How to use a Japanese torch info?

[cgbeads]

My daughter in Seattle has a Japanese torch. I just bought her Jim Kervins book, and an old edition of The Flow, but are there any other books (or sites) that have info using the torches? Not how to make Japanese beads, but using the torch....

-D

[GLASSFREEK]

When I had Aki for a class we hooked up a fish pump and used 1/2 psi of propane.

Mike

[glassactcc]

Malcolm has the pumps for these. All you need is the pump and propane. They are very simple to use. I use mine to keep large sculptural pieces warm while I am doing detail work on them with my other torch.

[cgbeads]

Thanks guys. She's already used it a couple of times, but like all torches in the beginning, she's not sure if she's doing it all right.

It has a small fan in the base, what does the pump do?

-D

[glassactcc]

It feeds the torch air. Otherwise it would just be pure propane. You can look here and see the pumps. http://www.artcoinc.com/japanese_torches.php

[cgbeads]

Oh, ok.

The torch is one I bought from the Japanese visitors at the Gathering last year and it has a fan in the base, so I guess the pump would be redundant.

-D

[ArtcoInc]

Kinari makes a torch with the fan built in .... no additional air pump is needed. IIRC, the Kinari torch even has a speed control for the fan.

With any air-burning torch, you're never going to get an oxidizing flame. But, you can still control the flame, from reduction to neutral.

When first starting, you can use a piece of white glass to gage the flame characteristics: if a piece of white glass turns brown or black, you've got a reduction flame. If the white glass stays white, you've got a neutral flame.

Here's a couple of short videos on YouTube that may help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqGOFXR-Bz4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHnuw4dUOCk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMQDMyD2114

Malcolm

[cgbeads]

How cool, thanks Melcolm. I never thought of youtube, and I'm always recommending it to others. <pfhhhh>

-D

[cgbeads]

Yes, I definitely have a reducing flame because my light colors are all turning brown!! Thanks for the Youtube video links, I will watch them and hopefully it will solve my problem. Thought it might be something like that, but didn't know how to correct it using this torch. Thanks again!!