Is my blowtorch man enough?

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

I was unsure whether to post this here or in the ‘Tools’ section, but it’s a tyro question so here we go…

I have a Taymar screw on blowtorch, the sort that uses tall slender canisters of gas. Now I’ve already used it for annealing some 1mm copper and tried to silver solder with it, but it wasn’t hot enough to get the solder to run. It just made clumps instead.

However, the gas I used was pure butane and I’ve now switched to a canister of butane/propane mix. This is MUCH hotter as was proven when I annealed some more copper for my replacement boiler (I tried for so long with the first it went squiffy). With the new gas it had the copper glowing in no time at all, literally seconds.

But… will it be hot enough?

And how do I add a photo from my album? I’m sure I’ve done it before with my Adept lathe (shhhh don’t mention that thing…)

Edited By Steven Greenhough on 09/04/2015 20:32:25

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

I have a blowtorch. It was free. Will it silver solder..?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

click the little camera icon on the top row of the reply box and select the photo from the albums that come up.

If you can get it all glowing fairly quickly then it should be upto the job

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Ahhh I’m on my android phone and cannot see a photo icon. Must’ve used a real computer last time.

[James AlfordParticipant @jamesalford67616]

I do quite a lot of work with copper and needed more heat than the Taymar-type torches give and bought a Turbotorch Stk-11 from e-bay.

**LINK**

I bought a double-headed one of these, mind you for only £50.00, and it is excellent running on propane, generating a vast amount of heat. To be honest, most of the time, I run it with just one of the barrels using a home-made adapter to replace the double version supplied.

Regards,

James.

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

This is the kiddie…

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

James, that looks a bit Sci-Fi! Hasn't the new baddie from the upcoming Star Wars got something like that?

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Well it claims to be a brazing torch, so it should be able to braze something. In my experience even the smallest torch can braze/silver solder something, but it might be very small. I would guess that that isn't much bigger than a DIY blowtorch and will probably manage smaller jobs, but not a boiler!

Does it have a rating on it?

Neil

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

I think Coleman Taymar [as they became] is out of business now … but here's a list from Farnell with some basic specs.

MichaelG.

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 09/04/2015 21:42:38:

Well it claims to be a brazing torch, so it should be able to braze something. In my experience even the smallest torch can braze/silver solder something, but it might be very small. I would guess that that isn't much bigger than a DIY blowtorch and will probably manage smaller jobs, but not a boiler!

Does it have a rating on it?

Neil

I can't answer that right now Neil, as I've locked up the shed. And it's dark. If it means anything, I guess the burner diameter is in the 20-something-mm range.

It might be worth pointing out that the boiler in question is only 65mm long and made of 35X1mm tube, with a single 15mm tube for a flue. Cracker is a 'toy' loco at the small end of gauge O / 32mm.

I suppose I could try re-fluxing and re-heating my previous boiler, and see if the torch performs before having-at my new parts.

BTW, any updates on the Mega-Adept?

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 09/04/2015 22:00:44:

I think Coleman Taymar [as they became] is out of business now … but here's a list from Farnell with some basic specs.

MichaelG.

BT3000, 7th item down: "Extra High Performance…"

Thanks Michael. At least I can claim to own a top-of-the-range Taymar blowtorch

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

> BTW, any updates on the Mega-Adept?

Well having put the bookshelves back up in the (redecorated) living room I can now see the floor of my workshop again…

Neil

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Well it managed it. There are some photos in my album but I posted a couple in the “What have you done today” thread so I won’t repeat here.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

The clue is in the "clumps" of silver solder. Heat the metal to be joined and NOT the solder stick, if the metal is hot enough, the solder will run by simply applying the stick to the heated metal away from the flame, once the flux has melted and glazed.

[Keith HaleParticipant @keithhale68713]

KWIL is correct. But check on the grade of silver solder. Low silver content alloys (as favoured by most DIY stores because they are cheaper) have higher melting points and are more difficult to use.

Alternatively, when heating, place the components on lightweight refractory bricks or insulation blanket to improve your heating efficiency.

Keith

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Silver solder and accompanying flux was bought from an eBay seller who lsted it as Silverflo 55 and Easyflo flux. I also bought refactory bricks from the bay.

I think the problem was essentially down to initially using butane. The butane/propane mix was visibly and audibly ‘fiercer’ before I’d even put the flame near the metal.

That said, the time from when the flux went clear to when the solder would run still felt a little bit too long, so I’m resigned to investing in some other burner if i ever build anything with much more mass. I will look at the screw on propane/MAPP types probably.

Cup, I had a little look at your guide video before I re-tried and it was very helpful, thank-you.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Seen the result under "what did you do today" Well done looks good, now for the next job!

[Steven GreenhoughParticipant @stevengreenhough56335]

Thanks KWIL

[Malcolm BannisterParticipant @malcolmbannister38996]

Hi Steven…

I make copper and bronze jewellery brazed with a copper/silver alloy rod. I use a small cook's blowtorch something like this for small stuff: –

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Butane-Creme-Brulee-Cooking-Cooks-Micro-Blow-Torch-also-Soldering-Lighter-/191487333413?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item2c9588d425

or you can get them from Aldi/Lidl sometimes. They refill from a standard aerosol type can.

For bigger stuff and annealing I use one of these: –

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Ignition-Butane-Gas-Blow-Torch-Flamethrower-Burner-Camping-Welding-BBQ-/261851620361?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cf792a409

They use cheap gas cannisters like the ones you use with camping stoves.

The eBay items are OK if you're prepared to wait for delivery.

For really blasting big stuff for annealing I use a Bullfinch plumbers propane torch with the small refillable cylinders.

Sorry I haven't found how to do a proper link yet. Advancing years I guess!

Hope this helps

Malc

[Author]

Posts