DHC Oxy torch review by Andrew Clatworthy -
Streetneat Panels Rod and Custom . Australia. 23/10/2007
About 5 years ago a mate dropped by my workshop with an odd looking oxy torch. As I am a specialist in automotive restoration - namely bodywork on older vehicles -he thought I would be able to give an honest appraisal on this torch. A lot of my work involves Oxy acetylene welding - which is the most versatile form of welding,heating and shaping that can be used in automotive body repair. My preferred methods involve oxy hammer welding - which in short is forging two pieces of sheet steel together while controlling distortion with hammer and dolly work whilst the steel is still cheery red.
Now I had seen this strange looking torch demonstrated at car show once before - but due to old habits dying hard- never really saw the need for change. Now one of these torches was in my workshop and mine for a week- I could really get aquainted. After getting the art of set up down pat -( luckily my mate stayed long enough to show me how to do this) I quickly found the torch a joy to use. The initial set up procedure was daunting wen I had to replicate it on my own later on . A quick phone call soon refreshed my memory and amazingly low pressures are used- only 4psi! I could see one immediate benefit - huge savings just on gas- but was this torch all it claimed to be?
The handle is a pistol grip - so that was ergonomic enough and felt good. There is a oxy cut button on the front of the torch - but that was in the off position - and didn't really bother me at although I was aware it was there. One hard part to get used to was the proximity of the hoses to my wrist- a conventional torches hose go straight out the back where these ones went straight down - so it took a little getting used to at first.
Now the major claim of this torch was its ability to replicate TIG like welds. I had never used a TIG much personally - so I couldn't really compare welders - but the resulting welds on some scrap car panel steel had me on the phone to a metal fabricator mate who normally did my TIG welding on stainless pipes for me. When he dropped by and saw the welds I had done - he laughed and said- "See I told ya TIG welding was easy - now what TIG did you buy?" He stopped laughing when I held up the DHC torch. So between the two of us - we set about grabbing as many different types of materials as we could find and with out the use of specialised fluxes we could weld Stainless, Cast iron( using and old piston ring as advised) and even fuse weld some aluminium without flux with varying degrees of success on the later. The concentrated heat was the obvious bonus - so resulted in very minimal distortion- something that is crucial in my line of work!
Now at this stage I had only borrowed a DHC torch- I had not seen the video or been given any instructions other than how to initially set the working pressures. I had to give the torch back at the end of the week- so I set about completing as many oxy welding jobs as I could. I had to give the Torch back on a Saturday and come Monday morning - I had to use my old conventional torch. Within an hour I was on the phone to find out where I could buy one of these DHC torches from- I couldn't live without it!
When the Kit arrived at a cost of $682 delivered to my door I was impressed with just how much was in the kit. Initially when I started welding with this torch I used the smaller tips - mainly the .05. I stepped up to the 1.5 tip for welding anything above 1.5 mm thick. I'm not sure if its a coincidence or not- but basically found the thickness of the steel is the same as the size of the welding tip - for mild steel anyhow. The kit also came with a gas plumbers tip- which I use for lead wiping - it uses no applied oxygen - it draws its own oxygen from the sides of the tip.
The versatility claims are certainly meet with ease. I found the gas savings alone paid for the welder inside 12 months- I do a lot of welding!
Now 5 long hard years of use later - my torch is still going great. I bought an extension nozzle to get into restricted areas- something a conventional torch simply cannot do due to its bent tip it normally uses. I only fill my bottles around once a year now - where as before I was filling three to four times a year - and Acetylene is bloody expensive! I have also adopted some techniques that may be frowned upon in some circles- I grip the torch by its hoses- this is for the ability to adjust the flame with my thumb as I'm welding - not how the torch was designed to be used - but I find it works well for me- I was surprised to find some others who use this torch in my industry doing the same. However I also find no problem holding the torch in the conventional manner- it all depends on what task is at hand. I also use the torch for cutting/trimming with the welding tip attached- another probable no-no - but my method of holding the torch by its hoses allows for this easily - something I used to do with the conventional torch - but now made so much easier with the DHC torch.
