Hot Head Issues

[sarajeanne40]

I just bought my first HH torch and had everything all set to start beadmaking, but I couldn't light the darn thing! I read that if you use a full tank, which I am, that you might have to release some of the initial pressure by opening up the valve a little more than you would normally. So I tried that and no matter how open or closed off the valve was, all I got were either a really pressurized gas jet that wouldn't light, or a tiny little flame that went out as soon as I upped the gas a bit. Now I am confused what to do next... Any suggestions for a neo-beginner? Thanks!:-o

[Veda's Beads]

Try switching to a new bottle of mapp gas, sometimes you'll get one that just won't work. FYI - most places will let you return it. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

[jaylee78]

Are you using a striker?

[sarajeanne40]

I don't have a striker, I was trying to use matches...

[one-eared pig]

i use the mapp and a hh, and i have a hard time with matches blowing out. i have been using a bic lighter. i have also found thatputting the flame to the gas very low and close to the hh helps. thefurther away i am from the opening the more difficulty i have getting that sucker to light...

[one-eared pig]

where can one buy a striker?

[dayheron]

Hi - firstly I will assume you are using a pain in the butt little mapp tank... and those DO blow the flame out when they are new if you turn them up too much. :( But the biggest thing for lighting a HH is to put the flame from the match underneath the torch, or else the gas blows the match out before the match lights the gas... Does that make any sense?? (its early, and I'm not fully caffinated yet!)

I hated them little tanks... and only used three before investing in a bulk tank!

good luck

Julie :)

[Dale M.]

where can one buy a striker?

Any welding supply or home improvement store or good hardware store... They are usually near the plumbing or tool areas, generally where soldering or welding supplies are....

Dale

[artwhim]

I don't use a HH anymore, but still use matches. I don't like any unburned gas settling to the floor so I light the match first, then bring it to the torch as I crack the gas just a little. Once the gas is lit you can adjust the flame up - seem to remember you have to do this slowly on the HH. Good luck.
Kathy

[rverk47]

i also didn't like the small tank, ran out too fast and too much money...look in your yellow pages for a welding store..call first to see if they carry mapp gas..i have a 7.5 pd can and i have had good luck..i didn't want to get a bigger tank because i wanted to be able to carry it and exchange it myself..i didn't want to rent the can so i bought 1 for about $60 then all you have to do is bring it back and exchange for a full one..a welding store will sell a striker too..good luck

[sarajeanne40]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions, I will try the lighting-from-underneath method with a lighter and see how far that gets me. Thanks again, have a great Monday! (an oxymoron, I know):-D

[one-eared pig]

Any welding supply or home improvement store or good hardware store... They are usually neat the plumbing or tool areas, generally where soldering or welding supplies are....

Dale
thanks, Dale!

[Vicki B.]

I've been torching for a year using 1 lb canisters and a HH. The toughest thing for me was learning how to light the sucker as I am a BIG CHICKEN. Now it's just second nature. You'll get the feel for new tank/old low tank etc. When I first started, I hated to turn the sucker off, because then I knew I'd have to struggle with relighting it. I have three tips.

1. Our local Home Depot is the cheapest place I've found: $6.97 per Mapp canister.

2. After a while you need to get new flints for your striker. They are the tiny pieces on the arm that scrapes across the flat rough part (duh- someone at the hardware store had to tell me that.....) The flints should be sold where your strikers are. Make sure the striker is sparking well. Sometimes the arm needs to be bent up or down as the flint gets worn away (or it's too stiff.)

3. You can tell how much gas is left in the tank by weighing the canister. I have a postal scale that I use for other things and it works beautifully for this. Before I put the tanks I've been using away (outside), I weigh them and figure the canister itself weighs approx 1 lb or a little less. When I get down to 15.9 oz, I know there will be no more beads out of that canister, and it goes in the toxic waste area. ( our area has a day every month or two where you trot the used canisters out to the landfill.)

4. (bonus tip) I keep the torch head in a heavy plastic bag when not in use (&after cooling) after someone said that spiders get inside them. The spiders in our garage love little spaces- often find them inside the presses.

[one-eared pig]

Vicki, these are wonderful suggestions! not to mention i am so jealous that your area has a hazardous waste pickup every month or two. here in redneckville, we only have two a year, and i missed October's. i have 9 1lb canisters in my shed (a very safe distance from the house).

[SL Beads]

When I was using Mapp gas I wrapped the canister with an electric heating pad. That way you can use the Mapp till the last drop. Then you don't have to worry about hazardous waste disposal. I actually loved to see the flame go puff!

[Nejoum]

Even when the tank is empty you still have to dispose the container as hazardous waste...
Its still contaminated.
Diana

[Dale M.]

Not everywhere. A truly empty container is normal trash. There is nothing in cylinder that is "contamination". It is either empty or has fuel, if it has fuel it is a flammable/explosive hazard.... Its only hazardous if your local trash hauler or community designate the cylinder as hazardous then you do need to use special disposal techniques.

Dale

[Nejoum]

Thanks Dale.....
I guess here is So.Cal. its concidered hazardous... Our Trash won't take them.
Diana

[Moth]

If you are going to use a lighter to light your torch (I do it too), then be sure to put your lighter away from your work bench after you are done using it. This is a safety precaution. They are like mini grenades and will blow up if hot glass melts through their plastic case.

I'm thinking of getting cool zippo. They have ones with blue flames on them that I've been eyeballing. Still have to keep it out of the way...but they sure look good.

~~Mary