Meco Midget Torch Testimonials

Kent,
I have received my Meco, yesterday. Well I have to say that this is amazing. I could hardly believe that I could improve that much with this torch. However, there is one problem. I could not put it down until Midnight! Thanks again for all of your help. The next step will be aluminum and stainless materials.
Regards,

I've given up my Henrob 2000. It still works as good as the day I got it, and I did weld the wing parts, tail feathers, and fuselage with it.

But since I bought the Meco Midget from Kent at Oshkosh this year, I haven't looked back. It's a wonderful torch for what we're doing and I'll stand up and recommend it to anyone who'll listen!

(Okay there was one time after getting the Meco that I used the Henrob because I needed a larger tip than the Meco would handle--for some reason the Henrob just didn't seem as nice anymore after using the Meco--sort of a "How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down On The Farm After They've Seen Paris?")

I've never seen or used a Smith torch, and they must be good because
budd likes them, but I'm so happy now with the Meco I'm not even interested in trying any other torches.

Russ "One of these days Kent will finally quote me on his web site" Erb, "BearHawk super builder" Rosamond CA

Hi Kent,
I have received my Meco Midget in good order and just completed my first welding session.
I feel like a dentist who has been doing root canals with a hatchet, and suddenly discovered real dentist tools!
What a beautiful tool it is. Thank you for stocking it and offering it at such a reasonable price.

Nick Boughen

Hi Kent,
I've been reading your web pages for a few years now, whenever I need inspiration to continue with the sometimes frustrating bodywork that comes my way. About a year and a half ago, I bought a Henrob/Dillon/Cobra torch set. Sure, it does everything it's supposed to, but as I'd use it, I thought there had to be a better way. It's just SO heavy!! Obviously, being an avid reader of your site, I was familiar with the Meco Midget torch, and how much you like it.

Over the past few days, as I've been getting set to patch the floor in my wife's 1952 Ford Customline (will be a mild kustom car). Anyway, I kept going back to your pages, picking up bits and pieces here and there on gas welding (I'm all too familiar with MIG, and have worked on several cars using it, but am fairly new to oxy/acetylene), because I want the car to be safe, not just pretty. Enter my friend Chris. He took one of your gas welding aluminum courses several years ago, and bought a Meco and the special lens for aluminum (I bought one, too, from the guy I got my Henrob from).

I figured that I wouldn't have anything to lose if I borrowed his Meco, and gave it a shot. I had just finished tacking the first patch in place with the Henrob, then went over to his house to get the little torch. I told him that I was thinking of buying one, and that I'd have it back to him in a day or two.

Well, after using it for only a few minutes, I called him and told him that there was no way he was getting that little torch back!!

Obviously, I was kidding, and just ordered one from you. The difference is absolutely amazing!!! After holding on to nearly four pounds of brass, and then the almost nothing of this torch, I was able to weld longer and easier with the Meco. As one of your other customers said, How Ya Gonna Keep 'em Down On The Farm After They've Seen Paris? I wholeheartedly agree...

Jack J. SoCal

I agree with Russ about the Meco Midget. It is very light and with
the lightweight hose Kent recomends handles beautifully.

One thing that has not really been emphasized is torch size. Most of the deals you will find on torch outfits have a torch that is to large for the 100's of hours you will spend welding on this project.

The small Smith is a nice size in a conventional shape torch, but I don't think the new ones are as nice as those built 30 years ago. The valves just don't seem to adjust as well. Another point about the Smith is tip prices. About $30 each.

Bill Cox

I also bought the Meco Midget and absolutely love it. I only wish I had it back when I was welding the Christavia parts. Of course, if you're going to buy the Meco Midget, make sure you have them include the lightweight hoses. I can't believe how easy it is to maneuver around the work pieces with this torch and hose combination.

Ken B.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Don't forget to order the 4130 videos with the torch. They are invaluable.

Dan M.

I have had my Meco Midget for a long time. When I bought it I was looking at a Hoke. As I am a Jeweler I have tried many torches but you can not give one of them to me.

I am in love with some of your tools [Kent White]. Oh yes, I have had some of them for 20+ years now. Today, I am ordering your ultra light weight hose and #n-00 tip for my Meco Midget...

Thanks

"I recently bought the MECO torch, as seen on Kent White's Tinman web site and I love it! What a joy to use. Small and light in the hand, easy to light and adjust, with one hand, and the tip (I bought all the sizes) seems to do a better job than my Victor. The Victor is a general purpose home unit, suitable for post welding heat treat, pre-heating, etc, but I don't think one could ask for a better thin wall steel welding torch than the MECO (especially for the price!!). I'm saving up for the special filter to weld aluminum. The little torch has given me the confidence to try. Wouldn't an all aluminum cowling and wheel pants look great! I might even think about welding the fuel tanks, what a concept!"

