BernzOmatic Torch kit

[bustednutz]

Has anyone used the BernzOmatic torch kit from home depot. It has the Oxygen tank and Mapp (propylene now) gas. Says it can braze, and also cut through metal. I need to cut through some sections of my exhaust and burn out some rusted nuts on it as well. The entire system is 11 "rusted to death" years old. Luckily its entirely sold in bolt together sections.
I'm just wondering what anyones experience is with this product.
Thanks for the input.

 

[pidster]

Borrowed and used one before. The oxygen tank is empty in a flash. Fine for a brazing flame (for a tiny kit like this anyways) but had a really hard time trying to cut with it.

Keep in mind though, I'm no pro welder and had been years since I'd done any gas welding, but I remember having a much easier time doing both operations back in autoshop class in high school with real equipment.

 

[pcoxe]

Originally Posted By: pidster
Borrowed and used one before. The oxygen tank is empty in a flash. Fine for a brazing flame (for a tiny kit like this anyways) but had a really hard time trying to cut with it.

Keep in mind though, I'm no pro welder and had been years since I'd done any gas welding, but I remember having a much easier time doing both operations back in autoshop class in high school with real equipment.


I agree. The little sheet metal oxygen tanks in the kits have very little volume and pressure. Real oxygen cylinders store the gas at 3000psi. The Bernz kit is only good for extremely tiny jobs like repairing jewelry. You will need to have a real rig to do any serious work cutting and welding. Torches and regulators aren't all that expensive, but you will have a deposit of several hundred $$$ on tanks. Some welding suppliers may charge monthly rent on tanks as well. If you have a small one-time job, you'll probably be better off to pay someone else and be done with it.

 

[punisher]

Waste of money. You can braze small stuff, never seen it used for cutting.

 

[Trav]

Leave it at the Home Depot,for what you want to do its useless.
This will get the job done and can do anything you need for automotive use.This is money well spent,once you own it you wont want to be without it.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200413934_200413934

Or this one from China Freight with bottles.

http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-torch-kit-with-oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-65818.html

 

[punisher]

I will caution you to check with your local Oxy/Acetylene supplier to see if they will fill/swap the tanks on that HF set. Many suppliers will not trade/refill bottles from other suppliers due to liability reasons. No telling if the Oxy bottle passed US spec tests or if the acetylene bottle has the proper acetone/packing fill.

 

[another Todd]

Use a sawzall and cut off what you need to. There is no absolute need to cut them with a torch.

 

[bustednutz]

Actually I did need to use a plasma cutter at work to blast out the old rusted threads after the bolts snapped. That thing is sooooo smooth. Cake to use. Then just went back thru the holes with nuts and bolts. Exhaust sounds so much better now with a real gasket in there.

 

[TedT]

A Sawzall does a nice job on exhaust because it leaves a smooth, slag free cut to slip another pipe over.