Its possible that I have become so accomplished with this welding torch that I found I can use an oversize tip such as a 1.5 for welding even thin materials. Because I can fine tune the flame to such a degree- I can quickly adapt to different thickness of materials with ease and without the need to constantly change tips. This is something I found difficult with the conventional torch.
So how hard is the torch to use? Can an amateur with no experience master oxy welding with the DHC? Well yes and no. experience counts for everything with welding - its that simple. The DHC torch is a must in any workshop But to use the DHC torch to its full potential takes some learning. Teaching welding with the DHC makes the learning process that much quicker. Case in point:
On occasions I get a husband and wife turn up to my workshop to check progress on their resto project. Normally a disinterested wife will sit in the car outside with arms folded and wishing hubby would hurry along. I have on several occasions, and with great results got the girls involved. Here is what I do:
I walk outside- and say hello and ask the woman if she would like to do something Hubby cant do. I have timed this and I have only 90 seconds to convince them it will be fun. After all- showing up your husband cant be a bad thing now can it?
I keep several 1.2mm strips of black steel pre cut on the work bench. These strips are approximately 40 mm x 75mm.
I guide the woman over the workbench and I set up three bits of steel in a pyramid fashion at a comfortable working height on some I beam steel I use for a working area. I pass the woman a pair of welding glasses and ask them have they ever welded before? Normally a quick shake of the head followed by "No - and I'm not sure I want to know" But the deep seated desire to impress themselves and show up hubby sees them press on - the trick is to not give them much chance to think about it. I also time this and have concluded I have around three -five minutes to show them how to weld!
I start by lighting the torch while they are putting the glasses on and pass them a filler rod after asking id they are left or right handed. I make the preliminary tack weld first to show its not so scary and also to hold the metal in place.. I quickly adjust the flame down for them and pass them the torch. I step in behind and hold their arms.
About now - hubby is glaring at me for manhandling the wife - but happy to see the wife doing something considered blokey.
I tell them to relax- and girls can do this more easily than the guys - they tend to follow instructions more readily than men and aren't governed by bravado. Besides - A bloke wont relax if another bloke is standing over them and very close! ( Not the blokes that I have in my workshop anyhow!)
I start by bring ing their arm down on the angle I want. In short I'm doing all the welding - they are just holding the torch. I fuse the two pieces of steel together and guide their arm along - maintaining a firm grip on them the entire time.
By this time they are getting used to it. I stop and allow them to hold the torch while I turn the metal over and position the last bit of steel in the pyramid. Same procedure as before- but this time introduce some filler rod-always keeping a firm grip on them. Its really me doing the welding as Ive said before.The whole time I give small words of encouragement and pointing out its not such a scary or difficult thing
Lastly I flip over the steel for the final weld. By this time the girls are really getting into it and confidence is running strong. Over two minutes has passed and about know I judge if we can slow down a bit. If the woman is still not quite convinced I press on before they bow out. If they are responding well and normally they are- I give them a small break and chat about welding- but I never turn the torch off! Then its straight into the final weld- same procedure as before- but I find I can release the firm grip and step away as they get into the weld themselves. I hover directly behind to nudge the arm along if they are about to blow a hole or need some more filler rod.
Everytime this has taken place - and there has been around a dozen or so occasions- the woman leaves triumphant that she has achieved something. Many treasure their sample welding and always take it with them. I then ask hubby of he wants a go- normally they decline as they know they aren't going to get the same assistance. The ones that do have a go end up with something not as good as their wives. Two woman I have shown have gone on to do oxywelding as a hobby- from Motor body repair to Metal art crafting.The greatest gift you can give anyone is one of self empowerment.
For more information and insights into Using the DHC torch - visit www.streetneat.com and go through the many albums that show Auto body restoration.
Cheers Andrew
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