Fechino Files: Welding in the Masonry Business

Words: Steven Fechino

Most of the equipment used in the masonry business is strong, durable, and made of metal. Okay, yes, you can argue that many mortar boards, truck seats, and water coolers are typically not made of metal, but you get the point. One thing I learned a long time ago about equipment used in our business is that, from time to time, we need to make repairs; a bit of cutting, welding, and fabrication is necessary.

If you are a small contractor, welding repairs are typically performed by a welding company or a buddy who welds. Either way, metal repairs need to be made and made correctly. I choose to do most of my own repairs (unless it is structural or needs to be certified), so, even under those conditions, it is still warranted that I cut and weld from time to time on things that break that I own and can control their use. As always, I will let you know that my welding skills have awarded me the gorilla appearance award several years in a row. With this honor, I have become an expert in grinding and priming over welds that should never see the light of day. But I still try.

Today, I am going to discuss an experience that was valuable to me and hopefully may be a help to you. I needed to use my oxygen-acetylene torch the other day. When I turned on the gas, the lines to the tip were leaking so badly that I did not feel safe using the torch. One gauge on each tank regulator was not working properly as well. First, I decided to deal with the regulator repair. I called my local welding supply, Volunteer Welding Supply, Inc., in Nashville, to see if they could sell the pressure gauges, and I found out that they do not sell the gauges and that I should not just purchase them online, as something could be wrong with my regulators. They gave me the name of a company that could repair/rebuild my regulators, polish them up, and they would be like new. The company is Quality Machine & Torch Repair, located on Fesslers Lane in Nashville, just a few miles away. So, I stopped over. They were able to rebuild my regulators, and they were like new; they even preset the pressures so that there were no issues when I set my tanks up again. They rebuilt them that day, for the amount they promised, and I was back on track. Rebuilding a good quality regulator or torch is about $75.00, way cheaper than I could have purchased a low-quality torch for. They are not a commonly found business, as they work in many surrounding states. I was happy with everything, this is why I mention it. It saved me money and problems; hopefully, it could help you as well.

Oxygen-acetylene torches are something to be careful of if they are not handled carefully. I am not talking about banging them around kind of handling, more so the settings on the regulators. Regulators have two gauges. One is the tank pressure; one is the line pressure. The gauge closest to the tank is typically the tank pressure, and the outside gauge is the pressure in the line. On oxygen tanks, the regulator is typically set to 30 psi (pounds per square inch); on an acetylene tank, the pressure is set to 10 psi, as the pressure must be regulated to only this because the acetylene is very unstable and can explode in the hose line and torch if the pressure is increased. If anyone ever messes with the valve setting on the torch, stop and get it checked; your life could depend on it. When returning empty bottles of gas to get refilled, always use the top of the bottle screw-on valve cover; this will eliminate the risk of the valve getting damaged and sending the bottle across town like a missile.

I ended up getting a torch rebuilt, and I learned it is important to know what you have. My torch is a smaller torch used for cutting and brazing. It still cuts metal, though. He told me if you get the torch rebuilt to go on and replace the tip. With everything working properly, the tip should not be compromised, and it was only a small amount of money to make it right.

I ended up investing in a torch hose repair kit because I live outside of town, and if my hose messed up, I could just repair it and keep going. The kit was less than a trip to Nashville with all the lost time.

Plasma is always a good option to keep as part of the welding shop, as it can cut different materials and thicknesses of metal clean with less heat. Plasma uses basically the same technology as an arc welder, with the addition of compressed air that is filtered and heated. Plasma produces a cleaner cut than oxygen acetylene torches because the plasma creates less oxidation than a torch with less residual burned steel that can remain on the finished piece. If you can afford plasma, it is a well-placed addition to any steel shop. It, however, is not a replacement for an oxygen acetylene set because of thickness restrictions, and will not heat steel that must be bent for fabrication.

The world is crazy, and we all have to get along…except with electricians (this would be almost impossible to ask, I know), but really, time here is short and fragile; make the most of it, let others be. I bet most of us have that Carhartt in the truck by now; stay warm and one over two.

Fechino Files: Welding in the Masonry Business

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