Care and Feeding of a Crabby Hot Head

[Phoenix]

No, not me, I'm full -thanks for asking :-)

I just got a hot head and set it up on bulk propane. I've had it for only about five days now. No issues until last night- tried to light it and it almost immediately sputtered out. This happened a number of times. I unscrewed and dumped the top- thinking maybe I had dropped glass in or some such lunacy. After adjusting, turning off and on a few times and much frusteration- I got a larger flame then usual to stay. I used this about five minutes and flames shot out the small circle holes in the torch. I turned it off and let it rest a bit- then asked my husband to restart (sucker).

After a couple more tries- he got it started and going well for the rest of the night. At lunch today, sputtering again and it never started.

There is about a quarter tank of propane left.

I can hear the woosh and often light at least a small flame- but it goes out in under a minute or two.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong or what i can do to stop this?

[Boopdidoop]

Hi Sweetie,

I had a traumatic experience with my hothead after change from a small ag gas tank (BBQ tank) with one company to a large ag gas tank (3 footer)with another company. I'm fairly new to this to but I found invaluable information from the gal that supplied my HH to my local glass store. When I get to my office tomorrow, I will post to you her email and or tele # to you. She actually called my local gas supplier due to the situation and brainstormed with him regarding the problem AND replaced my HH (she put my original HH in the HH hospital!) so I wouln't have further problems or a delay in making my precious beads. I think I told her I would lose my mind if I had to send it back for replacement and Voila! a new one was there the next day! The problem had more to do with the bad tank I got and my lack of knowledge regarding draining the lines and keeping the tank upright at all times, etc. but she jumped right in and made things easy for me. I will never forget the kindness. There are many kind people around here....I just love this site. I'll be in touch.

Night Night,

Peggy

[Phoenix]

thanks peggy-
I think I got the initial problem figured out- If I wait patiently before turning the torch on after opening the tank i have better luck. i suspect it's just that it had a ways to travel and build up in the hose and my first days it took me longer to get from one place to the next. Once I got a pattern down, I was faster and less efficient :-)

The number would be great though to keep on hand for any future issues.

[lunamoonshadow]

Open your tank ALL THE WAY :). Open your torch till you hear the "hiss" pretty strong--sneak your lighter from underneath (I cheat, use a "aim & flame" & then stick it back in the house--I torch outside--yes, I'm inept, I hate the spark-lighters) & expect "big flame" right off--it's kinda startling, don't jump ;) then turn your flame back down once it's lit. Don't run the tank "part way open" (bad idea, tank valves get stuck this way--ask me how I know this....)--it needs to be all the way open, or all the way shut.
Have fun!
~luna

[Hothead Beads]

I have worked on a HH with bulk propylene for the last 4 years, just now changed to a mini cc.
I NEVER, in all that time, experienced flames coming out of the air intake holes. I would inquire about returning that torch for a replacement.

[sleekbeads]

Peggy,
I have worked on a HH with bulk propylene for the last 4 years, just now changed to a mini cc.
I NEVER, in all that time, experienced flames coming out of the air intake holes. I would inquire about returning that torch for a replacement.


Agreed!!!!!
Something sounds wrong!

Joanna

[lunamoonshadow]

Um--yeah--I missed the "flames in the air INTAKE holes"--that's just WRONG...I'd be taking that right back to the store it came from & telling them I needed a different/replacement torch!

[Phoenix]

Thanks guys- it was online- I'll give them a call

[miss millefiori]

Hi,

This thread popped up in my google search about hot heads and flames shooting out of the air intake holes.

I shut it off immediately of course.
It happened twice, just tonight, but enough for me to be spooked out! :hide: (great smiley!)

This hasn't happened before. And just like you said, Phoenix, after a couple of minutes of working.

I've tried giving the gas more time to build up in the hose before I lit the torch, but I'm not quite convinced and still nervous about it...

I've been using it since September (with a small propane tank without regulator), but rather moderately, say once every week or less. The beads look fine, and the torch worked just fine yesterday.

Can anybody shed some (more) light on this? Or at least say something comforting to a spooked out lampworker? ;-)

Thanks in advance!

And kudos to this great forum! This is my first post, but I've found so much answers and information here before, you've been such a great help to a beginning lampworker!

Kristien

[ziggys]

Hi, I used a HH for over 3 years. At the time Sarah manufactured the HH torch. There should be a web-site for it and contacting her. There also should be information on how to use it with bulk fuel on that site to print out.
If not call her and ask her to send it to you.
A propane regulator is not recommended by the HH manufacturer.
You do want to keep your BBQ tank all the way open. The lines freeze if you don't!
You also would want to bleed the lines, meaning turn off the tank and light the torch so all the left over propane is gone. The flame may go at some point, but you will hear the propane being released into the air.
Fuel in the lines will build up pressure and the hose will deteriorate. This is normal. But it will cause gunk in hose. Also the smell from propane, like garlic, is an oily substance that will accumulate in the hose and end up in the torch if you don't drain the hoses.
I took my hoses off at least once a week or more and drained them. I got two so I could switch out.
To drain the hoses you want to have the entire hose hang down straight. Put a pan under the hose end so the oil gunk can drip into it. You also want to keep the torch on the hose when you drain it with the valve on the torch open. This will be at the top and the other end hangs down.
Keeping the torch on and valve open is like sucking water into a straw. If you hold your thumb on there the water stays in the straw. Opening the torch valve lets the "water", ie; gunk out.
But do check out the HH site and see if bulk propane use information is there and if not contact Sarah.
I have had flames shooting out the end of my HH. And have it sputter, not light, go out, just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong with mine.
My tank was bad even though it was new. The handle would not close all the way. Rental tanks can have crud in them.
The propane in the south is the pits. Sometimes switching suppliers helps. It's was very hard to use with a HH here, so I switched back to Mapp gas.
Kristien, the HH is a great torch and is very safe when used properly and according to directions. So please don't worry. Things go wrong but can definately be fixed.
Flames shooting out the side of course is not right. Don't hesitate to call and ask questions to the distributor or manufacturer if you have problems.
Sarah was as patient as could be when helping me.
Oh, you also want your tank lower than your torch with a dip in it so the gunk can stay in that dip and not get up into the torch.
FWIW,
Angela