I have flash arrestors at the regulator side. They double as check valves. I don’t think it matters which end and you only need one on each line. Pretty sure on my old set up I had them at the torch side because they also doubled as A to B fitting reducers.
2/3/4 should be fine, 2 should be small enough for racks and 4 is good for fork crowns, lugged BB shells and trying to unbraze lugs on frame repairs. Sometimes a rosebud can be handy for those same things.
5 is definitely too dark. I use 5 for torch cutting with O/A only. I use safety glasses in shade 3 for bronze brazing (fillets, slotted dropouts). The flux gives off a bit of a flash and the torch is usually cranked up higher. For silver brazing lugs and doing braze ons and stuff I just wear regular safety glasses since I want to see the colour changes. It’s way easier to overcook the flux when silver brazing. I see that safety glasses in shade 1.7 exist, maybe those would ideal for that. Torch flame doesn’t give off UV like arc welding does so the tint isn’t nearly as big of a safety thing.
I wear a P100 respirator when brazing as well. Unless you have a really open area with great ventilation, I’d recommend it. Flux fumes can leave a nasty feeling in your throat.
Ok, thanks for the tip on the shade, I thought 5 would be too dark.
I have a respirator but never wore it while brazing because I usually do it outside. My new setup will be right against a roll up door with a big fan pulling fumes out.
I’m interested to see how this comes together - last time I refilled my bottles the counter price for acetylene was crazy high and the guy asked me “you’re a contractor right, wink wink” and I said I was a plumber and got better pricing. Since maybe the next guy might not be as cool and to save some space oxy-pro sounds appealing.
I run a Victor J100C and use a #1 tip for almost everything. For racks I might drop down to a #0. I keep thinking of treating myself to lighter kevlar hoses but even in a prolific year I don’t really need the lighter setup.
