Portaflame welding kit.

[Red Fred]

I just came across an old Portaflame welding kit in some tools I was clearing for an aged friend , who has had to go into a home. I wondered whether I should save it as he reckoned he couldn't get the bottles refilled even 15 years ago. I hate to ditch things if they might come in useful, but would this be too obsolete to bother with? Thanks for any ideas.

 

[davidroberts30]

how long has it been sitting?it looks too old and saying 1996 ont he bottle would put me off

 

[john432]

The oxygen regulator looks like it would fit any oxygen bottle, just get a propane or acetylene regulator and away you go.
A friend rents his bottles from BOC for less than half now, he complained and threatened to move . Also gets the refills a lot cheaper!

 

[Red Fred]

I'll try and find out a bit more about it. Thanks for the comments!

 

[H200GT]

Looks like an accident waiting to happen to me as there doesn’t seem to be any flashbacks fitted.

Regulators should also be changed every 2 years

Bin it and buy new ones, they are not that expensive.

 

[tinman]

Ah I wouldn't condemn it to death that quick, having some magpie blood in me I'd say it's far too good to be throwing out.
Flashback arrestor isn't dear if one had to be fitted neways.

Two things I noticed here tho,
firstly even tho were not sure about how old it is,
the hoses are in some shape, I know I had to change hoses here this year for ones that shall we say, could of lasted a lot longer before perishing.

And,
I'm also curious as to just how hot a lovechild you would have when the oxygen gets it on with mapp gas....

 

[startinghandle]

I have same set here which was bought from David Thomas in Newtown 30 years ago it was sorte of ok !! I used to to take the empty oxygen cylinder to refill which was done by connecting it to a full BOC cylinder until one day I was informed by the guy in charge of the shop that
Health and Safety had put a stop to
Decanting the cylinder

 

[Netherfield]

I started out with a similar thing from BOC called Portapak, problem was it was a ten year rental deal paid up front, once I realised how useful they were, it was too late, the gas didn't last too long and it cost an arm and a leg for delivery or a two hour trip to Leeds for refills, this was long before the local depot scheme.
My local mechanic acquired a small medical oxy bottle and a small acetylene bottle from somewhere, he also filled from the big bottles in the workshop, saved a lot of room in his van.