The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Torch-What kind?

I am getting ready to do the front end on my '51 GMC. And in anticipation of stuck bolts what kind of torch is used to loosen bolts? I never had much luck with propane and can't seem to remeber what the other choices are.

I use oxygen/acetylene.
Dean

the hotter the better, a nice cheery red helps stuck stuff out

This probably belongs in the RUST forum,My 2 cents, anyway. I've never had much luck with heating rusted bolts. Mapp gas is hotter than Propane and available in most hardware stores. My procedure is soak the nuts, bolts with Kroil, PBlaster, whatever let it sit for a day or two. I have found Kroil a bit better. If the penetrating oil doesn't work, a breaker bar, big wrench, either breaks it loose or breaks it. Then drill and tap, grind the top of the shaft flat, center punch as close as possible to center. Start with a small drill and increase in size always trying to stay close to center. If I need to try and save it, or the options are not a choice or I have a bunch. I'll get out the Oxy/acetylene and with a drag tip try and cut the nut off. I've gotten pretty good at it, most of the time I can get the nut with out hurting the bolt. In most cases if something is that rusted, it's history, what ever is going to get done faster. The only hesitation is saving what material is around it. A drill and tap set is a lot cheaper than Oxy/acetylene torch. May be that was more than 2 cents :-^)

Larry
68 C20 327 daily driver
63 C20 292 Camper truck
65 C10 ? Custom Cab AC,PB,PS,$flasher

or for the tool forum....

anyhoo - I got a victor performer - more than adequate - used it a great deal to losen rusted nuts and to cut up a big crap-box on the truck. Once you have a torch, you'll wonder how you got by without it. You can by smaller tanks and they'll go a long time. Like 40 or 60 cf.

Around here a torch is a must. Some of the companies sell a smaller version than regular shop size works good. Bought mine for $65.00 never used off of a guy that needed the money. Then I rent the tanks $!00.00 a year.

With the new addition of a welder, all I need now is a lathe. popcorn The Truth is Out There (Nothin more fun than cuttin something up, unless it welding it back together oops)

I picked up a Purox heavy duty a numper of years ago for $250 at a flea market, check at the welding shops for the different makes, try to stay away from the NO name off shore ones thet have no parts available. You can also own the smaller tank (MC & B size) all depends how much welding and cutting you want to do, or if your just using it as a flame wrench, you will go through more oxyigen. If you also have a mig welder, you will find the b size tanks last quite a long time, but if you use them for welding it somtimes best to rent the larger tamks.