Using two torches

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

it's a bit late in the day really to ask this question as I have almost finished my Emma Victoria boiler but noticed from various posts and videos in the past that a lot of people use two propane torches when silver soldering so my question is do you need two cylinders for this or is it possible (and safe) to connect to one cylinder.

Gave it a low pressure pneumatic soap bubble test to start with and have a few leaks to sort out, this is where I wish I was using something like oxy-propane rather than having a total re-heat every time with just propane.

Bill D.

[Clive Brown 1Participant @clivebrown1]

I can't see any potential problem with connecting 2 torches to one cylinder provided you have a suitable connector and normal care is taken.

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

The gas bottle is just a reservoir so notionally you may have as many torches as you like. The issue is evaporation and gas flow. The faster you evaporate the liquid gas the faster it absorbs heat from the surroundings and the colder it gets. Eventually the vapour pressure drops. The other issue is the max flow rate you can get through your regulator.

Can't really see an issue with a couple of torches though.

regards Martin

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Martin has covered it but you can buy a Y piece to run 2 regulators from 1 bottle. If the bottle freezes up pour hot water over it. Good Luck, Noel

[Bill DawesParticipant @billdawes]

Ah, that's the next question then, Y piece after regulator, or Y piece first and regulator for each torch.

Bill D.

[Dave WoottonParticipant @davewootton]

Hi Bill

My Sievert regulator has two outlet connections on it, both on the regulated side of the regulator ( if that makesany sense!) so I believe it would be fine to use one regulator with the Y piece after it. I have used two torches from one bottle for boiler and other large jobs with no problems. Might be a problem with the bottle cooling if you tried it with a very small bottle, I've got over the problem of icing by standing it in a drum of water with a garden hose gently running over it, not my idea I watched some roofers do it!.

 

Dave

Edited By Dave Wootton on 06/04/2021 06:53:32

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

On occasions we needed temporary space heaters at work and these could freeze when the heaters were on full for long periods, interconnecting two 47kg bottles to one regulator helped. As you do not want to run into problems I would suggest running with two separate systems and have someone on standby to use Noels hot water trick to keep the gas flowing. Running out of heat in the middle of the job will spoil things so getting a reserve torch on standby could save the day. Big burners can consume a lot of gas so have the bottles as full as possible at the start and if a change is necessary do it well away from the hot job and other torches.

Mike

[Dave Smith 14Participant @davesmith14]

I use a single regulator with a y piece (with taps) so I can use either my sievert or oxy/propane kit. Have not tried running both together though.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Using a 1.5mm nozzle at 35psi, a 19kg bottle and under 1/2 full with ambient temp of about 15*c will after 15 mins running freeze. On that basis using 2 burners on 1 bottle there is a very real danger that you will suffer this issue. I would suggest a 19Kg bottle that is full for your job ! If using a single regulator it will need to be of high capacity to feed 2 burners. From memory sievert burners run at 4bar(60psi) to work properly. To test the regulator read the regulated pressure as you turn up both burners together and if it cannot maintain the pressure beyond a given delivery it is not big enough. Why do I know this ? smelting metal with propane for 25 years ! Good Luck Noel.

Edited By noel shelley on 06/04/2021 10:10:46

[MeunierParticipant @meunier]

Another (desperate ) solution at the last knockings on a Maid of Kent boiler and the gas bottle is freezing up, is to enlist a helper to grab hold of the top of the bottle and give it a continuous good rocking. (from experience )
DaveD

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