A blowtorch, also referred to as a blowlamp, is an ambient air fuel-burning gas lamp used for applying flame and heat to various applications, usually metalworking.
Modern gas blowtorchAn old-fashioned kerosene/paraffin blowtorch
Early blowtorches used liquid fuel, carried in a refillable reservoir attached to the lamp. This is distinct from modern gas-fueled torches burning fuel such as a butane torch or a propane torch. Their fuel reservoir is disposable or refillable by exchange. Liquid-fueled torches are pressurized by a piston hand pump, while gas torches are self-pressurized by the fuel evaporation. The term "blowtorch" is commonly misused as a name for any metalworking torch, but properly describes the pressurized liquid fuel torches that predate the common use of pressurized fuel gas cylinders.
Torches are available in a vast range of size and output power. The term "blowtorch" applies to the obsolescent style of smaller liquid fuel torches. Blowtorches are typically a single hand-held unit, with their draught supplied by a natural draught of air and the liquid fuel pressurized initially by hand plunger pump, then by regenerative heating once the torch is in operating state. The larger torches may have a heavy fuel reservoir placed on the ground, connected by a hose. This is common for butane- or propane-fuelled gas torches, but also applies to the older, large liquid paraffin (kerosene) torches such as the Wells light.
Many torches now use a hose-supplied gas feed, which is often mains gas. They may also have a forced-air supply, from either an air blower or an oxygen cylinder. Both of these larger and more powerful designs are less commonly described as blowtorches, while the term blowtorch is usually reserved for the smaller and less powerful self-contained torches. The archaic term "blowpipe" is sometimes still used in relation to oxy-acetylene welding torches.
HistoryEdit
The blowtorch is of ancient origin and was used as a tool by goldsmiths and silversmiths. They began literally as a "blown lamp", a wick oil lamp with a mouth-blown tube alongside the flame. This type of lamp, with spirit fuel, continued to be in use for such small tasks into the late 20th century.
In 1797 or 1799, German inventor August von Marquardt invented a blowtorch in Eberswalde.
Another early blow pipe patent comes from the US, dated May 13, 1856.
In 1882, a new vaporizing technique was developed by Carl Richard Nyberg in Sweden, and the year after, the production of the Nyberg blowtorch started. It was quickly copied or licensed by many other manufacturers.
The US version of the blowtorch was independently developed with a distinctive flared base and was fueled by gasoline, whereas the European versions used kerosene for safety and low cost.[1]
After the Korean War in the 1950s, wider availability of propane caused many changes in the blowtorch industry worldwide, and by the 1970s most manufacturers of the old type of blowtorch, using gasoline or kerosene as fuel, had disappeared.[2] There remain several manufacturers producing brass blowtorches in India, China and North Korea for markets where propane gas is difficult to obtain or too expensive to be viable.[3]
ApplicationsEdit
The blowtorch is commonly used where a diffuse (wide spread) high temperature naked flame heat is required but not so hot as to cause combustion or welding. Temperature applications are soldering, brazing, softening paint for removal, melting roof tar, or pre-heating large castings before welding such as for repairing. It is also common for use in weed control by controlled burn methods, and for melting snow and ice from pavements and driveways in cold climate areas. Especially the US and Canada, road repair crews may use a blowtorch to heat asphalt or bitumen for repairing cracks in preventive maintenance. It is also used in cooking; one common use is for the creation of the layer of hard caramelized sugar in a crème brûlée.[4]
Types and variantsEdit
The blowtorch is referred to in industry and trade according to the fuel consumed by the tool:
Liquid, with ambient atmosphericair after vaporizing it using a coiled tube passing through the flame. They take time to start, needing pre-heating with burning methylated spirit:
kerosene as described in C.R. Nyberg patent of 1882: a simple heating torch using liquid fuel (such as kerosene (US) / paraffin oil (UK).
In the case of the gas torch, the fuel tank often is small and serves also as the handle, and usually is refueled by changing the fuel tank with the liquefied gas in it.
The forms with gaseous fuel are sometimes fed from a liquid petroleum gas cylinder via a hose.
