Sheetmetal welding with a Midget torch?

I've seen some reference to the Meco Midget-style torch for gas welding sheetmetal. I want to learn how to hammerweld sheetmetal, and I want to get the right equipment. I've looked at the Henrob and I have a regular torch (having some trouble controlling the heat). Would the Midget torch be good for sheetmetal welding?

 

I have a small jewelers torch that works really well.

 

Victor maded a great torch for hammer welding, it is their model J28. I have had mine about 25 years. I dont know if they still made it. If they do get it and double 00 tip for 18 gague and a triple 000 for 20 gague. They work great.

 

I also use a Victor 100c, I love it, ooo or oo as Flathead 34 said. Easy to control and I hold it like a tig torch. I was going to get the Meco, but picked up the Victor at a swap meet.
The thing that gets me with the Henrob is that you always have to hold in pistol fashion......but i dont want to always hold it in a pistol fashion..............you dig??!!

 

i use a mig with a sprung ceramic flat plate in the end so you can pres hard on it pull the triggger and drag, it makes it so you don't have to hammer your welds.

 

The Meco is a neat torch, EAA folks use them on aircraft fopr the smal HAZ.

 

Me too.

 

I've got a Midget. With the tips I have, it welds 18 ga and thinner very well. With the #2 tip, trying to weld 16 ga is asking a bit much, it just isn't hot enough.

When I bought mine, they didn't offer anything bigger than a #2, so I just don't use it for anything thicker than 18 ga.

However, now they make tips up to #7 (which I believe will melt your hand right off, 'cause the torch body gets hot on long welds with the #2), so you should be able to weld whatever you like ***uming you use the right size tip.

With the cost of the Midget being only ~$120, they're cheap enough that you can just buy one to try it out.

Can't do that with the $600 Henrob (which I've never owned, so I won't speculate about).

I've been looking for an excuse to buy a Victor J-40 body and a handful of nozzles, but I can't bring myself to spend the money when what I've got will do the job just fine.

But I still want one.

I've got torch lust. . .

 

Thanks for the info, guys. Ryan got right to the heart of my thoughts when he said that the Meco is $120, and the Henrob is three times that (I've seen kits in the $370 range). It's time for some torchin' investment.

 

The meco and other small torches won't do what the henrob/dillon will. They weld good, but the dillon will cut fine tooth gears out of thick plate steel, the dillon cost more because its more versatile.

That said, I weld sheet metal with a victor 100. I have used the meco, the dillon and some others they are all good and if welding sheet is all you plan to do the meco will work fine.

 

Hey Stainlesssteelrat,
Would you happen to have a pic or any more info. on your MIG set-up for sheetmetal?
Sounds like a good idea.