National 8M with SM7 Tip - setting up
 

Hi all, Me again

Ive been spending loadsa money this last couple of weeks - DOH is just about handling it:???:

Ive gotten myself a National 8M torch with SM7 tips -

Ive been using a hothead on MAPP cannisters and getting annoyed with it going out when cannister got too cold and with how long it was taking to get some of the clear colours to melt & encase... Oh and running out of gas mid bead!

So I read lots of threads mainly positive re 8M and saw one on ebay - and won it...\\:D/

Now I wondered any National 8M'mrs out there? How did you set yours up?

I'l need to use propane and oxygen? - Tanked or Oxycon?

Ive got a 6lb propane bottle (used for our camping stove) will this do the job?

Also safety concious ideas will be really appreciated..

Please help - Ill send you a pressie
Maz:love:

At a minimum level I used a 1/3 psi pancake regulator ("bbq style") and a 5 LPM oxycon for one that was on loan to me for a while... It was a bit anemic but still melted "soft" glass quite well.....

Suggest 2-3 psi propane and at least a oxygen source of 7-10 lpm of oxygen for better results...

Your propane tank will be fine, with "proper" regulator it will work with torch ...

Dale

Thanks Dale,

Do I need flashback arrestors? quick couplings? the whole shebang? So I dont go she-bang?

Cheers
Maz

Oh and another thing....

Which other tips should I be looking to purchase? Could I garage beads and change tips to do some finer detail work on the beads?

OH so much to learn;-)

As said in many threads, flashback arrestors are not needed on surface mix torches. By all means if it makes you feel safer use them.... The SM7 should be good up to intermediate work, beads or marbles up to about 1.5 inches if you are going to want to go bigger, then the SM21 tip should be used....

As for changing tips, I don't think its going to be a "quick change" situation.... Remember torch head is a big chunk of machined brass and it is going to be quite HOT..... Probably not a good idea...

Dale

Big thanks to the LE search feature! I've been trying to find info on this torch for a bit, not a lot of folks talk about it that often, so to the people of 2008, thanks from the future! I'll be moving from hothead to 8m within the week.