Price check. Cutting torch

On aisle #3. I've been looking for a used cutting/welding unit at least with the medium size atset/oxy bottles, torch, Ppe items, hose, bottle dolly, etc.
for about 2-1/2 years through possible means. Changed direction. I've studied this incredibly intense and picked a company called Coastal Gas
Supplies. Serves all of Texas and most of La for welding (large market) , medical gas ( again large market), etc.
ok.... Bottom line.... Whole unit, bottles probably 5' tall and 6" od , plus every thing mentioned above but more Ppe and filled bottles. It's like a life time
bottle refill contract. You do not get same bottles back but similar. $14 for oxy and $42 for atset. $1200. So, give me your advise as I trust it. I could go with another company but
Coastal has much more locations and oldest through out my driving range. Thank you all in advance ..... Wingnut

As far as getting different bottles back on refill, around my area it standard procedure , it has to do with bottle and valve inspection. A friend bought a entry level set about 10 years ago and gave about $900 for everything, if I remember right.

One extra... I did in fact go to a Coastal district closest to me and I inspected the unit on sale. Exactly what I'm requiring. Wingnut

Complete outfit and lifetime lease on the bottles for $1200? Last time I checked, bottles were $150 ea. per year here. (I still use small bottles and own them.

Moresmoke...... I gUess south Texas may have higher prices based on the high prices charged in medical and oil field usage ..... I'm not sure but the bottles I was shown were $450 each. Everything is based in Texas on that note. Including wages.

A one time $450 each. Not per year. Sorry for the confusion on my part. Had my chemo yesterday. Feeling goofy right now.

Do it. Jim

Had same torch set for around 60 years. I rent 130-150 cf OX pay 55.00 a year. Pay for contents, exchange cyl. I own Acetylene ,they exchange, pay for contents. I am in Tx

What brand of torch? There are really two brands, Smith and everyone else. There may be some quality difference in the other brands, but last I checked Smith was still the only one with seals in the tips rather that brass on brass. Any other torch would have to be hundreds less for me to consider one.

So Shawn.... This is how the Jan/Feb Special at Coastal is being offered. $450 for each bottle. Act/oxy. I own. A one time payment. First fill on them. After that $12 for oxy and $42 for act for refill. I know I can't spell act. All the Ppe items and torch come in a new medium sized ammo looking box with their marketing info printed on the sides for $200. Now I'll be honest with you in that it is a Hansen or Harris torch. I should have paid more attention .... I know. But was told if I wanted Victor I'd have to pay more as in a readjustment to the torch in the box. Then a bottle dolly. Capacity for 2 bottles for $100. $1200 plus tax. Question for you Shawn.....and being serious. In the 60 years you owned your unit how many torches have you had to purchase?? Thank you sir. Wingnut

Jon.... Thank you.... Good to know. So school me again, this relates to leakage at the connection without the Smith enhancement? To the dangerous point while using the unit or just a matter of shutting off the bottles after using the unit? Thank you. I

Several cutting tips, couple new seats in regulators, and bunch of hose.

125 cf oxygen,a #4 acetylene,buying the bottles(you just exchange them when empty)are $500.00. If I was buying a set, I like Harris,Victor and the best is Smith/Miller. I own Harris,carts go to HF. Torch sets are not cheap but buy them local so you can get parts. Buy them,I should have bought mine when I was in my twenties instead of my forties.

I buy from PRAXAIR, use to be AOC.
Last year December I bought 75 cu ft Acetylene tank for $36.76, and 124 cu ft Oxygen tank for $30.73.
Add hazardous material charge and tax it came to $83.33. I own my tanks, I just exchange them in each time.
Should last me another year.

Ok, so $450 ea to purchase the two tanks. Just be sure you keep your receipt somewhere safe. If you ever need to switch suppliers, you need proof of ownership to do business with someone else. Also, ask them if they ever charge hydro test fees. If have several small tanks that I own. A couple of them are oddballs that came with me from another part of the country. I can’t trade them here, but I can send them out to be filled. Sometimes it takes a month to come back. Used to be they only charged me for a hydro test on these tanks if they were over due. Now it seems they charge a test fee even if I am swapping a common tank that is still within test date. If you don’t go through a lot of gas, you can end up with outdated tanks.

