The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Blow Torch Fuel

I picked up an old blow torch from an estate sale the other day. What do these things burn?

I've got one I haven't fired up yet, butt.. I remember they were also called a Kerosene torch. You should be able to use Kerosene, camp stove fuel, Diesel. I've got some camp stove fuel I should fire mine up. Is there any particular use for these old torches that be be done with any other torch?

Larry

GreenGMC,

I think they will work fine on White Gas, which is more commonly known as lantern fuel....the stuff you put in your Coleman lantern.

I can almost swear to this...I think they will work well on plain old gasoline too. It sounds real creepy to have a little tank full of gas under a blazing torch, but I remember helping my friends father replace linoleum tiles, and we heated them with this torch prior to cutting and installing them.

Stuart

Be careful when you fire it up. My brother got one and when he tried it gasoline squirted about 20 feet. Apparently the orifice is bad. Fun to play with but no good for work.

I agree with Cletis...fun to play with. With all of the propane, MAPP gas and Turbo Torches out there, the old blow torch would only be a novelty.

Stuart

I agree with all .
I think for safety sake ....clean er up an put it in the shop somewheres for a conversation pc.
I wouldnt try to light it ...lol
Tim

I have an old one from my dad, he always used white gas (Coleman fuel) in it. I have never tried to light it, but if I do, that's what I will use.

John

Actually those old blow torches work very well for what they were designed for.They do have to be in useable condition and you need to know how to operate them.I use plain gasoline in mine and it works very well.There is a small cup on the top of the tank that you fill with a small amount of gas and light.This heats the generator in order to vaporize the fuel.When the cup is about to burn out you open the fuel valve and should have a nice blue flame.Most torches have some sort of a hook on top.This is to hold a soldering iron in the flame.Works very well for soldering sheet metal.I've also used them to melt small amounts of babbit for bearings.I probably wouldn't use one in my living room but they are no more dangerous than many other tools in the shop if used improperly. Chip Watford

They were used by plumbers and other water men to melt lead into joints on cast iron pipe. in ditches as well as crawl spaces in buildings. they work similar to a Coleman lantern or camp stove. with a air pump and a need to be hot before they work well. they can shoot a very long flame. be care full.

Kinda fun to use, white gas(naptha) is best but regular gasoline will work.

I have two of them, and I think they are a very handy tool. I don't think they are any more dangerous than any other tool that produces concentrated fire.
When you run out of fuel, I normally use Coleman white gas, but you can fill it up with whatever is handy. I have often used kerosene.
If you are doing a big job, it is much handier and much less expensive than the small butane bottles on the Burnzomatic.
Bob

I agree with Chester. I have one that my grandfather used in plumbing cast iron waste pipe. He heated lead with it to solder the joints together.