Hobbies And Interests
Fuels
Gas torches typically run on acetylene or liquid propane. Both types of fuel have advantages and disadvantages. For instance, acetylene produces soot while burning, while LP burns cleaner. Acetylene produces a concentrated, pinpoint, high-temperature flame, whereas LP tends to spread the heat throughout the entire flame. Acetylene is lighter than LP and dissipates quicker in the event of a leak.
Tips
Multiflame rosebud tips work best when trying to produce a widely dispersed flame needed for brazing, soldering or heating. The jewelry industry primarily uses rosebud tips for annealing, reticulation and casting gold and silver. An LP gas torch with rosebud tips is capable of casting up to 3 ounces of precious metal.
Tip Problems
Rosebud tips tend to cause popping problems. This is due to the lack of enough oxygen and LP. If the velocity of gas flow through the tip is slower than the rate of burn, the flame will burn inside the tip, resulting in a popping noise. Setting the system for maximum flow or wide-open is the safest way to use an LP torch with rosebud tips.
Safety Accessories
With casting torches, a flashback arrestor contains a built-in check valve. The flashback arrestor prevents gas from burning back into the torch system. A check valve alone will not stop the reverse flow of oxygen into the fuel side of the torch system, but it will help eliminate the mixing of gases. Install flashback arrestors between the regulator and the hose, or between the torch handle and the hose for casting.