Silver soldering torches

[Mike Walsh]

I was given a few J40 torches from Barry Moore a few years before he passed away, along with some regulators. Recently I picked up a small set of pony tanks... So I'm looking forward to getting it all set up. Hopefully they'll accept the pony tanks on swap.

Bummed the J40's don't come with flashback arrestors. Not sure how comfortable I feel about that.

[Bill Shields]

So purchase add on arrestors...or am I missing something?

[NP317]

Torch flashback arresters:

https://smile.amazon.com/AGPTEK-Acetyle ... NrPXRydWU=

RussN

[Mike Walsh]

So purchase add on arrestors...or am I missing something?

I am.. LOL. I've never sourced, purchased, or owned a torch so this is new territory for me. Not to say I can't handle a torch, but I've always used others' torches.

[Odyknuck]

Thoughts on this setup for doing Loco tubing work up to 5/16 OD:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09J1Y21H6/re ... s9dHJ1ZQ==

[Bill Shields]

I have something similar and use it for really small stuff.

Mine does not come from china, but concept the the same.

Had it on shelf for 20 years, inherited and considered a toy until I actually used it...now is my go to for small stuff .

[RThomp]

It's O/A though vs the propane of the others. The more I think about it, there's a pretty clear advantage with cost and just ease of re fill etc with using a 20lb propane bottle.

[Bill Shields]

The amount of acetylene that torch used is miniscule.

One small pony bottle would last 5 years

[Bill Shields]

WRT flash back arresters:

50 years ago I was advised to put the arrester on the torch and not the regulator, to help keep the possible flash from happening in the hose.

Makes the handles a bit klunky to work with, but the suggestion made sense. No choice on the tiny torches, hence I have 2 arresters for each hose.

I also avoid such from other than reputable USA or British manufacturers.(victor or smiths)

Like my motorcycle helmets...worn for decades, never (thankfully) had to use.

[SteveR]

I used to do some glass blowing for building vacuum lines and we used these. They work well for silver soldering small stuff. I use natural gas and oxygen, but you can use Natural Gas, Propane or Butane: . 25 - 5 psi: Oxygen : 2 - 10 psi. Different sized tips and glassblowing (neodymium) glasses so I can see what I'm doing (takes out the yellow sodium light).

wale torch.jpg (11.49 KiB) Viewed 600 times

Wale Apparatus: https://www.waleapparatus.com/
SteveR

[paralleler]

Youtube hobby machinist Blondihacks (Quinn Dunki) is starting with the boiler of a 3-1/2" gauge 0-4-0 switcher. I am really enjoying it and will be happy when it passes its boiler test. She talks about the silver soldering equipment she's using in Part 1 starting at 14:55.

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiAWsopdr0A&t=895s

[Bill Shields]

looks a lot like my setup -> only i have a longer 'extension pipe' on mine since the boilers are bigger....