Blow torch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other meanings, including oxy-gas torches, see Blowtorch (disambiguation).
A blowtorch (US), blow torch (US), or blowlamp (UK) is a tool for applying lower-intensity and more diffuse flame and heat for various applications, than the oxyacetylene torch. Prior to aerosol cans and pressurized gas cylinders, fuel was pressurized by means of a syringe or pump. Present day pressurized gas containers in a huge variety of forms have negated the need for the integral and oftentimes dangerous pump.
Technically, a "blowtorch" must burn a liquid fuel using a vaporizer.[citation needed]
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[edit] History
The first known blowlamp patent is from France and is dated January 7, 1791.
Another early blow pipe patent comes from USA and is dated May 13, 1856.
In 1882, a new vaporizing technique was developed by C. R. Nyberg in Sweden and the year after, the production of the Nyberg blow lamp started. It was quickly copied or licensed by many other manufacturers.
The US blowlamp was independently developed with a distinctive flared base and was fueled by gasoline, whereas the European versions used kerosene due to safety and cheaper economical reasons.
After the Korean War in the 1950s, propane caused many changes in the blowlamp industry worldwide and by the 1970s most manufacturers of the old type of blowlamp, using gasoline or kerosene as fuel, had disappeared. There remain several manufacturers producing old brass blow lamps in countries like India, China and North Korea for markets where propane gas is too difficult to or too expensive to be viable.
[edit] Applications
The blowtorch is commonly used where a diffuse (wide spread) high temperature naked flame heat is required but not so hot as to cause combustion or welding temperature applications:soldering, brazing, softening paint for removal, melting roof tar, or pre-heating large castings before welding such as for repairing It is also common for use in weed control by controlled burn methods, melting snow and ice from pavements and driveways in cold climate areas, especially the USA and Canada Road repair crews may use a blowlamp to heat asphalt or bitumen for repairing cracks in preventative maintenance.
[edit] Types and variants
The blowtorch is referred to in industry and trade as per the fuel consumed by the tool:
- Gas:
- propane gas, see Propane torch
- butane gas
- liquid petroleum gas (LPG) with ambient atmospheric air via a replaceable LPG cylinder example at this link.
- Liquid, which commonly needed an alcohol-fueled preheater to heat an oil feed coil to combustion temperature:
- oxy-gas torch
- kerosene as per C.R. Nyberg of Sweden patent of 1882: a simple heating torch using liquid fuel (such as kerosene (USA) / paraffin oil (UK).
- diesel
- biodiesel, with ambient atmospheric air after vaporizing it using a coiled tube passing through the flame. They take time to start, needing pre-heating with burning methylated spirit
In both sorts the fuel tank often is small and serves also as the handle, and usually is refuelled by changing the fuel tank with the liquified gas in it.
The forms with gaseous fuel are sometimes fed from a liquid petroleum gas cylinder via a hose: example at this link.
[edit] Variants
A flame gun is a large type of blowlamp with built-in fuel tank, used for various purposes: weed control by controlled burn methods, melting snow and ice off walk and driveways in the winter, starting a fire, etc. It is commonly confused in word usage with a flamethrower.
[edit] Media
 A small butane torch |
 Handheld butane blowlamp (UK) / blowtorch (USA) |
 Modern paraffin flamegun, 3 feet 3 inches = 1 m long |
 Workman using 15-liter propane flamegun |
[edit] See also
 |
Look up flame gun in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
[edit] References
- Popular Mechanics October 1, 2926, pp 685. "Blowtorch Mde from Gasoline Lamp" by LB Robbins: Google books: [1]
- Pressure Lamps International[2]
- Blow Lamps Unlimited [3]
- Southern Steam Trains [4]
[edit] External links
- Popular
