Blowtorch . . . .

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Is there anyone out there that remembers gasoline blowtorchs ?I just picked one up at a flea-market.  It's a Clayton & Lambert.It's quite old and I'd like to restore it.  If anyone know's where to get parts for these old gem's....let me know !   THANKS !I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Dunno  about parts specifically, but I came acros this website that has more info about gasoline blowtorches than I've ever seen in one place!  A lot of good info on repairing and cleaning them too:http://www.blotorches.com/torchfix/torchfix.html
Reply:Marko, just clean it up and make damn sure the tank is EMPTY.Those damn things are way too dangerous to play with, and you could cremate yourself trying to use it.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:i have an old clayton amd lambert torch also, i found a group on msn that was usefullStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:Franz, I remember when you could buy these things new at Sears & Roebuck.   If I knew they were going to go out of style, I would have bought a bunch of them...would have been fun to sell "New" blowtorchs on e-bay  When I lived in Detroit, I had one in my shop, and used it a lot....never had any trouble with it.I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:I bought four old blowtorches a few years back just for the hell of it.  2 of them were easy to restore to a functioning state & 2 seemed like more trouble than they were worth so I left it at that.  Maybe that was my idea of preparing for Y2K.   But I still have them & don't see any problem with using them so long as you're reasonably patient & careful and follow the instructions on the website that Zrexxer posted.  Heck, they're about like Coleman stoves & lanterns if you use Coleman fuel instead of gasoline.  The biggest concerns are being vigilant about tank leaks & keeping the pump in good shape.  They're no more dangerous than a moody woman.
Reply:They're no more dangerous than a moody woman.
Reply:I had one of those blow torches years ago. Its probably still around here somewhere. Maybe I'll sell it on Ebay  Anyway, I always used the drip tray to initially heat the torch head. Pump the tank up, hold your hand over the torch end, open the valve, let the drip tray fill up, shut the valve off, light it, when it almost burned out open the valve again and the fuel vaporized and the torch was operational. Used both gasoline and later kerosene. Kerosene seemed to work and seemed less dangerous.
Reply:I never used the drip tray.   I used to heat it up with a propane torch for a minute or so,  then open the valve and "away we go" .I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Originally posted by Markopolo I never used the drip tray.   I used to heat it up with a propane torch for a minute or so,  then open the valve and "away we go" .
Reply:Cutter...I KNOW it doesn't sound right to do it that way, but the blowtorch put out more heat that the propane....and remember....these were the days before mapp gas.And if you had to do some soldering or heating on busted or frozen pipes, the blowtorch was more portable that the oxy-acetylene rig.I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Well, I started on the "restoration".....which means I took it apart.Now, while that doesn't sound very impressive, it was a bit of work !   It's very obvious that this torch hasn't been used in a LONG time !   Fortunatly, it was built (in Detroit, no less) back in the days when they built things to last !   If I've lived a good life, and the God's are with me,  it looks like the only thing this torch is going to need is complete disassembly and thourogh cleaning.Will keep you posted.Franz....I know you admonished me to be careful.....I promise I will !I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Originally posted by Markopolo Cutter...I KNOW it doesn't sound right to do it that way, but the blowtorch put out more heat that the propane....and remember....these were the days before mapp gas.And if you had to do some soldering or heating on busted or frozen pipes, the blowtorch was more portable that the oxy-acetylene rig.
Reply:Oh...I think I know what you're getting at now, cutter.......Now that I've entered the ranks of loyal blowtorch owners, you're admonishing me to operate it in a "historically correct manner" ?Point well taken....thanks !  I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:that site was an interesting read. Surprising to see they used it to remove paint, indoors even.. Having done the gas in a dixie cup trick, i'd expect large amounts of sooty smoke, a la a pure acetylene flame. *shrug* who knew..