"Thanks to Kent for a great product. The MECO is the best money I've spent on tools so far. (I have no financial interest or agenda, I'm just a very satisified customer)."

Rob (working on spars) Gaddy

Dear Kent,
I received the MECO torch and complete selection of tips on Wednesday. What a beauty, I love it and so does my wrist. I have only tried it out on mild steel sheet so far but just like in the 4130 video , I can't make this torch pop without using extreme measures.
Thanks!

RS

Dear Kent,

I use the Meco Torch and the lightweight hoses. I bought them from Kent White and I have to tell you that as a begining welder I am extremely impressed with the quality of the welds that I am able to produce with the Meco.

I practiced with a Victor for a while and my welds were ok but not as consistent as with the Meco. With it's small profile and light weight, it can be held similar to how you hold a pencil, thereby giving great control and very little hand shaking.

I also noticed that that there is very little "popping" with Meco. When welding inside the aileron/flap support frames, you are on an inside corner which pushes the flame back at the torch and can cause it to heat up and start popping and blowing out. I found that with the Meco it was very rare for it to pop. I am still a beginner and my welds can't hold a candle to someone like Bill Johnson's but they are airworthy and really look fairly decent.

Eric Newton - Long Beach, MS

Craig--get out your credit card, call Kent and order the torch, tips #0 - #5, a " fish " to hold the tips, the ultralightweight hoses (a must to appreciate the true value of the torch), and the 4130 videos. Be sure to ask about whatever adaptors you'll need to attach the hoses to your existing hoses--the ultralightweight hoses are only meant to be the last part of the hose leading to the torch, like a fishing leader, not the entire hose (too short for that). You'll find several of my comments on his web site which were pulled from this group and not compensated in any way.

Why? I had welded my entire tail and fuselage frame with a Henrob 2000 torch before I became hip to the Meco. The Henrob is a good torch but heavy. Sort of like holding a big ball peen hammer when a tack hammer would do. I bought the Meco and have never looked back. It's a great torch, pops significantly less than my Henrob, and the best part is the extreme light weight, especially when welding out of position (upside down) with nothing to rest your arm on.

I did get the 4130 videos after welding the wing parts but before doing the tail and fuselage. A must have if you've never done this sort of thing before. That's where I learned how to bend the tubing, smoosh the ends to fit smaller tubes, cut tubes, fishmouth tubes (done freehand with a grinder in a fraction of the time it would take to set up one of those "Joint Jigger" things), not to mention actually welding them together.

Yes, it's the bee's knees. And the whole bee's leg for that matter. Just do it. And if you're in the sixth sigma of the population and don't like them, I'm sure you'll be able to get the majority of your money back by selling them to someone else in this group.

Russ "Did I just give Kent more quotes to add to his website?"
Erb, Rosamond CA

I highly recommend the Meco with the light hoses several times to this group. So much so that Kent has used my endorsement on his web site. I'm continuously amazed at how much heat the little guy can put out.

I also bought Kent's "fish". This is the tip holding device that doubles as a wrench for changing tips (a bit spendy but worth it in my opinion). I attached the fish to my striker. I put the fish in my pocket with the striker hanging out. This allows easy torch lights, and the tips (and necessary wrench) are right at hand for changing.

I change tips (for various amounts of heat needed at different locations) pretty often. I also use his flip-up eye filter.

Rob "give it the gas" Gaddy

Meco? ... That little torch is hard to beat in my opinion. Just get one. Get the light weight hoses while you're at it. Worth every penny.

Collin Campbell, #370 Bolivar, MO

I started out using a small Victor torch and had a hard time adjusting the flame. I had purchased the videos and watched them, so I had an idea how things should work but could not make it happen. I bought the Meco and started using them with much better results and a lot less frustration.

I still have a ways to go to get real consistent welds, but I have never felt the money spent on the Meco and light hoses was wasted. I could have saved money if had bought Kent's 4130 kit #3 .

The videos are well worth the money and I keep referring back to them, that way they are better than a class. I would recommend watching the welding part of the video, practice welding, watch that part of the video again, and practice some more. Repeat that process until your weld are solid then start welding none structural thing like the control stick after you watch the rest of the video so you will know how to set it up to weld. That is what I did and it's working for me.

L.R., airplane builder

Comments on Dillon/ Henrob/ Cobra:

Cuts great, welds okay. Won't work into inside corners very well as it sneezes a lot. A little awkward to get into tight places like inside a fuselage.

B. Davisson, builder, welder, instructor...Smith torch owner

I used a Henrob for three years on my Bearhawk and was quite happy with it. That was until I was introduced to the Meco Midget. Suddenly the Henrob felt like it weighed about 100 pounds. I switched to the Meco and have never looked back.

Summary: The Henrob works, and if you got it for free, all the better. However, given a choice, it's not the one I would buy."

Maj. R. Erb, builder, editor of Bearhawk CD