How To Use An Antique Blow Torch

Tips on how to refurbish and operate a vintage/antique gasoline-style blow torch. Hope this video is helpful for all you fellow retro daredevils out there!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Blow
• Torch
• blowtorch
• gasoline
• gas
• light
• flame
• blue
• white
• camp
• fuel
• pump
• vintage
• antique
• burn
• tool

[halfmumi]

how safe are they? 

[Sturgeonstairway]

@halfmumi

Fairly safe if the torch is in good condition and you follow standard precautions as with any device that uses compressed fuel (lanterns, camp stoves, etc). Two big safety points are (#1) : making sure that the torch has no leaks - i.e. rotted seals, loose fittings, and rusted, leaking tanks. (#2) : Avoid operating the hand pump while the torch is running as fuel can escape past the packing during pumping, turning the torch into a rockin' hand grenade!

[BigAgitator]

I fired-up my C&L after reconditioning it. Talk about easy and reliable and... not as dangerous *feeling* as I had anticipated. It instilled just enough confidence that it'll probably trust it too much and then something bad will happen.

The flame gets nice and blue and jet-like but it pulses a little. Can you shed some light on why this might be? I was going to clean my jets just for good measure. I'll have another look at zangobob's site.

thanks

[Sturgeonstairway]

@BigAgitator

You could also go big and soak it in a methylene chloride based cleaner for an extended period (NAPA - Mac's Carb Cleaner) - very expensive, however, and will burn the skin right off your hands if accidentally splattered and not washed off completely (I know from experience)!

[BigAgitator]

@Sturgeonstairway GEEZ! I used to dip my hands in that carb cleaner (in the 1gal can) to fish-out the parts. Never had a problem. Sounds like I was lucky! Your advice was helpful- I'll make sure the orifice and passages are very clean. It'll prob'ly help a lot.

[Sturgeonstairway]

@BigAgitator

Same stuff they use in industrial grade paint stripper!

[pheenix42]

May I suggest a very simple way of putting fuel in your preheat pan? Get a metal or glass tube of sufficient length for your container, dip it in then put your thumb over the end and keep it there. Pull the tube out and put the end in the pan and take your thumb off to drain the fuel into the pan. When you have your thumb on, air pressure is holding the liquid in for you.

[leakyspacesuit]

@BigAgitator The pulsing is caused by improper fuel/air mix. The same thing can happen in a jet engine. Maybe the fuel jets are blocked and it's getting too much air for the amount of fuel burning. Or maybe It's not getting enough air. Try blocking of the air intakes a bit and see if that stops the pulsing. that will give you an idea what the problem is.

[leakyspacesuit]

@halfmumi Very safe. I've been using a backpacking stove (Whisperlite International) with gasoline for years now. I've never had any problems. These blow torches function in the exact same way. The only difference is that there is no pot holder on top for cooking. Gasoline is safer than most people realize. Try building a stove that runs on gunpowder and then you're living in the danger zone.

[Sturgeonstairway]

@BigAgitator

It is most likely some mild carbon fouling in the main nozzle jet - they have to be pretty spotless for an even flame - kind of analogous to a beat-up garden hose sprayer nozzle. Toothbrushes/small wires, a little xylene/toluene based solvent (carb and choke cleaner spray) and compressed air can work wonders.