Portable propane torch inconsistent flame or pressure

[vdotmatrix]

This is the flame source for my annealer.

Firstly, there is adequate liquid propane in the bottle.

The hose from the bottle to this valve/torch has continuous pressure evident by pressing shrader valve at this end and the shrader valve on the bottle.

The last variable is this torch/valve.

Is there any periodic adjustment or maintenance required for this simple torch?

 

[The Cobbler]

I had a propane lantern that wouldn't light or come up high ( I forget)
I found the little ball bearing in the end of the probe that goes into the tank was stuck . a bit of massaging freed it up & the lantern worked as it should .
A friend has a table top patio heater, it stopped working with 20 lb bottles but would work fine on 1 lb cylinders... it was a bad jumper hose
that's all I have

 

[RTM]

No spiderweb or similar **** in the system? Screwed me up on an infrequently user torch.

 

[vdotmatrix]

No spiderweb or similar **** in the system? Screwed me up on an infrequently user torch.

I use to have to blow air through the holes in nozzle because of that sulfur gas detection compound in propane…but just wondering if other stuff need ti be done ti this #$&@&$* Torch?

 

[pcmeiners]

Two stage regulators will allow constant pressure as fuel supply pressure varies, with propane the tank cools so pressure can vary.

 

[vdotmatrix]

Two stage regulators will allow constant pressure as fuel supply pressure varies, with propane the tank cools so pressure can vary.

2-stage regulator? I dould easily use a large propane tank like for the grill. Do you know of a regulator in particular?

 

[vdotmatrix]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/GASONE-4-ft-0-PSI-to-20-PSI-High-Pressure-Propane-Regulator-and-Hose-with-Propane-Orifice-2109R-50105/325976928

??

 

[pcmeiners]

The linked regulator you posted is a cheap single stage. Two stage regulators are more expensive.

Victor 2 stage regulator.... many on Ebay sell single stage regulators as 2 stage regulators as they have no knowledge of regulators. Victor regulators are top tier.

Pardon Our Interruption...

This is a two stage regulator,........... the protrusion on the back of the regulator is the first stage, second stage is on the front. As the temperature or remaining fuel varies, the torch output remains constant until very little fuel is left.




This is a single stage regulator, avoid these......as the tank pressure varies due to temperature or fuel remaining so does the output of the torch.

 

[vdotmatrix]

2-stage regulator? I dould easily use a large propane tank like for the grill. Do you know of a regulator in particular?

Two stage regulators will allow constant pressure as fuel supply pressure varies, with propane the tank cools so pressure can vary.

Vapor pressure should remain constant at ambient temperature…torch/valve?

 

[dscheidt]

Vapor pressure should remain constant at ambient temperature…torch/valve?

vapor pressure at a given liquid temperature is consistent, but the liquid temperature isn't constant. It will go down as you withdraw propane from it. If you're trying to do this with a 1 lb cylinder, you're going to have bad results. Try a grill tank, see if that's good enough before you spend money.

 

[vdotmatrix]

I have a few of those regulators on my tig welder and oxyacet torch but waaay over kill for this application.

I dismantled the torch with a 10mm for the valve and an 8mm for this filter. There is a cork gasket under the filter and a tiny o-ring under the black valve.
I sprayed carb cleaner and air to clear and clean things out. The fine filter is very suseptible to clogging with liquid of any kind-this results in a greatly diminished flame. The carb cleaner clogged the fine filter and made things worse.
To remedy this I drove off the liquid by gently heating with a heat gun for a few moments. The UL-2317 has never worked better after this cleaning.

Periodic cleaning like this is necessary as well as storing the business end down while cooling so the detection liquid can run out as much as possible as it condenses. While 2-stage regulators and the like might offer some benefit, I don't think it is a necessary modification unless using a larger volumed tank of propane. Propane's vapor pressure remains constant, the temperature variation is negligible with the volume of gas used per minute to anneal brass. The real variable is a well maintained UL-2317. YMMV