Long Live the Oxyacetylene Torch Belen NM

Some think the oxyacetylene torch is dead. But more than a few master techs consider it a vital tool in their arsenals, and you may too once you understand its versatility.

By Mike West
4/1/2007

Over the last 10 years, I’ve heard many remarks alluding to the demise of the oxyacetylene torch. This astonishes me, considering I’ve always worked with this reliable old standard. Upon reflection, I can’t imagine a real shop without one. I know there are probably shops out there without a gas welder setup (oxyacetylene), but those shops are probably the same ones that sublet glass work and airbags, don’t repair plastic bumper covers, don’t repair aluminum, etc.

One Versatile Tool
I’m on the advisory board of one of our local collision repair training programs. The school where the training is conducted invited a group of local outside “experts” to tour its facility and give impartial feedback on how to improve the program. One of the suggestions was to surplus the two gas welders the program owned.

I reviewed the list of experts and found two shop owners (neither one a technician), an equipment supplier and an insurance adjuster. Not a single one had a hands-on technical background – and they were making suggestions on how to improve the program! I’m afraid that this isn’t the exception either.

I asked our instructors on they felt about the experts’ suggestions. They told me t...