Blow Torch Advice?

Gregg33 · Mar 26, 2011

My dad had an antique blow torch when I was a kid. Being the pyro I was, I loved to use it to start fires. It would literally shoot flames 4 or 5 feet. A seller on Kijiji has 20 of them for sale (no idea how the heck anybody would end up with 20 blow torches lol) for $25 ea. I really want to buy one, not to put on display, but to actually use. I was wondering if anybody has any advice on how I should choose which 1 I buy. Are they prone to clogging up? Is there a leather plunger on the primer pump that needs to be oiled? Are parts available? What can go wrong with them? Is it diffucult to rebuild them? Is it ok to use gasoline in them or do you need Coleman fuel. Also besides starting fires, what were they used for. Would they have been used for soldering? What else? What years were they manufactured from? Were there multiple brands/ styles or just a few? Any help is appreciated!

raley · Mar 26, 2011

might wanna link to it, or atleast a pic, name... something other than antique blow torch that shoots a 4-5 foot flame...

Lotek · Mar 26, 2011

Hmmmm, pressurised gasoline in an antique tool and an open flame... what could go wrong? They were used to sweat pipes and heat soldering irons, that's what the rest on the top of the nozzle is for. Basicly, anything you would use a propane torch for, but more dangerous, which is why they aren't used any more. Have fun, but this is a "hold my beer" kind of tool. :lol_hitti

My wife took one look at the one I brought home from the swapmeet and said "absolutely not", so it's a decoration. Can't complain, she doesn't say anything about the propane smelting furnace and the blacksmith forge I built...

Propane, it's not for the barbecue

rickairmedic · Mar 26, 2011

Most likely one of these .

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...UgQe-q7mwDQ&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Theres tons of information on them on the web . Just Google " gasoline torch " .

Rick

diesel research · Mar 26, 2011

Lotek said:
Hmmmm, pressurised gasoline in an antique tool and an open flame... what could go wrong?

I don't think pressurized gasoline was the reason they went out of style. Acetylene is far more dangerous than gasoline, is pressurized, and still deemed safe.

Not sure if they still do, but rather recently they still had stoves that could run on gasoline or coleman fuel. Pressurized and open flame in same manner.

More likely reasons to go out of style is transport safety and ease of lighting.

Lotek · Mar 26, 2011

You missed the important part "antique", dried out seals and leathers, operator unfamiliar with operation, little voice in my head keeps saying "Darwin" :shocking:

I have a white gas Coleman stove and lanterns, a Whisperlight backpacking stove, and an oxy/acetylene torch, the wife didn't even wan to hear about the blowtorch. She does hazmat and safety training as part of her business. :dunno:

TireTracks · Mar 26, 2011

Lotek said:
You missed the important part "antique", dried out seals and leathers, operator unfamiliar with operation, little voice in my head keeps saying "Darwin"

Ohh thats going in my sig. :lol_hitti

diesel research · Mar 26, 2011

Lotek said:
You missed the important part "antique", dried out seals and leathers, operator unfamiliar with operation, little voice in my head keeps saying "Darwin"

So teach him how to use it and rebuild it, not fear it.

We are all tool appreciating guys around here. :beer:

Must not be a complete darwin candidate, as he was immediately concerned for the leathers and rebuilding it.

http://www.blotorches.com/torchfix/torchfix.html

My safety guy insisted I not use the oxy acetylene torch w/o being "certified", to which I asked what certification meant for a torch. He didn't know. Next thing I know, I am giving the class. :lol_hitti

Until then it sat in our shop unused because everyone feared it, yet didn't know the real dangers.

Lotek · Mar 26, 2011

diesel research said:
So teach him how to use it and rebuild it, not fear it. We are all tool appreciating guys around here.

Must not be a complete darwin candidate, as he was immediately concerned for the leathers and rebuilding it.

