http://www.cut-like-plasma.com/info_video_library.htm a buddy of mine showed me this today at work... have any of you used this? what do you think? -Relay
heard nothing but great things. just like anything else, probably something of a learning curve... tried getting my boss to buy one but he bought a victor instead. i'm buying one for my shop next year.
I watched a guy demonstrate one at a car show years ago, and tried it out a little bit. It seemed pretty nice with a nice precision flame. I thought about buying one for a while but I have since bought a plasma cutter and I already have a nice old Smiths oxy/acetylene torch and a Mig welder, so I guess I don't need one. A plasma cutter can cut pretty much any metal. I think the Henrob can only cut steel.
i use one quite a bit. the only downside is if you're using it all day to weld, it can get heavy. i'd like to try a Mico midget for welding one of these days.
I have used it to weld aluminum at a swap meet. Made a believer out of me. For the hobbyist it gets my vote. It does cut like a plasma. The other sweet weld torch is a meco not mico. Yeah it's lighter and also a ton cheaper, but a plasma cutter it isn't. When it comes to welding an aluminum casting a gas torch is THE way to go. I will probably get both in the future.
I love my Henrob (Dillon, Henrob, Cobra, DHC200, whatever they call it this week)! I use it for cutting sheetmetal (there is a learning curve for cutting heavier stuff, and I haven't practiced enough to get the hang of it) as well as for welding steel and aluminum. Got the big Victor and a couple of MIGs in the garage, but the Henrob beats them all dor most of the work I do. Wish I could get tips for my Meco Aviator Jet! Kent White does a conversion, but it's a bit pricey for what it is. The Aviator jet is an aluminum bodied torch that just has a cool feel to it, it's a bit bigger than the Meco Midget. Meco was a torch manufacturer that made a variety of torches. After they were bought out by Victor, I think the Midget is the only torch left with the Meco name on it. Tim D.
Looking into these, does anybody know if the regulators that they sell with the kit are any different than a standard oxy/ace torch?
In the 'intro' video, the guy says that they are a complete replacement for the standard torch. They use the same regulators, hoses and connections. Looks like a great alternative for a hobbist wanting a plasma cutter. That is if they already have a torch too. Vance
I looked long and hard at buying one of these, but eventually decided that even though the cut is MUCH cleaner than a normal torch cut, it would still need cleaned up much more than something cut with a cutoff wheel, at least for bodywork. So, since I'd end up using a cutof wheel for most of my stuff anyhow and had little use for the cutting attachements, I decided at that point to buy a Meco Midget instead. At $115, it's a much better deal and has the same small, precise flame without the hokey 'stands' which is only a means to force you to get the torch tip the right distance from your work, something you should learn to do in the course of becoming a good gas welder anyhow. The Meco being lighter is just an added bonus. This thread helped sell me... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145993&highlight=Meco
i had to take gas welding as part of my aviation mechanic certifications and i loved it. This is the first time ive seen one of these set ups. I like the plasma torch action this thing sports. You guys think these things would be any good for welding 2x3 for a frame?
I bought one, sad to say I never mastered it, may have been my regulators though. I just use it to heat and bend stuff. Ended up buying a TIG for welding.
I bought one last year in Bakersfield, at a show (yes the one put on by the 'street' people). I have yet to use it, as I have been busy with other stuff (this thread makes me want to break it out right now though). I learned some gas welding from my father, but I got alot better in the cl*** I had to take for my Aircraft Mechanic's certification (no longer required ). I wanted the plasma like cuts, as I already have a torch setup, all I bought was the torch kit with the 'Gas Saver" and the aluminum kit (some rod, flux, the blue lens for your goggles, wasn't much extra).
On a related issue, where is the cheapest place to pick up a gas saver? I've seen the $140 McMaster-Carr one and I really like everything I've bought from them and their shipping is second-to-none, but it seems a bit pricey just the same...
a quick google search shows this one for 40 something http://store.weldingdepot.com/cgi/weldingdepot/22100QFY.html?id=xB9ZSKGp
this is one of those things that if you could play with it for a few months before purchasing it.........you may say, "wow, i wish i would have bought one of these a long time ago," or you might say, "what a waste of money" i'd just like to know....i think i'll try one out when i'm at springfield's next swap meet......in a month or so
The Henrod etc. torch runs at very low pressures something like 2 LBS the average regulators won't give you good results at these low pressures.My brother in law bought one of these torches years ago when they were out only about a year he bought new regulators after trying to run his set from his standard torches.He is very heavily involved in aircraft construction and wouldn't have bought new regulators if he didn't see a real need.He has built 2 aircraft from scratch and both got certified so he knows his stuff
Using their low pressure regulators makes a BIG difference in how these torches run.I would bet that those who don't like these torches tried to run regular regulators with it.
I used one of these things today to make a **** weld on some sheet metal. It seemed to weld no different than a victor style torch. the only draw to buying one I think is the fact that it works at really low presures. the shape of the torch felt kinda clumsey to me, and because it works at low presures I don't think heavy stuctural welding on things like frames would be recomened. I would say its more for things that need a little finesse. I'm not trying to dog the tool, I actually wouldn't mind owning one also, but I think it's not always the right tool for every job.
I have one. I never really mastered it. I bought a Plasma cutter and was cutting like a pro in a matter of minutes. I have a victor torch and my Plasma for all my cutting needs...
I bought one a couple years ago, got the complete setup with low pressure regulators. I've played around with it, welding odds and ends, but no major projects. I really like it for sheet metal, heavy stuff takes a lot of heat. One key is using the right size tip. It seems to work best with a very soft flame, no noise or hissing. If you need more heat, don't crank up the pressure, put on a larger tip.
Here's something I did as practice when I first got my torch. Not the prettiest bead, but it gives an idea of the bead size it is capable of.
Sweet, dude. I've done that search before with the only results being hybrid foreign cars. You saved me $100. Thanks.
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