COE Oxy acetylene questions.

Hey experienced caboverers out there.
I have a few questions regarding oxy acetylene set ups.
I rescued a set of oxy and acetylene regulators that my wifes grandparents were going to throw away cuz they looked "broken"
The brand is Purex.
Messing with one of them, I actidentally broke the oxy fitting that has the hose to the torch.
The threaded part is inside the fitting.
QUESTION:
Can I safely drill and tap that threaded part out or is there a risk that it would leak.

I was hoping I could buy some torches, new hoses and get my Father inlaws bottle tested and filled so I could learn how to gas weld.
Besides EVERY man needs a torch right?

QUESTION 2:
Is Northen Tool brand torches a good set to start learning with?
Thanks guys.

 

I have no idea about northern tool stuff, but I personally would stick with a good name brand when it comes to this kind of tool.
From your post, you don't seem to have much experience with oxy-acetylene, so if I were you I would take those regulators to a good welding supply dealer and have them checked over by someone who has knowledge. You are playing with 2000 psi in an oxygen cylinder, and if the regulator isn't working properly, it is possible to force oxygen over into the acetylene cylinder and when that happens your friends and neighbors will drive past your house gawking at the hole in the ground where you were standing when it went bang!

 

Thank fully we dont have neighbors.
But will def do that.or just buy a new kit..
Just love the good old well made stuff.

 

Bought some cheap ones once and that's what they ended up being . Back flashing , pres. not staying while welding and cutting . Junked them and bought some victors and never had any problems . Not a place to skimp on safety !

 

Our local welding supply house does repairs etc, I second the suggestion to see if your local shop can get them back in order. You may also run into the bottles not being up to date and it may be cheaper to rent the bottles short term.
I bought a nice victor copy new and have been using them for 15 years with no trouble. Having a current model is nice so you can get consumables easily.

 

I get gauges and torches rebuilt all the time. The welding supply house takes care of this for me. Getting old tanks inspected isn't cheap. Most likely they will replace all the parts like the valve and pressure release. Stamp it with a date, then fill them. Might be easier and cheaper just to rent some small tanks for now.

 

Have them professionally rebuilt, but GET A QUOTE FIRST!

I took my dad's old set in to my local AirGas for a rebuild. They called two weeks later saying they were done. I picked them up... and a bill for $400!!!! I told them what they could do with their bill, as I could have bought all new gauges, regulators and torches for that amount.

My local AirGas store has a history of doing such things to people I learned later.

 

Ok.thanks...I guess that wont go into my prio***y list then.
Ive heard stories about the tanks blowing up and the details.
It reminded of a saying in spanish.
"When that thing blows up, you wont have enough extrement to throw aroung"

 

When I was a kid I saw an AD chevrolet pick-up that had an oxygen bottle go through the cab, pretty tore up! Dude was cutting up iron in a junk yard and something fell on the bottle laying in the pick-up box and knocked the valve off. The bottle went through the cab and along side the engine and ended up a couple of hundred feet in front of the truck.

 

When I was young and dumb( just dumb now) I was caring a set of tanks ,no caps, in the back of my old first ser. 55 chevy and oxy bottle came out . I was running about 50 mph and the bottle hit on and broke off the valve and it took off p***ing my truck before it hit a big pole . And yes my dad did beat me.

 

I hate AirGas. I would take it anywhere but there for repairs. Everything I get there is expensive as heck and they always have some BS charges like "fuel surcharge" or "hazmat charge". I only go there if I have to.

 

I originally bought my Oxygen bottle from AGA and that morphed into Airgas so I am stuck with them. They always ask me if I'm using this for breathing purposes, one time I said "only when hung over" Boy did I get a lecture, I told the idiot that I was joking and the only difference between breathing oxygen and cutting torch oxygen was the chrome valve and the price. He wasn't happy.