My safety guy insisted I not use the oxy acetylene torch w/o being "certified", to which I asked what certification meant for a torch. He didn't know. Next thing I know, I am giving the class. Until then it sat in our shop unused because everyone feared it, yet didn't know the real dangers.

Saw a co-worker using the O/A to heat a bolt, he had the Acetylene cranked up as high as it would go, he got upset when I cut the gas off. :headscrat

The danger here is not knowing when it looks/sounds/feels wrong, you can't get that knowledge from the internet, and for actual use there are better/safer alternatives available now. :beer:

diesel research · Mar 26, 2011

I agree there are better alternatives, but won't write it off totally as unusable. It's not as if the OP has never used one before. The above link has some real good safety/troubleshooting methods, and explains how to test it with water.

Perhaps Kirbot can help:

Gregg33 · Mar 26, 2011

From my experience, it's not much more dangerous than using an older Coleman lantern. I doubt many more people were badly burned or killed using a blow torch, than with a bbq. I was inquiring more about if I get one that doesn't work properly, is it fixable? Also I don't plan on it using to solder pipes in my house or other things that I'd use a propane torch for. I do a fair bit of woodlot maintanence and they come in handy for lighting brush piles on fire to burn them up.

Also, as diesel research indicated, they definetly aren't as easy to light as modern torches and are also not as nimble as modern torches, which probably made them obselete.

Frank The Plumber · Mar 26, 2011

I have a hard enough time just wandering about this world and not screwin myself up, why some guys want to play with **** like this is just baffling to me.

Kirbot · Mar 26, 2011

Lotek said:
You missed the important part "antique", dried out seals and leathers, operator unfamiliar with operation, little voice in my head keeps saying "Darwin"

I don't think any of us are going to be stupid enough to light one without rebuilding and testing it.

If there is one thing I like about Europe, its the Blowtorch collectors.
Lots of people collect them over there, and they don't constantly whine about about how horribly terribly dangerous they are... and then go light up there propane torch, gas stove, gas lantern, use a can of spraypaint or any one of those other things that are atleast as dangerous. I mention Spray paint because thats a perfect example.
All of of use it, and don't give it a second thought.

Well, for those of you who haven't figured it out, spray paint if flammable, very flammable. The cans are extremely thin and weak, and there are no safety valves or anything on them.

I read about someone a while back who burnt his house down with a can of spray paint. He dropped the can, it split, the fog of paint reached the furnace pilot light, and burst into flames.

Cans of carb cleaner and brake cleaner are just as bad.

What does this have to do with blow torches you ask?
Well, very little, just that there are far more dangerous things to worry about.
And if your careful, and don't act like an idiot, you will be fine.

Anyway, on to the blow torches...

Short answer is, "yes", they can be rebuilt and used safely.
I have done it many times.

I did a rather extensive writeup about rebuilding them on the owwm.org forum, but you have to be logged in to see it.
I'll repost it here when I get a chance.
Right now I have to go, but I'll post it later today.

diesel research · Mar 26, 2011

Gregg33 said:
I was inquiring more about if I get one that doesn't work properly, is it fixable?

Please check the blotorch.com link I provided.

I would much rather see someone using this torch as opposed to the method I used to use for brush removal.. That was more darwinesque. We won't go into details of kerosene and garden sprayers of fire, but you get the point that is NOT safe.

Gregg33 · Mar 26, 2011

diesel research said:
Please check the blotorch.com link I provided.

I would much rather see someone using this torch as opposed to the method I used to use for brush removal.. That was more darwinesque. We won't go into details of kerosene and garden sprayers of fire, but you get the point that is NOT safe.

Thanks for the link, it's very imformative. Now I have to go buy one. Apparently there are 20 to choose from, with my luck I won't get the one that requires a quick test and dusting. It'll probably be a total pos. But I suppose I could buy 3 or 4 if necessary and sell the more problematic ones to antique collectors. I'll keep everyone posted. If you don't hear anything for a couple months, send get well cards to my local burn center. :lol_hitti

diesel research · Mar 26, 2011

Oh ya, and as noted in the pics, the 4ft flames are probably not the best adjustment.

