Cutting torches in cold weather

Should I be keeping my torches out of the cold when not in use? I went to use my torch today and one of the torch gaskets is leaking. Its the original gaskets on a HF heavy duty torch. I'm going to put in new gaskets this week from the smith dealer. I'm just wanting to try my hand at gas welding and don't want to have to be messing with gaskets constantly or be undoing the hoses and keeping the outfit on the dinner table for no reason.

I'm just curious if it was the HF gaskets. I don't use it enough to justify a better outfit, yet.

Mine stay in the cold and ive never had a problem. I run all Victor torches

Like he ^ sez.

When you are talking about gaskets, do you mean the O-rings on the torch between the body and the replaceable welding tips and cutting attachment? My old Liquid Air torch uses o-rings which don't seem to mind the cold but seem to just "age" anyway, maybe more in the sunshine. I'm sure north american quality trumps asian quality here any time.

I have a hard fiber gasket between my acetylene bottle and the regulator (with some brands of bottle) and it seems to be tough as heck.

So, no, I don't think you need to baby your torch set. I'd be more concerned about keeping the hoses from any chance of getting sunlight on them as the UV is hard on rubber.

Jon.

yep I meant the o rings, I figured the cold shouldn't be an issue. I know plenty of guys who keep theirs in the elements 24/7 with no issues. Thanks for the help.

My torch spends 98% of its life in the back of my pickup with no issues. Need to make an enclosed torch cart to protect hoses and gauges but other than that no issues yet.

I agree with all the previous posts and will add the following information. I have three torch setups including one in the shop, another in an enclosed welding trailer, and one like Tater's in the back of a truck. Life expectancy is the same for all torches. The one in the truck bed, I try to cover up with 5 gallon pails over the regulators and cylinders as well as a scoop shovel over the torch in bad weather. This does not always happen because of details that will not be disclosed here. Back flash arrestors have created a problem in cold weather in the past, but the easy solution was to quit using them. Therefore I would not upset the family with placing the torches on the homework/dinner table.

Patriot, you reminded me: What has gone to heck with my torch set is the regulator gauges. I moved my torches out of my shop onto a $50 welding truck I picked up a couple of years ago. The guages promptly went to h*ll with rainwater- not watertight. Kinda PO'd me becasue the old acetylene regulator was a real good one, probably from the 50's, with guages that had replaceable GLASS in them. But not waterproof.

Jon.

It uses gases that are temperamental meaning they change with temperature. I have small leaks all the time mainly when the temp drops below freezing. Gasket problems on the gauges. A small leak on a valve. Expansion and contraction are real players when playing with cryogenic gases. Liquid ox boiling point -298 degrees. It's cold and causes me problems constantly.