Looking for good torch

I've used Victor torches all my life, tried a Harris once several years ago but not crazy about it either. Use a Journeyman and several old FC100's, they always seem to have problems. I was thinking of trying a Smith, always heard they were good just a bit hard to find tips and such, part of the reason I used Victor, easy tips. Anyone with torch experience, especially Smith I'd like to hear you thoughts. Thank you.
Charlie
 
I've had my smith for 30 years. As far as I'm concerned there is Smith and then everyone else. You won't be disapointed with a smith.
 
Smith's- Have had one for about 20 years. There are no cheap copies of Smith, like there are of Victor, as far as I know. I just like the way they are made and operate. Parts are not hard to get, either local or on web.
 
Eight or ten years ago I put in the winning bid on eBay for a brand new Smith SC229 cutting torch, and got it for about $30. I bought a full set of Smith brand cutting tips for it from an online dealer, from 00 to #6. It's a beautiful piece of equipment, very solid and well made. It has a lifetime warranty, too. The down side for me is that I don't like the feel of it. I don't know whether it's the balance, or the configuration, but I just never have been able to get comfortable with it. The college welding shop uses several different styles of Victor cutting torches, and I don't have any trouble going from one to another with those. Also, in general I'm not fussy about tools. I don't have any reason to not like the Smith torch; in fact, I actually do like it---I just don't like using it.

The topic of Smith cutting torches has come up before on this site more than once, and I don't remember anybody else ever saying they had the same problem with it that I do. I think that puts the odds well in your favor that if you bought a Smith torch you would like it.

Stan
 
Smith's is a very good brand of torch.
Back in the mid 70s I worked as an apprentice millwright and Smiths was about all you saw on any of the big construction projects here in MN.
I bought their Super Range (smaller) and liked it.
When I went out west and up to AK, Victor torches was all you saw. So when I had to replace my Smiths due to it being stolen I bought a Victor Journeyman. It has been a great torch for me since about 1983 or 4.
Recently I was using a friend's Smith torch to do some gas welding on an exhaust pipe and as Stan suggests, it felt a bit clunky to me. The balance or something is not as fine. But I still say it is a great torch.
One thing I will suggest is to buy the smaller Super Range Smiths or Victor Journeyman.
It will do everything you ever want it to do but is lighter, smaller, easier to handle. More fragile yes but a torch isn't a hammer anyway.
A couple of years ago I bought the large Victor at the tractor swap meet in Le Suer, MN.
Mostly for the larger rose bud - which will eat up a pair of tanks up in short order.
Seller let me have it for $60.
BTW, I would watch craigslist for a good used one.

100_12751_zps8bdf131d.jpg
 
[b:654c4848f0]but a torch isn't a hammer anyway[/b:654c4848f0]

I have worked with guys in the past that thought it was.
They would cut something and if it did not fall loose they would turn the torch over and bang on the metal with the back of the cutting tip area till the metal broke loose.
 
I've had a light-duty Smith "Cavalier" torch for many years. It has been quite trouble-free. I don't need a big torch, since I do a fair amount of gas welding and brazing. When I do need to cut or heat, the cutting and rosebud tips are about all my small acetylene tank can handle.

Going to the Smith Equipment site, I see that Smith has been acquired by Miller and are now sold under the Miller brand.
 
Have used Smith torches for 50 years with no problems. If they can survive in a high school welding shop environment they can survive anywhere.
My personal set has been troublefree.
 
Thank you all for your help. I really think the combustion chamber style of the Victor vs. the Smith is what matters, Victor's backflash and carbon up, shut off never seems to work well, new or old. I don't use a torch as a hammer but sometimes do get the heads too hot, too much hurry.
Again, Thank you all.....
Charlie
 
If you get the Smiths ask the salesman for a copy of the Smiths safety poster. It looks nice hanging in your shop and makes some great safety points to alway remember. { I was brainwashed early on by a Victor saleman , my torches are Victor }.
 
Dad and I have owned nothing bu Smith torches since back in the 70's when he first started doing mechanic work. In fact one of the torches we still use has the mark he used on his stuff when he worked for the dealership back then on it.

Given that that one torch has seen nearly 40 years of hard use riding around on a service truck, and doing everything from cutting sheet metal to burning out stuck pins, to cutting 4 inch plus material helping a customer scrap out an old crane, and is still in good working condition, I don't think there is any better testimony to the quality of their stuff.

As far as finding parts, I have never had a problem finding anything I need here locally other than say a larger than usual cutting tip. Even then they can usually order one and have it shipped fairly quick. Too, now that they are in with Miller, it really opens up their distribution base.
 
Stan if you have the 90 degree cutting head then it may not "feel" right. I have the 15 degree cutting heads. They seem to be more comfortable to use.

I am currently using the Smith cutting head assembly my Great Grand Father bought new. It is at least 50 years old.
 
The Victor cutting torches at the college all have 90 degree heads, so the 90 degree head on the Smith torch I own doesn't seem like it should be the source of the problem. I meant to take it to the shop this morning and use it for about an hour to see if I could get used to it, or figure out why it didn't feel right to me. It slipped my mind to take it, but it turned out that the projects I had set for myself took up all my time anyway. I'll try to remember to do it next Saturday.

Stan
 
I started on a job using a Purox 203 in 1974, got used to it, liked it, bought one for myself in 1976. I had to get the regulators rebuilt 10 or 12 years ago, but no other problems. Smiths and Victors seem awkward to me, but not to others.
 

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