Lotek · Mar 26, 2011

Gregg33 said:
Thanks for the link, it's very imformative. Now I have to go buy one. Apparently there are 20 to choose from, with my luck I won't get the one that requires a quick test and dusting. It'll probably be a total pos. But I suppose I could buy 3 or 4 if necessary and sell the more problematic ones to antique collectors. I'll keep everyone posted. If you don't hear anything for a couple months, send get well cards to my local burn center.

A friend with a video camera is essential... :lol_hitti

I wonder if my wife will let me play with mine, now that I have instructions... But honey, I read it on the internet. :FIREdevil

diesel research · Mar 26, 2011

When you/her/I went to school you read out of a book right (or had someone else reading out of a book)? Then went out and actually did it right?

No one lit my first torch for me in school. They gave me a book with guidelines then old me to go light it. I'm sure there was a video or 2 involved. Only after something happens did they give me the text book troubleshooting info.

jamesemery728 · Mar 26, 2011

I watched an old timer put in a huge linoleum tile floor in an extremely large room at a factory that I worked in a few years ago. He used one of these torches to soften the tiles that had to be cut and to make them more pliable. He said he could not do the work with out one and used it all the time. They always scared the daylights out of me. There is something about an open flame and gasoline that makes me want to run and hide.

diesel research · Mar 26, 2011

Too much hollywood lol.

Like I mentioned, you should be extremely afraid of acetylene/natural gas/propane if gasoline gives ya the jeebies.

Gasoline stove cooks a helluva breakfast at the camp site.

(I'm NOT gonna go as far as kirbot in the how to light video. A bit extreme, I'll stick with pouring a few drops under the burner)

Kirbot · Mar 26, 2011

diesel research said:
Too much hollywood lol.

Like I mentioned, you should be extremely afraid of acetylene/natural gas/propane if gasoline gives ya the jeebies.

Gasoline stove cooks a helluva breakfast at the camp site.

(I'm NOT gonna go as far as kirbot in the how to light video. A bit extreme, I'll stick with pouring a few drops under the burner)

"A bit extreme"?
Well, whatever.
But I light them they way they were meant to be lit.
You need to just about fill the pre-heater cup for it to preheat properly.

"A few drops under the burner" isn't going to get it nearly hot enough and you'll end up with those 5' flames mentioned earlier.

diesel research · Mar 27, 2011

I meant I'm not pouring it on my hand. You demonstrated doing it w/o any ill effects. I'm a smoker, so yes, it's a little extreme for me. Not literal few drops.

Point was these old things can be safely lit and used, you were able to prove that, although others may want to manually fill the cup instead, just as I'd prefer.

Gregg33 · May 9, 2011

Well some time has passed and I finally got the vintage Butler torch I bought fired up. When I bought it over a month ago I was upset to find it had 2 cracks in the tank. So I went and looked at another one (this time I was smart enough to test it first before paying!) and it had the same problem. So I talked to one of my sponsors who solders radiators on a daily basis and he said he'd solder up the cracks for me. I realize it's not the safest thing to repair these (please no be careful advice!) but I wanted it to at least be usuable outdoors.

So after getting it soldered, polishing it up and oiling the **** out of the pump leather I decided to try it out. I filled it up about 3/4 full of fresh gas and pumped it about about 20-25 times. I then filled the heater cup with gas from the torch. That's a messy operation, have some rags handy. Then I lit 'er up. I waited a minute or 2 until most of the gas in the cup was burned up then I turned the valve on and the torch came to life. For the first couple of minutes the torch was popping a bit, probably from it not being warm enough and water left in the wick. Within a couple minutes the flame went from orange to almost completely clear. In the sunlight it was next to impossible to see the flame. But, it was very noisy, I could here the sound of the torch from 100 ft away! I proceeded to heat a 3/8" bolt to red hot and also burned some weeds around my fire pit, in addition to shooting the pictures below. I also tightened down the jam nut on the valve, as it had a slight leak prior to tightening it.