Reply:As I recall. a lot of plumbers who liked those things used a wad of okum or cottin waste in the flashpan to act as a wic and minimize the black sooty flame while warming the torch up.SANE plumbers used a B tank and acetelene/air torch.  Those damn things were ticking time bombs when they were brand new, just like the gasoline fired lead pots were.For those who must clean brass, try a saturated solution of salt disolved in white vinegar, or ketchup.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Evidently, mine is from the "war years".....Nickel plated.(for those of you who are interested, it's a Clayton & Lambert 600A)I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Franz....with all due respect.......I would bet that 90% of the plumbing in the houses in Detroit (and these are old houses), was put together with a gasoline blowtorch.I appreciate the "B cylinder, air-acetylene" set-up.....(been there, done that)......but you can't just say gasoline blowtorches are dangerous.....In all my years, I can't remember reading in the paper of a plumber that got killed because his blowtorch blew up !I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:pic of the one i have laying around, i need to restore it better Attached ImagesStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:Viper....That looks like my torch exactly !  Is it a 600A ?(except mine is not brass, it's nickel plated).I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:All I can Say is: Attached Images
Reply:hahaha, i'm not even going to try to light that thing!!!StangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:Just to go a little off-topic here.Does anyone remember the Oxy-Gasoline cutting system?I saw one demonstrated a few years ago and was quite impressed with it. But I can't remember what it was called.Is it still available? Is it as fast / safe / economical as the fellow trying to sell it claimed?Any help would be much appreciated.I'm not very clever,But I can lift heavy things.
Reply:I was also thinking about that when this topic popped up.I think you are talking about this contraption:http://www.petrogen.com/My neighbor has one in his shop, picked it up cheap at an auction but he's never used it yet.  They do claim to be safer than many other methods, cut stacked steel, blow through 2 legs of channel at once, that kind of stuff.
Reply:YES, Petrogen is gasoline fueled, fast, safe, Made in the USA, and it does everything the manufacturer claims.  It has UL and Mine Safety certification.  It's as safe as the lawnmower sitting in your garage, if not safer.Is it a useful torch, well, if you're burning ship propellor shafts, stacks of 1/2" plate, or scrapping ships or earthmovers and mining equipment, it's magnificent.It's also a sumbich to light, but the manufacturer doesn't mention that, and there is a warmup time till it cuts well.Petrogen is the INDUSTRY STANDARD, and none of it's immitators can hold a candle to it.  If you have the application, Petrogen is the torch to buy.There are now several P.O.S. third world immitators attempting to claim they work as well as Petrogen, and are of equal quality.Bottom line, you can't polish a slant eyed turd.Last edited by Franz; 03-31-2004 at 10:49 PM.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-That's what I was wondering, Franz,There must be some good reasons why it is not oft used for cutting thinner materials, saddling pipe, and general work on a welding truck.  It seems that if it was so good, more companies would be using it.  I never did think it would be a practical torch to light up just to cut a hole in some 3/16 plate or something like that.
Reply:Bolt actually gasoline torches haven't progressed a lot since the gasoline blow torch.  When they are hot, you can turn them on and off, but a cold startup is a pain.  I've seen guys run a little puddle of gas onto a plate and preheat the torch head, and then light the thing off, and that seems to work well, although Petrogen says it's unnecessary.No fuel will ignite in any state other than vapor, with the exception of some metals, and therein lies the problem.The slope from OPetrol got pretty well beat down when he stuck his head up over on HoFart, and Farm Magazine did a test on one OPetrol shipped them, but  the goober from Farm Mag had little idea what he was doing.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Bolt / Franz ;That is the very tool I was thinking of.I saw one being demonstrated when I was working in Germany in the early 90's. The guy was cutting through 8 or 10" dia. steel bar as though it was salami.No one seemed to have heard of it in this country and I more or less forgot about it until recently. I have some heavy steel structures to demolish at work, part of a big factory upgrade program, and something like this might be a real time saver. I'll get in touch and find out if they have a UK agent.Thanks for the help. I knew I could rely on you guys to come through.BTW. Franz I would never even consider buying far eastern junk. I've seen too much of it fail half way through 'time - penalty' jobs to take the chance. Cheap tools can be an expensive mistake when your living depends on them.I'm not very clever,But I can lift heavy things.
