Thank you for your quick response to my recent warranty request for a faulty gauge despite the fact that the gauge is supplied by a different company. Between yourself and the distributor of the gauge I had a replacement within a week. Well done that's great customer service.
Regards
Steve Simmons
A very satisfied Henrob user
Hi Barry,
I have received my torch safe and intact.
I am impressed with the quality of the componants and the box it comes in.
I have had a play with it and I am impressed!
I have not tried everything but my interest is in the light weight stuff so I have used small flames on thin steel to great effect. Minimal distortion and a strong neat weld are now so much easier to accomplish.
I reckon that with practice I will be able to do so much more. My skills as a gas welder have now been reinstated as the best way to customise body panels.
You have saved me money as now I will not be buying a TIG! When I do something interesting with the torch I will write it up for the NSRA magazine.
Cheers - Dik Stapley (UK)
Hi Lynn
I have now got the torch and have been welding with it, trouble is I couldn't see the weld as I'm at the age where my arms are too short. Now I have some glasses sorted out I am welding better than I ever have done, it's beautiful to use. I have just put two new floor pans into an old ford zephyr and did not clean the old edge on the car, with your torch the weld is perfect. I have been restoring cars for twenty years and have a Mig and a Tig they will now be collecting dust.
Many thanks Dan Force
Dan Force of
St Juire Champgillon,
France
Letter from Philllip Turner of Wales
Dear Barry,
Thank you for sending me the parts stolen from my DHC2000. Had I bought a welder in the UK it would not have been here faster.
The DHC is as good as you say. I will recommend it to all my friends in motor trade here in Wales
Many Thanks,
Phillip Turner
(August 07)
View Original letter
Dear Barry
"After using the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) for the last 12 months we have been very happy with the results. Attributes we have found which out weigh all other include: Minimal heat distortion. Good weld penetration and a fine weld bead. We butt welded a front guard on a Porsche 356B and found the welds to be virtually invisible requiring just about nil finishing work and needing no filler."
Nick Contarino - Exclusive Auto Centre (Panel Beaters)
Brisbane QLD
Dear Barry
"Look, its the best thing for welding aluminium fuel tanks up at work or at the track, any welding repairs on my outfits. I made a dummy fuel tank out of beer cans as a joke, I wish I had a DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) 30 years ago, which we could have taken with us to the speedway."
"If you race, a DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) is a good investment."
JR Racing - J R Racing Speedway Sidecars (now retired)
Lidcombe NSW
Dear Barry
"I had been called upon to do some repairs in a dairy, which required the ability to weld some very intricate light gauge stainless steel parts. The DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) handles this job with ease and effects a very neat weld without the need for any pre or post weld grinding (no experience necessary). With the use of small gas cylinders and a collection of filler rods the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) is a go anywhere and weld almost anything outfit, that stands alone, truly indispensable!"
Jeffrey Cannon - Cannons Maintenance Service
Kununurra WA
Tested in "Two Wheels" Magazine (JULY 99 Issue)
"A tricky test as a comparison between the high and low pressure systems is the straightening of a motorbike bent aluminium cooling fin. I tested the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) and was able to puddle a spot on the fin the size of a nail head with no danger of the rest of the fin collapsing. The ability to have this control over a heated zone is truly amazing."
Martin Shields
Tested in "Restored Cars" Magazine (JAN - FEB 2000 Issue)
"We fused welded a small nail to a jam can with virtually nil distortion and no holes burned through, gas welding of square tube with bailing wire gave a strong clean T.I.G type of weld. The torch is very user friendly."
Eddie Ford
Dear Barry
"Just a quick note to thank you for the speedy service in sending then new tip for my torch. I hope you are not trying to make a living out of spare parts as this is the only time I have had to replace anything in 12 years."
"My DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) torch is used everyday in my work as a plumber and despite years of use and sometimes abuse it has performed faultlessly. The #2 tip I find excellent for silver soldering on pipes of all diameters. Other plumbers have been surprised that such a small torch and tip can join 100mm a copper tube. I always use the curved extension on the torch as it makes soldering the pipe whether horizontal in the ground or vertical so much easier, especially in tight situations."
P Whiting - Peter Whiting Plumbing
Old Bar NSW
Dear Barry
"As I specialise in repairs and maintenance on Ferrari's, there is a minimal space to weld and this is where I fine the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) a godsend. You don't get any distortion of the metal due to the units small flame front. I have found this torch to be far superior in comparison with the CIG torch, which now collects dust and cobwebs in the back corner of my workshop. I find the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) especially good for light work, getting into small places, and also its saves me significantly with gas costs."
G Vincent - Graeme Vincent Automotive
Melbourne VIC
Dear Barry
"We cannot speak highly enough about the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) torches and would recommend anyone in need of a extremely reliable torch to purchase what we have found to be the best torch in the business."
