Problem with a plugged propane orifice.

[B Mann]

This is a proprietary orifice so I cannot get another, it is probably obsolete anyway. I have a piece of stainless, round, about 1 inch diameter, about 1" tall. It has a 3/8" pipe thread on one side and the orifice on the other. Inside the 3/8 side, there is an internal snap ring holding a mesh filter in place. The snap ring is deep and tiny, I hate to mess with it, I may end up trashing the mesh screen. The orifice is tiny. Torch tip cleaners are a no go, way too big.

I have tried soaking it in acetone and carburetor cleaner for almost a month now with no luck. I tried air pressure and could get a slight flow. It may plug it more. I tried a stainless wire, the smallest I can find. It measured about .013. Still too big. I am guessing the hole is .003-.005?? I am thinking maybe ultrasonic cleaner, but I do not know of anyone around me with one. I tried a bit of heat with no luck. I know it is kind of an off topic question. Any ideas??

Not the best up close pictures.

[armscor 1]

Had the same problem, wire brush bristle was the answer

[liveaboard]

Same as Armscor, I take one strand from a multistrand wire; usually they're copper and that might be too soft for you.

If it's aluminum, it can corrode closed so you can't even find the hole.
Try calculating the hole size based on the system pressure and flow [find the flow from the device heating power], and order the right drill bit if you don't have it.

[B Mann]

Same as Armscor, I take one strand from a multistrand wire; usually they're copper and that might be too soft for you.

If it's aluminum, it can corrode closed so you can't even find the hole.
Try calculating the hole size based on the system pressure and flow [find the flow from the device heating power], and order the right drill bit if you don't have it.

It is stainless. Calculating the hole size will not work. It is an odd machine so there is no ratings on it. Only thing I know is they used a high pressure regulator so they could use a smaller orifice size. Seems like a bad idea now.

I tried a strand of wire from a 1/16" stainless cable. The single strand was about .012. Way to big. This hole is TINY. About hair size.

As far as a drill bit. I don't know if I can handle a .003 drill bit in a piece of stainless. Knowing my luck it will make it worse. I found a tip cleaner about that size but it kind of spooks me using it. I have not bought it yet.

[liveaboard]

We used to get tiny orifice cleaner wires for pump up paraffin camping stoves; you might get one at a camping supplier.

[B Mann]

We used to get tiny orifice cleaner wires for pump up paraffin camping stoves; you might get one at a camping supplier.

You made me look. They are called prickers. I need to see what diameter they are but a lot closer than a torch tip cleaner. BTW I wonder about a needle?? It will have narrow tip but may not get as deep.

[mcostello]

Wonder if You could thin down a pricker by stroking it with a whet stone while holding it down on a flat surface? Rotating it now and then.

[armscor 1]

The Swiss sent a piece of wire to Japan to show how small they could make the diameter, the Japanese sent it back to the Swiss and told them to have a close look, they had drilled a hole in it!!

[liveaboard]

Needles + pins are much larger than pricker wires. I tried to use a tiny needle to clean one of those stove orifices and it wasn't even close.

[B Mann]

Needles + pins are much larger than pricker wires. I tried to use a tiny needle to clean one of those stove orifices and it wasn't even close.

That hole is so small, I can catch it with the tip of the needle, but that is all.

I am wondering if I should try from the other side. I need to make some long hardened pins to fit in my snap ring pliers to be able to reach all the way in the hole to pull out the retaining ring. Not sure what I can use to make the pins. Too soft will bend. Then to figure out how to get the little filter out without destroying it.

[B Mann]

Someone pointed these out to me... But you are talking to a guy who can snap off an 1/8" drill bit!!!

https://www.fairviewfittings.com/produc ... hes-32630/

No idea how they drilled a hole in it. This company does not even have drill bits that small.
https://www.fairviewfittings.com/produc ... lls-31310/

[armscor 1]

EDM.