Calcium Carbide soldering iron ?

[Mark914]

Picked this interesting gem up at an estate sale recently, Dad and I think it could be a soldering gun that uses calcium carbide. (to make acetylene). The white powderey residue, the fact it had a "cloth" inside make us think this. Obviously probably kind of dangerous to use. haha Anyone ever hear or see such a thing ? I wish it had a manufacturer name on it

 

[4xdog]

Where's the burner? Does that hole at the front have a jet inside connected to the valve and the body? I guess a CaC2-powered soldering iron isn't impossible...

Is there an alternative explanation for some sort of flux contained in the body?

 

[Mark914]

There is a tiny tiny hole (almost like a jet ) near the valve. The holes on the short piece of pipe i was thinking were for air mixture. Just a thought

 

[notlob]

 

[Oldtuleguy]

Thats awesome. Nothing like setting gasoline on fire!

 

[txvwnut]

Thats awesome. Nothing like setting gasoline on fire!

Or holding it in your hand.

 

[Dagny]

White powder could be sal ammoniac used to tin the iron.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have a carbide miner's headlamp the generated gas goes through a felt filter and comes out of a jet. The water is in a tank above the calcium carbide. A valve controls the water drip rate onto the calcium carbide, which in turn controls the flame size. I don't see how that would work with that iron. Sal amoniac flux seems more probable.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Plombob]

Carbide uses a fair amount of water and generates a lot of waste. I'm no expert on old soldering irons, but I don't see how that could work and it would make a mess of the thing you are soldering.