As far as the torch set goes, biggest thing is to have something common in your area. I have Oxweld. Was common where I grew up, but I am probably the only one in this state with a set. So uncommon here that a salesman gave me a handful of welding tips, he had never seen anyone else that could use them.

I beg to differ Jon.
There's Smith and Victor.
I own both - the big set of both Smith and Victor and the midrange size of Victor.
You only see Smith in the midwest - because they were built here. Go West, south and north to Alaska it's Victor.
If you want a battle axe to carve off some 3" plate use the Smith. For everything else a Victor is a superior tool.

Where it makes the most difference is in the life of the unit. Something as simple as dropping the tip while changing and it hits the floor and the seal surface can get damaged. If you don't see that and put it in and tighten it, then the head is damaged too. But many things can cause the issue. It's these leaks that lead to the popping and snapping and problems with the flame. When that happens with other brands you need to send the head in for rebuilding, with Smith a new tip takes care of the issue. With the smith tips there is a fiber or rubber seal rather than brass on brass. My torch was dads that he bought in the early 70s and still works fine. That does not mean the others are not good, just that Smith is widely held to be the best. Of course I haven't looked into them for over 20 years so things may be different now. But without a doubt I would pay much more for a Smith than any other.

I don't claim to be an expert but I can give you my 2 cents worth, well make that 1 cent worth. I would pay more attention to the quality of gauges. All the companies make pro lines and cheapie lines. I got some decent Victor gauges but have replaced one after dropping it. I use the small and cheap Victor 101 series torch which does ok for cutting up to 1" or more. Also use propane from the 20 # grill tanks. Got the hoses that are rated for propane. Last a long time and once some guys on here explained how to cut with it, it cuts great. Rent the 80 cu ft oxygen bottle from Lampton for 200 bux for 10 year lease. Lease is up in 2 years and they are offering a deal to combine acetylene so I may do it. Thought about buying bottles but they swap them out and you will never see your new bottles again. I don't have to worry about expiring tank tests.

You can buy the 100 buck welding cart but they don't work for propane bottles and those little hard wheels don't roll through the yard and mud very well, just on concrete so really you are paying for a stand to hold the bottles. Have a 40 buck regular HF cart with big rubber tires used for everything. Have a flat base and stand to hold the bottles in the barn. If I need to move them, I wheel the cart over and slide it underneath.

In the last 50 years, we have had a few companies come and go or move on to bigger towns. Rented from one that went out of business and the other company wouldn't fill their bottles so had to drive a ways to fill them. If your company is going to be there for the rest of your life or if you are going to be near the company for the rest of your life then great.

I've priced buying tanks before and places like HF, TSC, Orschelns, or online they sell the smaller tanks but when you get down to it, you don't want to be limited to the small size when you can always pay a little more rent to get any bigger size bottle if needed. Every once in a while I wish I had a small set just as a second set to avoid hauling big bottles but the not a necessary expense.

Why not go to a Plasma cutter and forget the torch unless you are junking out a lot. For fabrication the plasma would be a cleaner cut with less gas and bottle cost. Some even have their own air compressors for the air. Will cut 1 inch wit some of the bigger ones. The up front cost will be more. I think the over all cost will be about the same in the long run.
I've got a don't remember with propane. It is not quite as hot temperature wise but will heat and cut the same. Does use a different tip for the propane than for acetylene. If I had to by again I would get a plasma as fast as they will cut the time savings if doing a lot of cutting is worth something. Also don't have to wiait for it to heat the spot to star cutting on heavier material. Just pull the switch and off to the races. Yup tips will need changed and probably faster with the learning curve. Torch tips will probably be similar during the learning curve too. Get a tip cleaner with it to keep the holes open in the tip. splatter from burning hole will plug them some times if not careful and even if you are.