Dirty Propane

[Patch]

Have a dirty 20 lb tank of propane... at least, it was dirty enough to block my HH after a couple hours of torch time.

If propane is dirty enough to do that, won't it do the same to my Minor? Should I change the tank? It is a brand new one.

[MikeAurelius]

No, it won't clog the minor - the problem with a hot head is the "spud" or orifice is very tiny - like a # 80 drill or smaller. Any debris can plug those things.

Also remember that this torch wasn't really designed to work with bulk tanks, just the 1 pound tanks that can be purchased anywhere.

If you have a minor, burn the gas on that one. You probably won't get your money back or have it exchanged without paying through the nose - best to burn it off, then don't go back to the place where you got it.

[bhhco]

Have a dirty 20 lb tank of propane... at least, it was dirty enough to block my HH after a couple hours of torch time.
.

Hi Denise,
Just curious, when you say "block", does that mean no gas would come out, or it still comes out but too little gas to keep a flame burning?

Thanks in advance.
Bill

[MikeAurelius]

It could be either, depending on the type of blockage. Because the orifice is so tiny, it doesn't take much to block even partially.

[Patch]

Sorry if I took more time to answer, had a stupid accident and needed stitches to my head so with a bad headache, I didn'T feel like playing.

By block I meant that first the flame became very bushy and orange and then, shut down. Even though I cleaned the orifice and put the torch back on, it did the same within 5 minutes. At the suggestion of Sarah from HH, I put the torch back on 1 pound mapp cannister and it worked great... torched about 3 hours without any problem.

I bought what I need to hook my minor which I should do on Monday so the HH will stay a back up on 1 pound cannisters.

This dirty propane tank was purchased already filled at Canadian Tire, a hardware store and they don't fill tanks usually so anyway I have to go elsewhere to buy my propane. I guess I will have to try and see where the propane is cleaner.

Thanks for your help

[bhhco]

By block I meant that first the flame became very bushy and orange and then, shut down. Even though I cleaned the orifice and put the torch back on, it did the same within 5 minutes.


Thank you Patch.

That's exactly the information I was looking for.

Thank you again for being so specific about what happened.

Bill