cattle rail ?

    Yes OA can perform the welding within that metal thickness range range but it is a slow process, which is its drawback.

    At the time I replied, I had envisaged a hobbyist or diyer working with light metal work projects or car restoration,where oxy acetylene process shines, not for a farmer where his time is important.

    4mm thickness is certainly possible but 2mm might be pushing it. It ok on an Dc inverter but I read buzz box here, meaning to me an AC transformer which starts the arc explosively( not kaboom,but think major voltage surge to kick the arc off- and then big bloody hole in 2mm thick metal)

    Be cautious with selecting the generator.

    Take some advice from a qualified industry professional re pairing your buzz box with a suitable generator of suitable output. I am really not the one to recommend sizing but feel I wouldn't go less than a 7Kw generator in that application.

    Grahame

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Location
    Far West Wimmera
    Age
    63
    Posts
    4,049

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Grahame Collins View Post
    Hi Ted,
    No cutting is good, as that is what consumes lots of your oxy, big time.Heating consumes loads of oxy and acetylene. Welding, brazing and silver brazing consume very little by comparison.

    As for the torch,welding nozzles ,hoses and regulators buy the best.

    In cylinder size you can choose from D and E sized cylinders.D in the long run can be be more economical if you will be using the rig a lot.

    What you need, capacity -wise depends on what you envisage doing.

    In my opinion we Aussies have have one of worlds best oxy acetylene equipment makers in Cigweld which have been the gold standard for many years.

    Theres a smaller Cigweld kit that plumbers use and for the life of me cant remember what model its called for the moment.Someone will be along later with the answer,hopefully.

    Cigweld hopefully still sell the Comet 3 torch and other one and fittings that well exceeds Australian standards. Others may not have the high quality internal seats/ valves of stainless steel where needed.

    Be very,very,wary of certain overseas imports that could blow up in your hand or worse.

    Do keep in contact and show us what you end up choosing.

    Cheers

    Grahame
    Maybe you might want to revise that "D in the long run can be be more economical if you will be using the rig a lot.".

    I might be reading this wrong, but "D" is the smaller cylinder at 1.7m3 compared with 4.0m3 for the "E". I only see the "D" on Bunnies website. Is this the only size they carry?

    Dean

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Thanks Dean,
    You are of course correct.
    I must have had my brain in backwards, or low blood sugar, it happens now and again.

    thanks'

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Gatton, QLD
    Posts
    35

    Default

    Grahame,

    Just to clarify the 'farmer' business. I'm a hobby farmer and since retired have more time than money! So if you think the O/A will handle the occasional cattle rail and/or 2 - 3mm RHS. I'm leaning that way!

    To get me off the fence, I thought I might hire a 6 or 7kw generator for my next 'project' and see how it goes with my buzz box. As a 'fixed income' person and not expecting to do a lot of out-of-shop welding, I'm thinking the O/A might be the more practical approach.

    Thank you again for your very helpful and informed input!

    Cheers,

    Ted

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Gatton, QLD
    Posts
    35

    Default

    China,

    Thanks for that input, I plan to get a kit with a cutting torch and although cutting isn't on the immediate horizon, I'm sure a need will pop up. I'd rather have the tool and not need it than........ well you!

    Cheers,

    Ted

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Lebrina
    Posts
    1,910

    Default

    For your type of work, the generator and buzz box will be a far better choice than oxy welding. Unless you have a comprehensive set of cordless power tools, you are going to need power on site to cut, grind and drill your steel sections, so you may as well use the electricity to weld with as well. Provided you can fit your joints reasonably well, then 2mm steel should not be too big an issue with a decent 2.5mm electrode such as WIA Austarc 12P, Murex Speedex 12, Smootharc 12 or any similar electrode with a viscous slag allowing vertical down welding. Oxy welding will handle your 2-4mm material, but will be slow going and will destroy a lot of the galvanised coating often found on cattle rail and RHS sections.
    Having spent a significant amount of my working life in isolated paddocks with my only company being an AC buzz box and a petrol powered generator, I would echo Grahame's advice regarding generator sizing.
    I don't know how much welding you will be doing away from civilisation, but if there is a bit to be done, I would keep my eye open on gumtree etc and try to find an old Lincoln 400AS or similar. These units typically bring low prices and offer a whopping 400A of DC welding bliss as well as a 240V power supply and are often Perkins diesel powered. These units were the mainstay of industrial site welding crews, but no longer comply with OH&S requirements for VRD's. I know of two around my neck of the woods that went for $1200 and $1500 respectively, both working and Perkins diesel powered on trailers. Try and buy a decent generator for that.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Bunbury WA
    Posts
    98

    Default

    I have used oxy-acet welding for years and in your situation it would be a waste of time, you would be far better off getting a Lincoln Flux core welder for general farm welding, I have no idea how a generator would go with it.

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