mtt.tr
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Which why i said my first post its dangerous why buy old kit to repair when you rely on it to function.
Which is an agreement with your post.
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Which why i said my first post its dangerous why buy old kit to repair when you rely on it to function.
Which is an agreement with your post.
Screwdriver
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oh and don’t take the top off an acetylene bottle and test for gas with a naked flame.
why are you suggesting someone dismantle a regulator? I’m not even sure if that’s even possible.
Screwdriver
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yes and they should become familiar with all of the safety information first, which is why I said that first.
this is “argument from authority”. There is no information other than that “I know what I am talking about and you are wrong”. Ideally you would expand your reply to include useful information based on your experience, that is how people learn.
backpurge
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And I merely commented that other gases were just as dangerous as oxy/acetylene which is my last reply to your mails as it’s not helping the op in the slightest
backpurge
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You advised he should replace seals, I replied he shouldn’t start to dismantle any of the kit and used regulators as an example (anyone can get hold of this info from the BCGA website)
In reply to the original question, unless you are very experienced I would stay clear of second hand o/a equipment. You have no way of knowing the history of used equipment and at the very minimum you will be fitting new hoses, regulators & flash back arrestors anyway. By the time you do that you will be close to the price of a complete new set!
As to what set to buy, there is a big selection out there but I would go for something made in the UK or USA to ensure decent quality.
https://www.weldequip.com/hd-gas-welding-set.htm
This is an example of a good starter set buy from our forum sponsor. You can add something like a heating nozzle later.
If I were you I would look at using oxy propane instead of oxy acetylene. It will do everything o/a can do apart from weld plus propane is easier to find & a lot cheaper than acetylene! It will also make your house insurer happier! You will need to decide that before you buy your gear because propane used different hoses & regulators than acetylene!
As to what set to buy, there is a big selection out there but I would go for something made in the UK or USA to ensure decent quality.
https://www.weldequip.com/hd-gas-welding-set.htm
This is an example of a good starter set buy from our forum sponsor. You can add something like a heating nozzle later.
If I were you I would look at using oxy propane instead of oxy acetylene. It will do everything o/a can do apart from weld plus propane is easier to find & a lot cheaper than acetylene! It will also make your house insurer happier! You will need to decide that before you buy your gear because propane used different hoses & regulators than acetylene!
8ob
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I was on the fence with old vs new until I looked at the price of new, I have always used Safire 3 but when you look at the price of second hand and then dial in some new hoses the new in the box kits like @Turbo linked to seem a no brainier. Hose quality has gone down hill in recent years, mine live out and cheap hoses exposed to the elements don’t last a year. 
Bob
Bob
Screwdriver
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See how much more useful that is. I found this: http://www.bcga.co.uk/assets/publications/TIS19.pdf
Which states: "BCGA Policy BCGA no longer support refurbishment of components by the user. It is recommended that the user purchases a new component, or if refurbishment is necessary, then the component is returned back to the manufacturer for refurbishment to take place."
This is yet another example of industry wanting to retain ownership of the products you buy. Bit like Tesla and Apple, just because you buy a product from us, doesn't mean you own it or have the right to repair. We would much rather you buy another one (from us). Well, yes of course they would say that, wouldn't they...
So rather than suggest you rip apart an old regulator (
) I am thinking more about the replacement tips or nozzles for example which may have a rubber/silicon "O" ring. It is quite likely that even a new old stock welding torch will have an old "O" ring somewhere that might perish over time. If I buy a new item, use it once and leave it in a cupboard for a decade (not that that ever happens 
), I'll be damned if I am going to go out and buy another new one, nor should I be forced to return it to the manufacturer for them to "safely" install a new seal.The downside to this slippery slope of oppressive so called "safety" inspired usury is that manufacturers will increasingly be entitled to refuse to provide spare parts for their products. In the motorcycle world, that would be a disaster, in the tech world it just means you pay through the nose for a "swap repair". You never "own" anything, you're effectively "renting" it from the manufacturer who will insist on getting more money out of you during your period of rent. We should resist this legislation for as long as possible for a multitude of reasons.
Not the least of which is of course "safety". What happens if someone like me gets hold of a decent looking bit of kit that has one small part missing/broken/damaged? Well I'll fix it of course but what if I can't buy a spare part from the manufacturer? What if they unilaterally decide "not to bother" with the onerous and expensive task of planned maintenance including a spares catalogue for their new products? Well then I'll just have to bodge it won't I.
I have seen similar safety requirements leading to greater danger in for example the I.T. industry where fantastically complex security regimes are forced into practice and the very first thing a sensible engineer does is to install a "back door" into the system. Take for example the UK's own ONS database. The most massive database of everything about everyone. That's gonna be super secure right? Yeah, only on paper. I used to work at the company who run it and in a secure room where no PC server has a USB port or CD rom drive and the network connection is three factor secure including metronomic passkeys, ridiculous passphrase requirements and a letter from your dad, the geek squad sneak a laptop in there so they can do their job.
It is a slippery slope allowing this creeping commercialisation to become law
mtt.tr
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I was on the fence with old vs new until I looked at the price of new, I have always used Safire 3 but when you look at the price of second hand and then dial in some new hoses the new in the box kits like @Turbo linked to seem a no brainier. Hose quality has gone down hill in recent years, mine live out and cheap hoses exposed to the elements don’t last a year.
Bob
That set above is a bargain, i agree with hoses ours are years old and still in really good condition have an old propane plumbing torch hose must be 30 years old still in perfect condition and airlines.
I looked at a rent free set deposit on o/a was £450
backpurge
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Totally agreeGuys please stop arguing on this thread, you will end up getting it locked.
brightspark
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if the op can source some second hand gear not too old in good condition at a good price and is confident at what to look at go for it if not buy new .theres nothing wrong with using oxy acet if you read up on the procedures . a lot of information available 
had my set well over 40 years without incident and self taught .gas welding is far more versatile than a mig . just not quite as quick as most are used in business to make money . the price of bottle rental rental will put most off . most people who say its dangerous don't even own them 
don't be put off by a lot of negative comments but stay safe
had my set well over 40 years without incident and self taught .gas welding is far more versatile than a mig . just not quite as quick as most are used in business to make money . the price of bottle rental rental will put most off . most people who say its dangerous don't even own them don't be put off by a lot of negative comments but stay safe
mtt.tr
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The sole reason i haven't replaced mine, ran out end of last year on the fence as to bother or not
willie.macleod
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Oxygen and acetylene cylinders are available on the BOC hobbyweld deal, saves the huge deposit on the rent-free options.
mtt.tr
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8ob
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I have gone rent free on co2 mix, argon and oxy, dont seem able to find Acetylene so stuck with BOC on that. The propylene on offer wont weld so I think in this area we are stuck with Air Products or BOC for the moment.
Bob
Ashley Burton
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Oxy Propane or Mapp gas here!
Unless you want to gas weld, I wouldn't bother with Acetylene
I bought my kit new & I'm going to be honest it wasn't that expensive
Unless you want to gas weld, I wouldn't bother with Acetylene
I bought my kit new & I'm going to be honest it wasn't that expensive
willie.macleod
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I think rental of oxygen is around £60 each a year for a size Y, about the same price for size J acetylene. Now a charge of about six quid to pick up the bottles as well.
willie.macleod
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Local supplier of Hobbyweld:
