Hot Head w/bulk propane went weird on me

[cherylsart]

I was torching when my gas pressure dropped and seemed to fluctuate. I thought maybe I was running out of propane, but it's a 5 gallon tank and I've only had it for a few weeks, I've maybe spent 20 hours using it. Would it be running out already?

Another odd thing was that the flame turned orange a few times. I've had it sort of "pop" orange when I was on the 1 lb bottles, but this was much more pronounced. I left it to go have dinner, and when I went back and lit the torch it fluctuated again and then the flame went long and pure orange. I turned the torch off but the flame didn't go out for a few seconds and I heard a sizzling noise from the torch like something was burning off.

I wonder if there is that gunk in the line that people say they have to let drain out. Now I'm scared to light the silly thing so I came home to play with my nice, safe polymer clay!!!

Cheryl

[Judi_B]

Hi Cheryl, The orange flame is usually gunk in the line. Take the hose off the torch and tank, and hang it up from the middle with the ends hanging down. I used to put mine over a tree branch. It should be good as new in the morning. You can tell when the tank is getting low by the weight. An empty tank is actually quite light.

[brimmy]

That definately sounds like "dragon's breath" and Judi is right, there is gunk in your line. Depending on how clean the propane is, I usually drain my lines at least once a week. In cooler temperatures the hose will gunk up faster. Just drain the lines, it will go away.

[cherylsart]

That's what I was thinking. I'll do that the next time I go out there. I know the tank isn't empty, because it's still pretty heavy and I just haven't used it that much!

Thanks so much!

Cheryl

[Dale M.]

Here is more information about hose gunk and dragons breath...

http://www.artglassanswers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=219

Dale

[NLC Beads]

One of my tanks just went all gunky for me - clogged the line and it was a fire-breathing dragon. If you clear the line and it goes back to doing that on the same tank, use it for something else and find a new tank.

Good luck!
Nikki

[jaci]

I am impatient and blow out the gunk with an air compressor! works great! and i can put in a little rubbing alcohol and that really takes it all out, i just blow untill i get nothing but air again! i definatly get alot of oil out of my line. this way
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[*Naos*]

Cheryl, that happens to me with new tanks sometimes when the propane quality isn't all that great. It may continue to happen with that batch. I had one that was so bad, I had my propane guys purge it and that helped immensely. So if keeps happening, like Nikki said, switch tanks or have it purged and go to a different vendor.

[earlbacher]

i use a bulk tank, not propane, and have to make sure i clear the lines when i'm done, or the next time i fire up, i get the dragon breath for a minute or so till i get everything out of the line....