|
Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2006-09-11, 10:51am
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: May 13, 2006
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Posts: 97
|
|
Cleaning HH Torch
Hi All,
I've been using my HH torch for about a year and in the last week or so I have been getting dirty looking beads so I assume that my hot head needs to be cleaned. I am using MAPP gas only now, but I did try propane on a couple of beads with dirty looking beads as a result so I switched back to MAPP only and was successful at making clean looking beads for a couple of weeks until this last week.
Does anyone know what is going on and what I should do to resolve this?
Thanks for your help in advance.
Terri
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2006-09-11, 5:29pm
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 27, 2005
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 474
|
|
Here's a link for cleaning your torch:
www.cauldroncreations.com
There are tutorials here too - that's where you'll find the info on cleaning. Also, you can take your hose off of your torch and tank and hang it upside down overnight or even for a couple of days to drain the gunk.
Have you had your Mapp tank switched out in the past couple of weeks? You also could have a dirty tank but I really think it's the torch. A year is long time (I needed to clean mine after only a few months and I only used it for about 10-15 hours a week), so you shold probably clean it.
Hope I helped!!
__________________
___________________________________
Kimberly 4 8 15 16 23 42
Evolution is only a theory, just like, um, gravity.
SAVE THE CHEERLEADER, SAVE THE WORLD!
|
2006-09-11, 6:03pm
|
|
What, Me Worry?
|
|
Join Date: Jul 09, 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 343
|
|
Are you using 1# canisters of MAPP and propane, or are you using bulk fuel?
Makes a big diffirence in what the answer is.
Me
__________________
"Education is what remains after we have forgotten what we learned" ~ I forget who said that.
|
2006-09-12, 8:09am
|
|
Gentleman of Leisure
|
|
Join Date: Jun 10, 2005
Location: A Little Bit West of Yosemite Valley
Posts: 5,200
|
|
Also makes a difference what version of HH torch you have.... IF you have latest version, it really can't be cleaned. Early version with "spud & orifice" can be cleaned ...
Dale
__________________
You can lead a person to knowledge, but you can't make them think. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Vendor-Artist-Studio-Teacher Registry To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
San Francisco - A Few Toys Short of a Happy Meal
|
2006-09-12, 8:11am
|
|
Gentleman of Leisure
|
|
Join Date: Jun 10, 2005
Location: A Little Bit West of Yosemite Valley
Posts: 5,200
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Palestrina
Here's a link for cleaning your torch:
www.cauldroncreations.com
There are tutorials here too - that's where you'll find the info on cleaning. Also, you can take your hose off of your torch and tank and hang it upside down overnight or even for a couple of days to drain the gunk.
Have you had your Mapp tank switched out in the past couple of weeks? You also could have a dirty tank but I really think it's the torch. A year is long time (I needed to clean mine after only a few months and I only used it for about 10-15 hours a week), so you shold probably clean it.
Hope I helped!!
|
Dirty tank is probably a myth.... Most fuels are pretty clean....Gunk problem is from hose puking "plasticiser" into center duct of hose...
Dale
__________________
You can lead a person to knowledge, but you can't make them think. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Vendor-Artist-Studio-Teacher Registry To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
San Francisco - A Few Toys Short of a Happy Meal
|
2006-09-12, 11:17am
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: May 13, 2006
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Posts: 97
|
|
I should have included this information in my originial post, but I'm currently using MAPP gas directly attached to the torch head. I did try straight propane for a few beads, but quickly found out that the beads were coming out dirty looking, so I went back to MAPP. I sucessfully made about a dozen beads that were clean looking while using the MAPP (but after the probane) then suddenly I started getting grey streaks in my beads. Yesterday I tried turning down the level of MAPP gas and it got a lot better but not completely clean.
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Terri
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2006-09-12, 12:52pm
|
|
What, Me Worry?
|
|
Join Date: Jul 09, 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 343
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by TerriC
I should have included this information in my originial post, but I'm currently using MAPP gas directly attached to the torch head. I did try straight propane for a few beads, but quickly found out that the beads were coming out dirty looking, so I went back to MAPP. I sucessfully made about a dozen beads that were clean looking while using the MAPP (but after the probane) then suddenly I started getting grey streaks in my beads. Yesterday I tried turning down the level of MAPP gas and it got a lot better but not completely clean.
I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
Terri
|
Swapping from MAPP to Propane and back again has probably thrown you off the reducing/less reducing areas, temperature regions, and heat transfer areas of the HH flame.
The MAPP has a higher flame temperature than propane, by about 10-20%. Additionally, where MAPP versus propane produce heat within the flame is significantly different.
MAPP produces greatest heat transferability closer to the torch head than propane, but significantly less further from the torch head than propane. Propane actually produces greater heat transfer than MAPP, further from the torch head, but at a lower overall flame temperature than MAPP.
All in all, it can be frustrating finding and readjusting to the "good" flame areas when changing from one fuel to another.
Either MAPP or Propane will work, and the 1# canister gases are very well controlled fuels - due to the necessities of automated manufacturing and transport. So you can depend on each canister to be consistent - within a particular fuel.
Some artists use propane exclusively, and once they find the flame characteristics for it (by trial and error), it works very well for them. Some prefer MAPP... it does prodcuce a higher temperature and close-in heat transfer, so it's a little faster.
Glad to hear you are using 1# canisters with the HH. They are the safest way to use the HH. If you consider going to bulk (because MAPP costs an arm and leg)... then consider a two-gas torch. On a two-gas torch you can control the flame very easily and visually see if the flame is oxidzing, neutral, or reducing. I'm not saying give up your HH... there will still be times you may want to use it, if fact for some things it is easier to use... just consider adding another torch to your work table - a two-gas - before investing in a HH bulk tank set-up and it's inherent safety and use problems. Please.
Stay with one gas and I have no doubt the problems will disappear.
Me
__________________
"Education is what remains after we have forgotten what we learned" ~ I forget who said that.
|
2006-09-13, 7:36am
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: May 13, 2006
Location: Half Moon Bay, CA
Posts: 97
|
|
Hi "Me",
Thank you so much for a thorough answer. On your advice, I will continue with the MAPP gas until I can purchase a mixed fuel torch, which is my goal.
Kimberly, thank you for the link to Cauldron Creations site, I found it full of a lot of useful informaiton.
After all the information I gathered here and looking at my torch, it doesn't appear to be dirty, but I think "Me" is correct and I did get thrown off.
Again, thank you for your help.
Terri
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
|
2006-09-13, 8:24am
|
|
Gentleman of Leisure
|
|
Join Date: Jun 10, 2005
Location: A Little Bit West of Yosemite Valley
Posts: 5,200
|
|
Another thing to consider is the adjustment of your HH. The tendency is for people to open up valve on torch and get the biggest bushiest flame possible. Mistakenly thinking it is the hottest and best flame. The proper process is open torch valve and get that big bushier flame, THEN start turning valve closed and find the point where the inner cone becomes a sharper more defined shape more pencil point like. Also the outer portion of fame will become less bushier. Also the color of flame will be come a few shades darker blue (change is very subtle). This is the hottest and most neutral flame. Also the cleanest flame. If you are still getting soot like discoloration, you are working to close "in" and getting unburned combustion byproducts embedded in glass... Move out further into outer flame a bit and glass will probably be cleaner...
Dale
__________________
You can lead a person to knowledge, but you can't make them think. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Vendor-Artist-Studio-Teacher Registry To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
San Francisco - A Few Toys Short of a Happy Meal
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 1:56pm.
|