Very old Oxy Acetylene set up

[GreeCguy]

Howdy again fellow Bitogers.

Now that I've dug everything out, I'm beginning to wonder if any of this stuff is worth saving. I've got an Oxy Acetylene rig that belonged to my Dad which he bought years ago. Everything is old. the hoses are so old. they're cracked, (I cut them off and threw them away yesterday - they were to the point of being brittle). The tanks have sat outside for years, lying on a trailer that is now overgrown with weeds and vines. I'm not even sure if there is any gas left in them, but they are rusty and and rather beat up.

I'm wondering with as old as they are, if it wouldn't be a good idea just to toss them on the junk pile and buy a new set up. They haven't had the best of care nor the best of storage, (in an old wooden box in the barn while the cylinders themselves have laid outside in the weather for probably 15 years).

I'm guessing this is a dangerous set up with problems waiting to happen. Is it possible to rebuild these things, do they need rebuilding, or should I just bite the bullet and go for a new set up?

Thoughts, opinions, advice?

 

[Cujet]

The oxygen tank will need a hydrostatic test to be legal. Most likely, if it's very rusty, it's scrap. However, don't assume it's empty.

The acet tank is exchange. Again, it's probably scrap.

The regulators are probably brass and can often be rebuilt. Even if in terrible cosmetic condition. The torch ends are similarly easy to rebuild, with generally a cleaning and a few new orings.

 

[morris]

if you are not trained about Oxy Acetylene set up. find a local Oxy Acetylene shop they should be glad to show you the safety points. they might even have books.

 

[JimPghPA]

If you are going to use it, add check valves at the torch side of both lines. Without them one good flash back can ruin those new lines you have to buy to replace the old ones.

 

[JimPghPA]

Be sure to V cut any thick joints before you weld them. And then fill in the bottom of the V and work your way up.

Without V cuts (or grinding) joining two thick pieces of metal will result in a weld over a crack. And that is just asking for that joint to fail.

 

[GreeCguy]

Where would I go to have them rebuilt and how much are we looking at to have them rebuilt?

 

[loyd]

Any decent welding supplier can send them out to be rebuilt. But, it will cost almost as much as a new set!

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted By: GreeCguy
Where would I go to have them rebuilt and how much are we looking at to have them rebuilt?


There is not much to them, so a competent guy can "do it yourself". Just a spring and a pintle valve inside along with a few seals. Often the seals can be cleaned instead of replaced.

Much more simple than a carburetor, for example.