new hot head help

[saxon]

Hey all, I have a brand new hot head and it wont light. there is too much gas oxy pushing out, even waaay down. If i cover up some of the little oxy holes it will light and hold a flame but when i uncover them it goes out. What am I doing wrong?
Help and Thank you.
Sandra/saxon

[adovbs]

are you "sneaking" the lighter flame up from right under the very end of the torch to light it? If you hold it too far out away from the end it won't light.

[saxon]

hey, yes I have,
the feeling is that there needs to be an adjustment down for air but I dont see how.
s

[Simply Us]

There isn't a way to adjust air on a HH and you shouldn't need to to light it. What type of fuel are you using, propane or mapp and what size tank? I use one for over 2 years and only had problems a couple of times, mainly had to clean the orfice.
Good luck!
Sandra

[Hothead Beads]

There is only one knob on the HH to adjust the flame. Turn on the fuel, turn the HH knob to the left, and light it close to the torch.
Works for me every time.
Remember to turn the flame back down some, so you don't burn your glass.

[lunamoonshadow]

Mine actually has to be "full open" to light--it's pretty scary (or seemed it the first few times! :lol:) & I do have to "sneak up from under" to light it--& it does sorta "poof" into flame--it's kinda surprising when it happens! But it does have to be really strongly open for mine to light--doesn't seem to want to light at all if it's turned back at the tank, or at the adjustment knob on the torch.
Oh--and I learned this the HARD way--always, alwayas turn the tank open ALL the way--or I freeze the tank valve (duh) and have a wicked time shutting it down when I'm done!

[saxon]

=D> =D> =D> OMG Luna Luna Luna,
Thank You.That was it ! I was trying to softly. Full on and it went just like that. I'm so Happy !
You did it. This has been such an awful month and the new torch for very soft glass was my little way of coping, except it wasnt working .
Thank You some more
Sandra/saxon

[lunamoonshadow]

Glad I could help :)
Pretty big "poof" when it lights, huh? Always reminds me of a jet engine :lol: but I still love my hothead. If you're on bulk fuel--open the tank all the way, open the torch all the way, light the torch, then dial the torch back to where you want to work....DON'T adjust the tank...the one time I only opened my tank "partially" I froze the valve--found out later via a ton of "search" that tanks are prone to that if not opened fully (duh)--and then when I went to shut down, could NOT bleed out my lines to disconnect...omg, thought I was gonna have to drain a completely full/new, barely used tank!!
Hugs & happy melting!!
~luna/lyn

[Deb Hopeful Journeys]

I am going through a ton of MAPP gas 1# canisters. How clean is it to use propane for making beads? I am also wondering if I can put a propane tank outside in the winter and still torch?

Looking forward to finding a cheaper way to use my HH.

Thanks,
Deb in MN

[lunamoonshadow]

I know SEVERAL people who use BBQ tanks & bulk hoses (keeping the tank safely OUTSIDE!! *never, ever, ever, ever bring a large propane tank inside!!!) to run their hotheads & have no problems. That said, I'm sure *other* people will jump in here & rage about how you'll get soot & all sorts of other nonsense--but IT CAN BE DONE :)
You do have to find a source for clean propane--turns out my local station is FINE :)--I bought a brand new tank so I don't exchange it--it's MINE--and I get it refilled @ the local service station (don't swap @ wallyworld ;)) though I know some other folks do the "trade in"--and keep my beads in the right spots in the flame. Other than that--no problems. I've burnt beads--but entirely through my own darn fault--not through the fault of the torch or the fuel :lol: (user error--newbie!). My white glass is *still* white when the bead is done, so I *know* the stuff I've "burnt" is my fault! ;)

I haven't torched recently, but I *know* my BIL uses his BBQ all winter long up here, even in Feb, when we have windchills in the negatives & cold snaps of zero or below for a week or two at a time--and he has no problem lighting his grill--I can't imagine why my BBQ tank for my torch would be any different! (same tank, basically similar hoses!, my tank is protected, he shovels his grill out to use it!)

I did use a friend's Mapp tank when it was -34 out (large, outdoor bulk tank) & the torch ran really *cold* & slow....I imagine we might get the same "issue" from propane...but heck, if it's *that* cold, I'm not opening the darn door to run the hoses in, nor am I opening the window for ventilation!!! brrr!

Oh--and I paid under $40 for my propane tank (brand new & EMPTY) & then under $20 to have it freshly filled...I wanted a sparkling clean new one--but I do know some folks have just swiped whatever was on the BBQ....
~luna

[rusticstudio]

I haven't had experience using straight propane, but I would suggest getting a tank of Chemtane. You may have to call around your area. I got mine at a place called Active Propane. I don't know if they have locations in other states. I just looked at their site and they are part of AmeriGas and they have locations in Minnesota. go to http://www.amerigas.com/cgi-bin/ZipCodeLookup_Retail_State.cgi

[Dale M.]

I am going through a ton of MAPP gas 1# canisters. How clean is it to use propane for making beads? I am also wondering if I can put a propane tank outside in the winter and still torch?

Looking forward to finding a cheaper way to use my HH.

Thanks,
Deb in MN

Yes propane works just fine.... The only problem as temperature goes down so does propane pressure. If you have means of keeping the chill off tank, it should work fine.

More information here if you are interested.....

http://www.artglassanswers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7

Dale

[Deb Hopeful Journeys]

Thanks for posting the link about my HH questions.

Deb in MN