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gas torch for a swap n go?
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miles&Jules
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gas torch for a swap n go?

We been experimenting with melting /recycling aluminium....so I wanted to get a gas torch that I could plug into a swap and go gas tank...so I could melt stuff for hours....

So I used my bunnings voucher and bought these outrageously priced $70 torch bits.....so when I plug it all together no gas comes out the end.....so I tested it with the air compressor and that works fine(i can hear the hiss out the end)....so does this mean I need a higher pressure gas tank?......if that is the case these are going back. Any suggestions.
Sad



we did get it melting but had to resort to heat beads...i want gas damn it.
Very Happy


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Post Sun Dec 30, 2012 6:47 pm 
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Nick
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That really should work! I bough a similar mega-torch from a gas & go store and it works just fine off a regular propane tank. You didn't mention it, but did you use a BBQ regulator on the tank? This could be the problem and I bought the non-regulated valve to adapt the torch hose to the tank.



The little heat bead furnace looks great and will likely be much cheaper to run than the torch. If you can fan force the furnace from the bottom, it should melt aluminium easily.

Post Sun Dec 30, 2012 7:41 pm 
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miles&Jules
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Hey Nick yeah it does have a regulator on it ...is that my problem?

That torch looks like an epic!


yeah the heat beads work well...but I think it started to cool down and I thought that gas would be more adjustable.

yeah I had my little air brush compressor pumping at from the bottom which made it nice and hot.

Very Happy
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Post Sun Dec 30, 2012 7:45 pm 
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miles&Jules
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Yep works perfectly now....so why would the regulator not make it work at all?

so is a direct connection fine? ...what does that dial on your connection do?

thanks Very Happy Very Happy

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Post Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:17 pm 
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Nick
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Good question! Taking a guess, the regulator lowers pressure and flow rate to the BBQ burner. On the burner I replaced a while back, there was no nozzle, which would allow all the gas to vent out of the tank in a very short time without a regulator.

The torch has a quite fine nozzle that limits the gas flow and also needs a higher pressure to work; the regulator was starving it. As I said, that's an educated guess, could be wrong Smile

Post Sun Dec 30, 2012 8:51 pm 
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miles&Jules
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Cool..thanks again for the regulator removal suggestion.......well I will check for leaks tomorrow then give it a whirl. Lets see if its as good as the heat beads. Very Happy
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Post Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:40 pm 
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Jaemus
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Does the regulator also perform a flashback suppression function? I would be wary of a direct connection
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 9:29 am 
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Nick
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For a BBQ it probably does provide flashback protection, but you would really want that at the other end of the hose - nobody wants an exploding hose! On torch heads, there is the tiny nozzle, which should always prevent a flame from sucking back into the hose or tank. Some (perhaps all?) torch heads also have a fine mesh disk inside that presumably acts as a flash arrestor. I don't remember seeing a separate flashback arrestor for propane, although they are common for oxy torches.

@ Miles: are you planning to just cast ingots and then machine them to shape, or are you going to make molds for parts?

Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:56 am 
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miles&Jules
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Yeah was going to try and pour a cylinder of aluminium to lathe into some round bar....but moulding it in sand looks fun to....even if it was just to learn the technique.

Its amazing how much aluminium is laying around that really needs to used again.... and the price of 100mm round bar is mental...$140 a meter.
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:50 pm 
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miles&Jules
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Well it works and no explosions so far. Very Happy





Its bloody noisy though....is sounds like an angry demons satanic death howl. So far the neighbours haven't noticed.

Now to let that cool and through it in the lathe to see if its usable. Very Happy Very Happy
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:29 pm 
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miles&Jules
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ali emerging from the dog food can.







the taller bit is from the shop...so our recycled ali is a bit less shiny.



95mm of recycled glory Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:58 pm 
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dyrodium
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Nice guys! Don't forget if you kept the swarf clean you can chuck that into the next batch. Razz
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:09 pm 
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miles&Jules
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Yeah good thinking...i just cleaned out the wheelie bin looking for drink cans he he

I've noticed that all ali will melt but the easiest stuff to melt is ali that is pre cast....like the heat sinks from drills and bits of old projector etc Very Happy

My recommendations is don't buy the torch bits from bunnings they charge an arm and a leg....I spent $17 for the 1.5m cord ,$50 for the trigger bit ,$20 for there stupid adaptor handle....and $20 for the gas refill...online you probably get the lot for $20. Sad
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:16 pm 
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Jaemus
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Wow, its surprisingly smooth on the inside, i was expecting it to be full of pits and pocks etc. Very cool!
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:44 pm 
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miles&Jules
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Yeah ...when ya melt it ya give it a stir and then all the crap floats to the surface so ya skim that off the top.

Next one i wana try is straight aluminium cans... will be interesting to see how smooth that will be. Very Happy
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Post Mon Dec 31, 2012 7:23 pm 
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