Meco Torch

MP&C

MP&C

Member
Got a new addition to the shop, this Meco came from TM Technologies, or TinManTech. I got it hooked up last night and ran a couple passes.


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Let me start by saying I am not a gas welder. I have a Henrob torch that I have found awkward to use, likely the operator, so I have always used either MIG or TIG. This video shows my second attempt with the Meco, the first attempt I did not have sufficient heat as I was worried about blowing holes. The two “scraps” were picked off the floor and tacked together about every 3/4”, then fusion welded the distance shown, yielding a full penetration weld with nice HAZ conisistency. Very impressed with the light weight and ease of use, even for an old dog learning new tricks. Video shows in order: front, back, planished, and bent at 90* for our destruction test.







Tacks, front side..



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Rear side, full penetration...




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Full pass with full weld penetration, bent 90* for destruction test.. Line shown is mark left by press brake die....



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Rear side held up well



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Very impressed with this torch, one handed valve adjustments are a breeze, light weight and easy to use..
 
It has been years since i did anything with my Henrob but if I remember correctly the pressure settings were very low for both Oxygen and Acetylene. Something like three pounds as I remember.

What pressure does the Meco Torch operate at.

John
 
trick to the henrod is a low pressure set of gauges . the torch runs at 4lbs . regular gauges wont operate that low . i would prefer the meco because i never got use to the pistol grip henrod .
 
Easy...to watch lol.
Best i did was braze bar stool foot ring back on in h.s. shop class once.
Came out perfect like 1 piece. Teacher & class loved it. We need vocational high schools.
Coding is fine, cnc machines need it, but we also need grads in the field to utilize them.
 
Robert, may have finally found something in metal work I'm ahead of you on (for now), though out of practice as hell.
I learned a little on steel with a traditional torch growing up, not even knowing what a mig or tig was.
Then approx. 15 years ago I decided to learn aluminum welding making a bedcover for the el camino with the sides shaped like 59 chevy. Over ambitious as usual. Got the henrob. First try ever on .032 aluminum came out pretty damn good. Moved up to coupon sizes of .063. Very flat welds with awesome penetration, though the flux is a PITA. Then moved up to 2 huge sheets of aluminum. Warp, buckle, warp, all over the place, not even hot enough to weld yet. Then got my syncro 200 & the henrob collected dust. Electric torch with a foot pedal that doesn't need flux, woo hoo.
A few years later I dusted it off & tried it on a project involving 18 gauge. Came out great 1st try, can't do that good with the tig on sheet steel for some reason. Penetration is better & metal isn't work hardened, which is the part you may appreciate the most. Heat soak is worse, but ok for 18 ga. Only problem is most auto stuff I do is 20 gauge, not so great with the warp on my samples.
I am planning a difficult over the engine 180 degree header project using multiple tri-y collectors in an 8 =4-2-1 configuration. I'll mig tack for ease, but I think the ole gas torch would do an awesome job.
Any young person who thinks a gas torch is just old outdated technology needs to remember one thing;;;; don't F with an ole guy, you may loose.

You may miss the tig foot pedal, but not having to have things as anally clean is a treat.

You really do need to try it on smaller sized aluminum parts that you may still need to shape after welding or a tank of some sort that you don't want to leak.
 
I went to a metalshaping workshop this spring and got some of the aluminum flux from Kent White as a door prize, so this torch has been on the radar for some time now.


I was asked to bend the weld sample to a complete 180* to give the weld a "REAL" test. So the following video does such, please excuse the erratic movement of the camera operator, he also had to close the vise and position the sample as well..












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The
chevman said:
Dagger tools sells a complete kit with low pressure regulators. Several years ago he was selling Smith torches, but I don't know what he sells now.
https://www.daggertools.com/m5/DTGW1000--dagger-tools-mini-gas-welding-torch-kit-low-pressure.html

Click to expand...

The one from Dagger is imported. I've got a Meco through Kent (tinmantech) a Henrob and a regular Smiths that was my Dad's. I love the Meco as well. So light and maneuverable. The Henrob is a an acquired taste imo. When I first started using it I didn't like the pistol type grip, but as I've gotten used to it, it feels more normal to me. I use it for heavier stuff mainly. The Henrob cutting system works nice. I like the roller wheel attachment. I'd like to get a nice vintage Smiths aviation torch as it is small and well balanced. They still make them but I don't think the new ones are as good as the old.
As an aside Japanese manufacturers were still using Oxy-acetylene welding on the assembly line as late as 1974. Any supplemental welding on 70-73 S30 Zcars was done with oxy acetylene. Possibly even later than that.
 
The Smith brand is now owned by Miller. I have a old A-1 Airline torch with a good selection of tips. I bought it used around 1971 and still use it !
Back in those days (early 70's) we either gas welded or used a resistance spot machine on thin sheet metal. The small MIG machines weren't around like they are today.
 
Regarding Chris's question if the new Smith torch quality is as good as the old? I don't know but I can say the heating tip I bought only a few years ago was nice (not cheap) and fits and works on the old torch body perfect.
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