J Kaiser - Glass Expansion
Melbourne VIC
Dear Barry
"Just a short note to let you know how thrilled I was to see your Advertisement in the local paper regarding the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) Welding System.
Since we are at different ends of our great country it was wonderful to know that I can still buy a complete range of spare parts from my DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) , which as you know I am a semi-retired watch maker and jeweller also into hobbies such as rebuilding and restoring bull dozers and earth moving equipment.
"During a normal work day as a Watchmaker it would be nothing for me to silver solder a very fine minute-hand for a ladies antique watch that had been broken off at its base and no spare being available the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) performed splendidly. The customer could not detect the job.
I also used it on a daily basis to rejoin 18ct wedding rings and also it was the only tool capable of welding a broken side lug back onto a Swiss Watch
Its great to know that after an 8 hour day in the shop, I can unhook the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) and take it into the back yard and connect it up and start work on my hobbies."
Ken Weekes
Andergrove QLD
Dear Barry
"I have owned a Dillon (now called DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) ) torch for over 15 years. I have found it a versatile tool, especially for jobs one would need more expensive welders with Stainless steel, sheets & pipe, and Aluminium pipe & plate. Some associates who restore antique cars also borrow it, they have found it helpful in welding rusty parts and thin car panels."
"All in all I have found the DHC 2000 (formally HENROB 2000™) a very useful tool in my workshop."
B Beke - Foggy Mountain Forge
Kinglake VIC
Dear Barry,
I discovered the Dillon Mk 4 (now the DHC 2000) at a hotrod show over 20 years ago and was amazed at what it was capable of welding: copper wire; stainless steel; aluminium. So, I purchased one.
I primarily use the DHC 2000 (Dillon) for welding sheet mild steel on modified vehicles and found it to be very economical (bottles last alot longer), reliable & easy to use particularly because of the narrow heat spread and good penetration (less planishing is required to dress the weld).
I've also used the DHC 2000 (Dillon) for brazing copper pipes, brass and welding heavier steel such as 3mm wall water pipe and 10mm thick mild steel and am very happy with the results.
View Photos of Mal using the DHC 2000
MAL LAND
Frenchs Forest, NSW
Car Body
The job I bought it for turned out to be bigger than anyone expected, (how unusual,) with a huge amount of sheet metal patch repairs and complete panel replacement. As you can see in the photos, going right across a guard to fit a new front half on is no problem, with very little warpage, compared to the old 'Comet'. In fact, I doubt I would have been able to do a lot of the work with the old equiptment, as I'd be forever shringing and hammering to keep things flat.
It must be due to the lower gas pressure and more concentrated heat location. I've not actually done a gas comparison at this stage, as that would require going back through all my paper work, as past time I don't enjoy!
In closing, a great product, thatr is certainly worth the money and lives up to its advertising claims.
Yours Sincerely,
John Keane,
Older Cr Repairs
COPPER WORKX - Well made in New Zealand
A Letter to American Weldng Company...
Building an Axe Box
Dear Barry & Lynn
Just a short note let you know how my HENROB TOURCH is going.
I am very pleased with its performance and I have never seen any thing so versatile I have welded aluminium, cast, steel, copper, stainless steel.
The hardest was probably the aluminium it took me a couple of hours just playing to get the hang of it now I can run a weld along a piece of 0.6mm for as long as I want.
The 2.5 tip I found very good as it has plenty of heat but more controllable then the No3 I use it mainly on cast because it preheats quick then with a small adjustment it is very good to weld with.
When I weld aluminium I use cobalt blue glasses this takes all the flare away and makes it very easy to see the work peace and the puddle.
Steve Pottie
View Photo
Dear Barry,
Ron Clarke and Sons create murals and signs using a Henrob/Cobra (now called the DHC 2000). The fine cutting we do would not be possible without this tourch and also the reduction in gas usage is remarkable, with any other tourch we make one Harley mural with the Henrob we can produce seven. I have also used the torch to cut straight through two inches of steel.
Very Best Regards,
Ron Clarke
'The man Who Paints With Fire'
View Original letter
NB : GREAT UNIT - THE TORCH IS BRILLIANT - I'VE BEEN A PROFICIENT GAS WELDER FOR MANY YEARS ( it took a little time to get "the hang of it") THAT DONE I'M WELDING THIN (0.6mm) MILD STEEL SHEET (auto body panels) WITH SUCH EASE & PRECISION !! IF I HADN'T WELDED IT MYSELF I'D NEVER HAVE BELIEVED IT POSSIBLE !! IT LEAVES A COMET 3 OR A MIG EVEN A TIG FOR DEAD !!
Regards
Alex Wootton.
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
|
