[OT] Propane Torch Orifice Cleaning Q

RAMVA guys know everything about tools.

I need to do some copper pipe sweating on the old homestead, so I dug
the old Benz-o-Matic propane/MAP gas torch out of the box o' tools I
inherited from my Dad. It's one of those little brass ones that threads
onto a small bottle.

The orifice seems to be clogged. A loyal consumer would toss it and buy
another; while a tinkerer would attempt to clean it. That's what I want
to do. That orifice is darn small - just a few mil judging by eye. If I
knew the diameter I could get a bit of music wire (?) and ream the hole
out (ahem). Or maybe there is a Known Method for cleaning such things --
some solvent that I could try?
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westphalia: "Mellow Yellow (The Electrical Banana)"
KG6RCR

-=-=-
.... If you can't beat your computer at chess... try kickboxing.

"Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott" wrote:
>
> RAMVA guys know everything about tools.
>
> I need to do some copper pipe sweating on the old homestead, so I dug
> the old Benz-o-Matic propane/MAP gas torch out of the box o' tools I
> inherited from my Dad. It's one of those little brass ones that threads
> onto a small bottle.
>
> The orifice seems to be clogged. A loyal consumer would toss it and buy
> another; while a tinkerer would attempt to clean it. That's what I want
> to do. That orifice is darn small - just a few mil judging by eye. If I
> knew the diameter I could get a bit of music wire (?) and ream the hole
> out (ahem). Or maybe there is a Known Method for cleaning such things --
> some solvent that I could try?
> --
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westphalia: "Mellow Yellow (The Electrical Banana)"
> KG6RCR
>
> -=-=-
> ... If you can't beat your computer at chess... try kickboxing.



I'd try blowinging it clean with compressed air first, with the valve
fully open.

Jan

Michael Cecil wrote:
> On Fri, 29 Oct 2004 10:16:43 -0700, "Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott"
> et> wrote:
>
>
>>RAMVA guys know everything about tools.
>>
>>I need to do some copper pipe sweating on the old homestead, so I dug
>>the old Benz-o-Matic propane/MAP gas torch out of the box o' tools I
>>inherited from my Dad. It's one of those little brass ones that threads
>>onto a small bottle.
>>
>>The orifice seems to be clogged. A loyal consumer would toss it and buy
>>another; while a tinkerer would attempt to clean it. That's what I want
>>to do. That orifice is darn small - just a few mil judging by eye. If I
>>knew the diameter I could get a bit of music wire (?) and ream the hole
>>out (ahem). Or maybe there is a Known Method for cleaning such things --
>>some solvent that I could try?
>
>
> What could go wrong? Propane, solvents and good intentions...

Nuttin' honey-- you're right. Just wondering if anyone else has dealt
with this problem and knows the Secret Fix.

As soon as I pull the air compressor's gauges out of the oven (heavy
rains, forgot to put the air compressor's "hat" on so the gauges got
water inside and look teary, pulled gauges, drilled drain holes in
bottoms, squirted WD-40 into them, now drying and am hoping for Good
Results) I'll try solvent soaks and air blasting.

>
> *waits for Mike to change his nick to Mike "I used to have eyebrows"
> Elliott.*

Heh.

> Why not just take the torch to the store when you buy the wire so you can
> get the right size?

On account of none of the stores within driving distance carry
super-thin music wire and I reckon we are talking anywhere from .0076
down to .003 inches for this thing. I'd need to order on Ye Internette.

I used to take a carbine miner's lantern backpacking before good white
LED lamps became available. I read a lot while in bed and normal
flashlights chew through batteries quickly. Carbide lanterns use calcium
carbide in a gravel form in sealed container. A water drip from an upper
chamber onto the carbide causes an chemical reaction which produces heat
and acetylene gas. The gas is squirted out through a tiny orifice in a
ceramic "nozzle," located in the middle of a circular reflector. Makes a
nice-ish white light, and the calcium carbonate waste is ecologically
benign, so safe to discard. These lanterns came with a tiny cleaning
wire mounted on a tin handle. I never found wire anywhere that was as
skinny as that stuff, including Ernie Balls Super-Slinkiest 6th strings.
So if the cleaning tool is lost, darkness awaited. I'm hoping that
propane torches have a more commodious opening.

--

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westphalia: "Mellow Yellow (The Electrical Banana)"
KG6RCR

-=-=-
.... If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?

............tsk tsk

......You said orifice.


:-)

Tim Rogers wrote:
> ...........tsk tsk
>
> .....You said orifice.
>

Heh. Giggle.
--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westphalia: "Mellow Yellow (The Electrical Banana)"
KG6RCR

-=-=-
.... An optimist believes we live in the best of all possible worlds. A
pessimist
is sure of it!

In article >,
"Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott"
et> wrote:

> On account of none of the stores within driving distance carry
> super-thin music wire and I reckon we are talking anywhere from .0076
> down to .003 inches for this thing. I'd need to order on Ye Internette.

How about a strand of copper from a braided wire... strip the insulation
back only about 1/8" to keep the strand short and stiff... might be
enough and you probably have some stranded wire lying around.

--
___
|___| '61 - VW
(o\_|_/o) Bug! ALEA -- 35.9 BHP and not a bit more!
_U_____U_

What have you done with the broken accellerator
cable,.................It is stranded wire at least. Cut the end and
see how many times you can prick your finger trying yo get One Strand
from the mix, to work with. That stuff is pretty small I think.

Ernie ball Super slinky third or fourth string when unwound is a very
stiff center wire also,..... whichever numbered string it
is.................a pain to unwind, but also a possibilty. ( I can't
play guitar well enough to play in earshot of another human, but I
have strung many a guitar for myself and others )

I'd also recommend going to Harbor freight and buying a welding torch
file. cleaning device.................they make a tool specifically
for this ya know............

( it's just more fun trying to find home remedies
sometimes,..........)




Remove "YOURPANTIES" to reply

MUADIB®

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/sster...IN%20PAGE.html

one small step for man,.....
One giant leap for attorneys.

Try compressed air or one of the other suggestions here. DO NOT enlarge the
hole at ALL. If you do the torch will be toast.

Last but the one that will work.... Take it to a jeweler and have them
ultrasonic clean it for a few miutes.

Jim
SR Racing