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Propane torch

propane /butane and air

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Speedy Builder509/03/2010 20:17:47
2878 forum posts
248 photos
Any advice out there.  Many years ago,  I made a boiler using Easy flo 2, and a large Bullfinch contractors torch with propane. The material was stainless steel, and prone to scale build up as the flux overheated.  I am now (45 years later) about to start another boiler - this time in copper, same torch,  but may be using Easy Flo 55 which requires 630 - 660 degrees - that's another 40 degrees more heat.
 
Do any of you use air propane for that extra bit,  and can you tell me the manufacturer name / supplier .
JasonB10/03/2010 07:29:21
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25215 forum posts
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Flamefast to gas/air guns.
 
Depending on the size of your boiler you should be OK with propane, have a look at some of the Silvert burners & nozzels.
 
If it a long heat you can use Tenacity No5 Flux as this will stay active longer than easyflow flux. This is true with easyflow solder but I think you meann Silverflow55,  just check its OK with this.
 
Jason
Steve Garnett10/03/2010 10:17:36
837 forum posts
27 photos
When I wanted something slightly hotter than straight propane for brazing, I got a Bernzomatic MAPP torch - see here. I got a TS7000. As far as I know, the only thing that you shouldn't do with MAPP gas is use it with oxygen to weld steel, because of the hydrogen content, which reacts to cause brittle welds (well, according to Wikipedia anyway). Bernzomatic have a gas comparison chart here for comparison purposes.
 
I'm very pleased with the TS7000, I have to say. Got it from B&Q, who also sell the gas cylinders, and that's the only snag really - not the cheapest gas in the world. But you don't use anything like as much of it, because it's significantly hotter. For brazing copper though, it's good.
Ian S C10/03/2010 11:09:20
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7468 forum posts
230 photos
I'd love a LPG air torch,but havn't found anything yet. A mate has LPG and oxygen, it's great for large brazing jobs, and good for gas cutting, on steel it leaves a softer edge than oxy-acetylene. He just uses ordenary oxy- acetylene hand piece(proberbly should'nt). Ian S C
JasonB10/03/2010 13:23:12
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25215 forum posts
3105 photos
1 articles
Altough the mapp torches are hotter they may not heat the area you need on a boiler, maybe a combination of the two, big propane burner to bring the job upto temp and then the mapp on the actual joint
 
J
Bryan Rozier10/03/2010 13:46:35
13 forum posts
Hi Robert,
 
I used SilverFlo 55 as the mid temperature solder when making my boiler for 3.5" Spencer.  Propane is fine for this, though I used two torches a big Sievert 2944 (86kW) to pre-heat and then a Sievert 3525 Cyclone (10.3kW) burner for accurate and close up stuff.
 
Using a big torch for pre-heat allows you to use normal easyflo flux which will last for most joints with Silverflo55. I only used the higher temp flux where I knew it would be a long job.
 
Cheers
Bryan
Speedy Builder510/03/2010 19:42:24
2878 forum posts
248 photos
Using two torches, do you find that the larger torch starves the smaller torch of oxygen, like when you work inside the firebox ?
macmarch11/03/2010 11:56:08
147 forum posts
1 photos
I am about to actually and finally put my Caribou boiler together.  I bought the boiler kit from Reeves in 1978!!!.  I finshed the chassis but somehow never got round to the boiler.  Question is can I use a propane torch all over.  I do have oxy/acety but it is now so expensive in rental charges etc that I must really let it go before this years rental comes up. (about £160/yr).
What is your opinion?
 
cheers
Ray
Bryan Rozier11/03/2010 14:25:41
13 forum posts
Hi Rob.
 
Short answer is no. You use the big burner to provide background heat on the outside of the fire box and use the cyclone burner to solder the stays on the inside. Cyclone pulls in air from near the handle...
 
Ray you should be able to build a 3.5" boiler with propane only - again using two torches (ideally with two people) for the later work when putting the inner and outer parts together. I used copper rivets for stays and silver soldered everything.
Oxy-acetylene will get you out of a jam so it's handy to have to it but not essential.
 
I'd strongly recomend step soldering using three different grades of silver solder for peace of mind. I used Silverflo40, Silverflo55 then EasyFlo2.
 
Cheers
Bryan
 
 

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