Oxy Turbo V Rothenberger Roxy v Other?
T i m
So, after many years paying the rental for my BOC PortaPak the latest
bill came through yesterday and I really couldn't justify the cost,
especially if like the previous years it didn't get used (sods law
states I'll need it tomorrow of course). I took them back this
afternoon.
So, just so that I've got something a bit more focused / hotter for
'heating' (typically rusty nut removal / light bending <g>) than a
blow lamp and the odd bit of mini welding / brazing so I thought I'd
look into those little portable brazing sets.
It looks like I can get either set mentioned in the title for about
�125 and I assume they would both do pretty well the same things but
is one better than another and if so why please? Anyone got either and
what do you think of them?
Like, are both sets of gasses equally expensive and equally
obtainable. Do they use the same fittings (so I could use whatever gas
I found easiest / cheapest).
I still have my BOC account and Saffire kit so could always get some
more bottles if I had a specific job etc.
The next one to go will be the Argoshield, when I get a non rental
Argon / Co2 bottle that is.
Every little helps .... ;-)
Cheers, T i m
jo...@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk
Years ago, me and my friends cars used to suffer from a historical
oddity called 'rust' and the resulting garage plating and welding
costs caused many tears and much gnashing of teeth. Thought I'd give
the welding thing a go and it was suggested (by one who claimed to be
a welder) I used a kit similar to the Rothenberger one. Think the gas
stuff may also be called Mapgas?.
I liked the one off cost idea and the buy gas cylinders as needed, so
bought one. Twas a really bad idea. Indeed with hindsight, the idea
was shit!. No heat and the (expensive) cylinders empty within 10
minutes. May as well as just waved a Propane torch about.
Paid out for a BOC Portapak kit and over the next few years did a lot
of plating and welding and brazing and bending and nut freeing and
glass melting and lots of other interesting geeky stuff that can't
really be done without Oxy/Acetylene. Then cars got better
engineered, I got richer and the kit had less and less use until
finally stolen by scumbag burglars.
I've recently developed a hobby CNC interest that seems to use miles
of square section tubing. I know of no faster, neater way of joining
tubing than a gas weld, so the Portapak may return. Roxy no way ;)
T i m
wrote:
<snip good story>
>I've recently developed a hobby CNC interest that seems to use miles
>of square section tubing.
I love watching CNC in action. This is some pretty good engineering
p0rn:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/qsugsx
> I know of no faster, neater way of joining
>tubing than a gas weld, so the Portapak may return. Roxy no way ;)
And that's fine, however, for me the cost of rental when the kit has
basically remained unused for 10 years is (especially now)
prohibitive.
If it was earning it's keep (in jobs or as a solution to a need or
hobby) then that to would be fine, it wasn't
I welded up all the steel box that became the tri-fold doors that
replaced an 8' square up_and_over with my MIG.
I'm also looking to replace the Argoshield with a similar rental free
Co2 / Argon mix (not pub gas note) because I'd like to retain a
reasonable MIG solution I might just not get with the smaller
(disposable) bottles.
FWIW I had a Bernz-O-Matic mini brazing set and remember using it
successfully for several jobs (on the same pair of cylinders!). The
key being to use the right tool for the job. ie, Not trying to weld up
an old ships anchor with it! ;-)
I know there will be small jobs I can still do with that size of rig.
If I need more heat I can borrow my mates full sized gear and if I
need to do it at my place I can always rent a PortaPak again.
Cheers, T i m
jo...@jjdesigns.fsnet.co.uk
Yep. Good link. saw the video last year and like a rabbit caught in
headlights was compelled to watch it through again :)
Mig, damned convenient but I'd love to know what people do with their
empty gas bottles?. I've ten of the things that I can't bear to throw
away. Lovely solid, welded pressure vessels must have some inspired
applications somewhere.
T i m
wrote:
>
>Yep. Good link. saw the video last year and like a rabbit caught in
>headlights was compelled to watch it through again :)
Having a lathe (Myford ML10) and knowing myself how much flex there
can be in what at first glance to be a very strong , hard and stiff
piece of tool steel or cast iron watching stuff like that amazes me
even more.
>Mig, damned convenient but I'd love to know what people do with their
>empty gas bottles?
I have one of the disposable Argon / Co2 cylinders but not used it yet
(it's a backup or if I was to take my MIG set offsite).
> I've ten of the things that I can't bear to throw
>away. Lovely solid, welded pressure vessels must have some inspired
>applications somewhere.
Yep, I know that as / when my one is empty I too won't be able to just
throw it away. It's different with ordinary tin aerosols or the little
GampingGaz canisters but not these chunky babies. ;-(
If you cut the ends off and welded them back together you could make a
nice steel ball ... and the tubular sections could be joined together
to make some steel tube? ;-)
Similar with the big Calor gas bottles. I must have 5 of the 15kg ones
in various states of emptiness and you can't seem to even give them
back to Calor, let alone get a refund on them (without a receipt).
I understand they make good compressor expansion cylinders but I'm not
sure I want to play that much.
Re my MIG and the Argoshield rental. There was a Co in Kent that sold
Argon / Co2 bottles outright but apparently they aren't doing so any
more, however I read somewhere that Air Liquide may be doing such rent
free?
Cheers, T i m
Rick... (The other Rick)
Have a look at
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27
You may find a source.
Rick... (The other Rick)
Science and sound engineering will always prevail in the end
"for nature cannot be fooled" [Feynman]
T i m
<Y...@must.be.joking.eu> wrote:
>Have a look at
>http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=27
>
>You may find a source.
Thanks Rick (not that one the other one), spookily I just found /
joined and asked etc. ;-)
I've had an answer to my "Non rental Argoshield' question and whilst
it's much (much) better than the BOC deal it's still not quite 'non
rental' (ie, �45 / 3 years or summat).
No feedback on the mini kits as yet.
Cheers, T i m