Does anyone own or recommend or NOT recommend this kit ?

Almost everything on my equipment is worn out. My guages are ancient, sticky, and unreliable. My hose leaks. My main torch is worn out.... very loose.

I figure it will be cheaper and better to just buy a kit as fixing or replacing the gauges, hose, and torch will cost more than the kit. I am just not totally trusting of Harbor Freight products.


https://www.harborfreight.com/industrial-oxy-acetylene-welding-outfit-92496.html

btw... I don't do "medium duty".... whatever I buy has to at least say Heavy Duty, and from there try to determine that it is close to what I want. Saying "medium duty" is telling me beforehand that this product could be too light for my needs.

Recommend Victor. I don't know anything about HF brand but, with torches and gauges, I would not go cheap. It can be dangerous and cheap regulators cause problems.

I've sold both Victor and Forney. Forney is a lower end price point item. I had lots of problems with them so I quit carrying the lesser quality. I've used Victor too. I just don't have problems.

Looks like a Victor clone, which if they cloned it right, should be gtg. But I always buy things from harbor frieght with the attitude that I may only get one or two uses out of it before it falls apart. And on a cutting outfit I'd be wary. Buy once cry once. The major welding supply companies have "off brands" that I would buy with more confidence.

There is a brand out there called FirePower. It is made by Victor and is a good product.

I'm a big hf proponent. I have a welder from them and love it.

That said, I'd pass on their torch. Their gauges suck. Firepower gauges and victor torch is what I have and I like it

hillcountryag86 said:

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There is a brand out there called FirePower. It is made by Victor and is a good product.

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That's one of the off brands I was trying to think of. Had two of their outfits in the old shop and they were solid.

I had one of the hf torch kits. After a few weeks with it, I couldn't deal with the inconsistency so I went and bought a victor setup. Maybe I got a bad one, but it was terrible. You talk about sticking regulators. They have it.

The OP is around my age. Sounds like this is the second torch he's ever bought in his life. So when considering a bit of equipment that is so useful, and has a 20-40 year service life, I don't usually go cheap. Cheap is the most expensive way you can go for a lot of tools.

A Victor heavy duty is about $350, a HF heavy duty is about $200. On a 20 year life, that's a $7.50 a year difference.

CanyonAg77 said:

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The OP is around my age. Sounds like this is the second torch he's ever bought in his life. So when considering a bit of equipment that is so useful, and has a 20-40 year service life, I don't usually go cheap. Cheap is the most expensive way you can go for a lot of tools.

A Victor heavy duty is about $350, a HF heavy duty is about $200. On a 20 year life, that's a $7.50 a year difference.

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How did you know ?

Agree with your post, and this is exactly how I figure values too.... and also why I posted the question.

I have worn out my own oxy-acetylene kit, and then my Dad's which was about already worn out. So yeah, I have only worn out one set, plus a few years of my Dad's set. My dad was a welder in the Air Force so his equipment was good, and a testament to buying a good brand.

Have you thought about rebuilding your regulators? It may be cost prohibitive. I am with the majority here thinking that buying quality on this item is a smart choice. That being said I have been sporadically & heavily using HF $9.99 when on sale grinders & love the heck out of them.

Yes, I just thought that since I have at least three items worn out (hoses being the worst) that it would be cheaper to get the kit that is primarily those pieces anyway. Looking at the regulators, I know I need new gauges and would guess that the inside diaphragm is what is actually worn out.... leaving only the housing. No, I did not actually price it.

Find a used victor at a pawn shop.

My system:

Could I die or be seriously injured from said items failure? If yes, do not buy harbor freight.