Reply:Petrogen has been around a long time, and has advertised their torches in heavy equipment magazines here for over 25 years.Like I said, if you have the work for it, Petrogen is an excellent tool.I think their website is www.petrogen.com  but if it isn't you can find petrogen real quick on a google search.One word of caution, be seated before looking at the price, and have breathing oxygen ready.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:OK guys,  here it is....(after a LOT of cleaning).Not bad for $2.... eh ? Attached ImagesI'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:.....and a little better picture...... Attached ImagesI'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Wow - looks very nice, Marko.That's good-looking blue flame, too.  Have you got an iron to set on it?  Its cool to watch them turn red.
Reply:Talk about bad timing, poor Marko gets his blowtorch set up to save money on cremating people, and the price of gasoline goes thru the roof.Appreciation Gains You Recognition-
Reply:Cutter...thanks !   I wish I had an iron....will have to keep my eye out for one.Franz....like my Brother said:Blowtorch - $2Cleaning supplies - $7Labor - 10 hoursFuel to run the damn thing.....PRICELESS !I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Okay welding fans, I have a question about old blow torches..... Has anyone ever seen one that has two control knobs.  I found an old Clayton & Lambert (maybe model 210) but instead of the usual one knob, it has a Y that connects two knobs.  Any insights????  Thanks
Reply:Never heard of it, Nid.......Using my "Thomas Edison" intutition, two knobs mean"Fuel & Air".Blowtorches USALLY only need to control fuel.......The air is "fixed".I've got a BEAUTIFUL old C & L 600 A.....and it only has one knob.I'd be interested in knowing what's up with that !......(and post a picture) !Marko.....I'll be the LAST one to let you down !
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkopoloOK guys,  here it is....(after a LOT of cleaning).Not bad for $2.... eh ?
Reply:Gasoline by itself would make a spill disasterous, I have one but it used Kerosene, was pumped up, looks smaller,do you know what you need, a picture?
Reply:Perhaps the reason it has never been kept in use may be because of pressure vessel standards.Had a look at the Petrogen system and their is several advantages to the system,would definately keep costs down substantially, but their would always ahev to be a supply of gasoline available which may not be good for manifold systems and pipelines?Fuel is liquid from tank to tip. PETROGEN is the only torch UL-listed without a backflash arrester on the fuel line. Liquid gasoline will not burn. Only vapors burn. No vapors are present in the PETROGEN torch, thus it cannot backflash up the fuel line."-Slag The gasoline flame oxidizes steel 100%, so there is no molten steel left after the cut. Sparks are light-weight with little heat, making a much less hazardous work environment.  -Fuel Any fuel leak would be immediately found and corrected because it would be visible and odorous.  -Hose A cut fuel hose immediately activates the fast flow check valve in the tank, which stops the fuel flow instantly.  -Tank If the ASME code tank were caught in a fire, the gasoline inside would vaporize and exit through a high-pressure relief valve in the filler cap.  The gasoline inside would not explode."Last edited by pistolnoon; 01-30-2010 at 04:09 AM.
Reply:Hey, Denrep;I have a couple (or three?) of those which I've 'restored', and I have found use for them a time or two. I also have a pair of the plumbers pots, and have probably melted a ton of lead with the better one. I have a couple of very old acid-water fire extinguishers too; one was a real antique when I found it 43 years ago, and when I tried to get some information about it, the maker wanted to buy it from me. That one is a Badger, IIRC, and used to b in the living room. BTW, my gasoline torches have only blown up and killed me   three times, so I still have lots of use left with them.
Reply:Question: Could the petrogen cutting torch be used to weld ferrous metal? It seems to put out a LOT of heat, could this perhaps be mollified by using compressed air vs. pure Oxy?