Anyone using a DHC-2000 Welding and Cutting Torch
I don't own one, but I used one on a job one time. I was not impressed. My former coworker had one that he was not using, so he brought it into work to try it out on different tasks. The first (and last) task we used it on was to cut some large nuts off of a bolt (nuts for a 5/8" or larger bolt, I think, this was 13 or 14 years ago). These bolts were on a large (industrial sized, not homeowner sized) fuel oil tank valve that needed to be replaced, so this was outside, in an awkward position. After trying to get it to cut (the hot metal kept popping and it would extinguish the torch because of the position we had to use it in), we ended up clogging one of the nozzles (for the cutting torch, it needed two nozzles, I believe) and the torch became useless. We ended up using a normal cutting torch to finish the job and we were able to get it done quicker than the time it took to play with the Henrob. We couldn't use the Henrob for other tasks because my coworker had to wait 2 weeks for a new nozzle and he pretty much gave up on it and brought it home. Even though it is a pistol grip shape, it really is not as easy to get used to using as you would think.
Not too long later, I started taking a class on O-A welding (my coworker and I had signed up prior to playing with his Henrob, it was our discussing taking that class that he decided to bring it to work to play with) at the local community college. They used small Victor torches for welding, brazing and cutting (by hand, they had a larger Victor installed on a semi automatic cutting torch machine). I'm too lazy to look it up, but I believe they were the Victor 100 series torches. These were really nice to hold in a pencil fashion. Actually much more convenient, controllable, and natural, IMHO than the pistol grip of the Henrob. The only "problem" with the small Victor sized torch is that when it is used for cutting I believe it is limited to only 1" thick material. I have not tried cutting "extruded" shapes, like square tubing, using a torch, so I am not sure that you could cut 2" square tubing in one pass even if you had a larger torch, but if this is commonly done, then the small Victor would have to be supplemented with a larger torch for cutting larger than 1" "extrusion shapes".
I am partial toward the Victor, but others make equivalent sized torches. I think I bought a complete Victor 100 kit (goggles, regulators/gauges, hoses and a torch with welding/brazing tips and a cutting setup) for about the same price or less than the Henrob at the time (I bought it around 1999, 2000 or so). The Henrob did not come with the regulators/gauges or hoses, at the time, if I remember right.
I would consider getting a used Henrob, if it was priced cheaply enough, but I would not go out of my way to buy one. I think you'd be miles ahead if you went with a small Victor, Harris or some other brand with a small torch.
Not too long later, I started taking a class on O-A welding (my coworker and I had signed up prior to playing with his Henrob, it was our discussing taking that class that he decided to bring it to work to play with) at the local community college. They used small Victor torches for welding, brazing and cutting (by hand, they had a larger Victor installed on a semi automatic cutting torch machine). I'm too lazy to look it up, but I believe they were the Victor 100 series torches. These were really nice to hold in a pencil fashion. Actually much more convenient, controllable, and natural, IMHO than the pistol grip of the Henrob. The only "problem" with the small Victor sized torch is that when it is used for cutting I believe it is limited to only 1" thick material. I have not tried cutting "extruded" shapes, like square tubing, using a torch, so I am not sure that you could cut 2" square tubing in one pass even if you had a larger torch, but if this is commonly done, then the small Victor would have to be supplemented with a larger torch for cutting larger than 1" "extrusion shapes".
I am partial toward the Victor, but others make equivalent sized torches. I think I bought a complete Victor 100 kit (goggles, regulators/gauges, hoses and a torch with welding/brazing tips and a cutting setup) for about the same price or less than the Henrob at the time (I bought it around 1999, 2000 or so). The Henrob did not come with the regulators/gauges or hoses, at the time, if I remember right.
I would consider getting a used Henrob, if it was priced cheaply enough, but I would not go out of my way to buy one. I think you'd be miles ahead if you went with a small Victor, Harris or some other brand with a small torch.
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