Overall, I was surprised at how user friendly the torch actually is. While I don't think many metro-sexuals would be comfortable using one, you don't balls like grapefruit or a death wish to use one either. Imo the fear factor is equal to that of a Coleman lantern, but less than a bbq you have to hand light. The quality of the flame is better than my propane torch and less likely to go out from wind or moving the torch. Because of the solder repair I won't use it indoors or that often, but I do look forward to firing it up again. Overall, probably the most fun I ever had using a tool. :beer:

diggerrick · May 10, 2011

I kinda like like playing with this:

Herb · May 10, 2011

Does anyone remember Melville Crump ( Sid Ceasar) with a blow torch in the movie It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad world? I tried to find a link to a movie still but couldn't. That's the first thing I thought of when I read this thread.

5lima30 · May 10, 2011

Those would be fine to set on the shelf for a conversation piece. If you are going to actually use the torch... I would go with a MAPP gas or O/A set-up. YMMV.

TEXACMAN · Feb 27, 2013

Good job getting your torch to work :thumbup:

. It is satisfying to get an old tool like this to work again and fun just to tinker with things like this isn't it?
I think our country has been over run with safety police , people that don't even work with there hands making safety rules for everyone else , we as a country need to grow a pair don't we

? Oh well

, geez I sound like my father. :eyecrazy:

Gregg33 · May 12, 2013

TEXACMAN said:
Good job getting your torch to work . It is satisfying to get an old tool like this to work again and fun just to tinker with things like this isn't it?
I think our country has been over run with safety police , people that don't even work with there hands making safety rules for everyone else , we as a country need to grow a pair don't we? Oh well , geez I sound like my father.

Thanks, I've used it a few times since, once for heating a bolt and a few times to start a bonfire. It still works good. I agree that Canada, the U.S. etc. have become soft and overly paranoid. Don't get me wrong you need to respect any tool, but this torch is no more dangerous than a Coleman stove or lantern. I like just about anything old, especially tools, but I've never been big on decorations. 95%+ of the tools I own are used and every tool I own is functional. I have no interest in hanging rusty wrenches on my wall or making my blow torch into a lamp! :beer:

Steinmetz · May 12, 2013

Herb said:
Does anyone remember Melville Crump ( Sid Ceasar) with a blow torch in the movie It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad world? I tried to find a link to a movie still but couldn't. That's the first thing I thought of when I read this thread.

"Dr." Melville Crump. He was a Dentist. His wife (in the film) was actress Edie Adams. The blowtorch was left unattended in an unfortunate location, and set a staircase on fire. The staircase fire caused some fireworks to ignite.

Potts123 · Dec 9, 2018

How do you install the wick in these torches? Am rebuilding one but haven’t found anything that describes it.

ttpete · Dec 9, 2018

Anyone who is restoring one of these and intending to actually fire it up should take a close look at the tank. Some were all brass, and that's OK, but others had a steel bottom which can be questionable because of corrosion. Having a quart of gas under pressure spring a leak with fire on the other end is something best avoided.

seber · Dec 9, 2018

I used one when I was young. In those days you could go to the service station and buy white gas from a bulk tank. It never occurred to me back then that it might be dangerous. Once propane torches came out I never looked back. The gasoline torch is just a beast to work with by comparison. I know some people still like to drive model Ts but there are better options.

Miss the Pontiacs · Dec 9, 2018

I have a Dominion Blow Torch can’t remember if it as my Grandfather’s or my FIL’s. I imagine it hasn’t been fired up in at least 50 years but likely more than 60. I did dust it off a bit but didn’t want to take off any patina. :lol_hitti

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