Clogged Minor help

[Karen Hardy]

So - am I hosed here? It looks like my minor has at least one hole completely
clogged and another heading that way. I tried to clean it with a brush but
nada. Any suggestions? Can that tip be removed and replaced?
Should I use this as an excuse to upgrade? HALP!

[pam]

Have you used the little cleaning wires that go down inside the ports? You can buy a group of them in all sizes at your local welding supply place. If it's completely clogged and you can't get the wire in there, make a "pilot hole" with a fine needle. No, you can't use that as an excuse to buy a new torch. These Minors are almost indestructible! Keep thinking.

[RSimmons]

You should be able to clear/clean the ports like Pam says. A cleaning wire should have come with your torch wneh you got it, otherwise hit the welding shop. Give it a good blast of oxygen (not when the torch is lit) when you clean the ports to blow any junk out the front.

Whether this is an excuse to upgrade or not sort of depends on who you have to convince and how honest you want to be. If they know about torches you are probably not going to get away with it.

Robert

[kimberly]

No, you can't use that as an excuse to buy a new torch.

:wtf: I beg to differ. This is an excellent excuse. Then, after you have your new torch, you can unclog the minor and have a backup.

[Karen Hardy]

All good answers - I have a method to try cleaning it and permission
to upgrade without guilt, should the need warrant it.
Now if someone could tell me how to squeeze 30 hours into the
day - I'll be all set.
..love you guys.

[MitzyGail]

Kimberly, I agree. Who needs an excuse? I tried saying the hothead and having to torch outside and the wind and (let's see, what else, my glasses, my contacts, the fact that I didn't stick my tongue out the proper distance) made me need to upgrade to a minor and it didn't work, so I just did it!! Nike inspired.
Get a new torch and use the old one for a backup or loan it to someone (or hide it and say it walked away) whatever!

[kbinkster]

If the sewing needle doesn't work, you could take one of those cleaning wires Pam was talking about and put a chisel tip on the end of it (if you have a dremel tool with a cut-off wheel, just touch the wire in 3-4 spots on the end to the side of the wheel to make a point). Take the chisel point and roll it between your index finger (or middle finger) and thumb back and forth and then go at the clogged port, reaming it out while rolling the wire. This should break up any tough carbon build-up.

[Karen Hardy]

Well, I got the hole open and now it's doing something equally weird.
All the other flames are blue, but the flame that comes out of the formerly
clogged is bright yellow, no matter how low I turn the propane.

I'm actually looking at this like it might be a good thing. I'm getting some
interesting reactions from the glass with this new "improved" flame.

...can anyone say "patent"?

[kbinkster]

If it's an outer tube, then there is likely something caught in the space behind it blocking the oxygen.

[Karen Hardy]

Is there a way to remove this and clean out behind it?
(she asks before taking it apart and never being able to
put it back together again....)

[kbinkster]

Why, yes, Karen, there is a way to clean it. I'm about to head out for a little while, but when I get back, I'll see if I can walk you through it. :)