SHOOT!!! I ruined my torch!

[suzanne]

I was encasing a big bead, and by some really stupid move I hit the torchhead with fluid glass. Now two of my oxy ports are clotted with lauscha clear... How on earth do I get it out??? I have tried heating it really fast, and using the little metal thingie, but it seems like the piece is molten in there, should I heat up my torch and put it in water like I do with mandrells? I have no idea weather my torch can take this or not ( I think not, thats why I am asking this real stupid question)

How should I solve this problem? Sending it back to Nortell is not really handy since I live in the Netherlands, and I have not bought my backup torch yet. I can not live without a torch:(

Any help would be apreciated

SUzanne

[cghipp]

I have often read that you should heat it up and put it in water, like you said. Good luck!

Courtney

[loco]

Find a small drill bit that wiggles slightly when you put it in a COLD uncloged port. While the torch is COLD take the drill bit in some vice grip plyers (DO NOT USE A DRILL) with the O2 ON. Slowley break up the glass by turning the bit, the O2 will blow the glass out so keep you face away from the ports. Worked like a charm on my minor ages ago.

Please make sure the drill bit is longer than the depth of the post, you don't want it falling in!!!!

[Curly Irish Girl]

I had a student do that same thing to my torch....DH to the rescue...he put a drill bit in my rake handle and slowly worked the bit into the glass to break it up - worked fine...he did this by hand and NOT using a power drill but only the bit.

[Cosmo]

What kind of torch is it?

Our students are always clogging up our Minors. They come with a piece of stiff wire that is the exact same size as the ports. I'd be willing to bet the glass doesn't go very deep into the port (it never does for us). You can get it hot and dip it in water, or use the wire to push the small piece of glass out of the port. I always take the hoses off the torch, clean it, and then blow it out with an air compressor.

[suzanne]

It's a minor, and the glass is really stuck in the oxy hole. I'm going to try with the drill bit right now, and if that doesn;t work I'll try the water thing... keeping my fingers crossed here. Thanks for the fast replies all!

[doityourselfdiva]

I did this to my minor a few weeks ago. I took the minor off of the stand and undid all the parts that hold the tip into place, then I held the tip into the flame of my hothead. After a minute or so, I dropped the tip into a bucket of cold water. I actually had to do this twice to get all of the glass out of it. It worked like a charm.

[suzanne]

I got it out also! I used.... the smallest poker of Corinas pokerset. I placed it on the glass and gently hit it with my graphite ( could't find a drill bit small enough and was affraid a hammer would wreck my torch )

Thanks for all the great advice all!

Suzanne