VariantEdit
A flame gun is a large type of blowlamp with built-in fuel tank, used for various purposes: weed control by controlled burn methods, melting snow and ice off walk and driveways in the winter, starting a fire, etc. It is commonly confused in word usage with a flamethrower.[5]
blowtorch, other, uses, disambiguation, blowtorch, also, referred, blowlamp, ambient, fuel, burning, lamp, used, applying, flame, heat, various, applications, usually, metalworking, modern, blowtorchan, fashioned, kerosene, paraffin, blowtorch, contents, descr. For other uses see Blowtorch disambiguation A blowtorch also referred to as a blowlamp is an ambient air fuel burning gas lamp used for applying flame and heat to various applications usually metalworking Modern gas blowtorchAn old fashioned kerosene paraffin blowtorch Contents 1 Description 2 History 3 Applications 4 Types and variants 5 Variant 6 Media 7 See also 8 References 9 External linksDescription EditEarly blowtorches used liquid fuel carried in a refillable reservoir attached to the lamp This is distinct from modern gas fueled torches burning fuel such as a butane torch or a propane torch Their fuel reservoir is disposable or refillable by exchange Liquid fueled torches are pressurized by a piston hand pump while gas torches are self pressurized by the fuel evaporation The term blowtorch is commonly misused as a name for any metalworking torch but properly describes the pressurized liquid fuel torches that predate the common use of pressurized fuel gas cylinders Torches are available in a vast range of size and output power The term blowtorch applies to the obsolescent style of smaller liquid fuel torches Blowtorches are typically a single hand held unit with their draught supplied by a natural draught of air and the liquid fuel pressurized initially by hand plunger pump then by regenerative heating once the torch is in operating state The larger torches may have a heavy fuel reservoir placed on the ground connected by a hose This is common for butane or propane fuelled gas torches but also applies to the older large liquid paraffin kerosene torches such as the Wells light Many torches now use a hose supplied gas feed which is often mains gas They may also have a forced air supply from either an air blower or an oxygen cylinder Both of these larger and more powerful designs are less commonly described as blowtorches while the term blowtorch is usually reserved for the smaller and less powerful self contained torches The archaic term blowpipe is sometimes still used in relation to oxy acetylene welding torches History EditThe blowtorch is of ancient origin and was used as a tool by goldsmiths and silversmiths They began literally as a blown lamp a wick oil lamp with a mouth blown tube alongside the flame This type of lamp with spirit fuel continued to be in use for such small tasks into the late 20th century In 1797 or 1799 German inventor August von Marquardt invented a blowtorch in Eberswalde Another early blow pipe patent comes from the US dated May 13 1856 In 1882 a new vaporizing technique was developed by Carl Richard Nyberg in Sweden and the year after the production of the Nyberg blowtorch started It was quickly copied or licensed by many other manufacturers The US version of the blowtorch was independently developed with a distinctive flared base and was fueled by gasoline whereas the European versions used kerosene for safety and low cost 1 After the Korean War in the 1950s wider availability of propane caused many changes in the blowtorch industry worldwide and by the 1970s most manufacturers of the old type of blowtorch using gasoline or kerosene as fuel had disappeared 2 There remain several manufacturers producing brass blowtorches in India China and North Korea for markets where propane gas is difficult to obtain or too expensive to be viable 3 Applications EditThe blowtorch is commonly used where a diffuse wide spread high temperature naked flame heat is required but not so hot as to cause combustion or welding Temperature applications are soldering brazing softening paint for removal melting roof tar or pre heating large castings before welding such as for repairing It is also common for use in weed control by controlled burn methods and for melting snow and ice from pavements and driveways in cold climate areas Especially the US and Canada road repair crews may use a blowtorch to heat asphalt or bitumen for repairing cracks in preventive maintenance It is also used in cooking one common use is for the creation of the layer of hard caramelized sugar in a creme brulee 4 Types and variants EditThe blowtorch is referred to in industry and trade according to the fuel consumed by the tool Gas propane gas see propane torch MAPP gas butane gas see butane torch liquefied petroleum gas LPG with ambient atmospheric air via a replaceable LPG cylinder oxy fuel torch Liquid with ambient atmospheric air after vaporizing it using a coiled tube passing through the flame They take time to start needing pre heating with burning methylated spirit kerosene as described in C R Nyberg patent of 1882 a simple heating torch using liquid fuel such as kerosene US paraffin oil UK diesel biodieselIn the case of the gas torch the fuel tank often is small and serves also as the handle and usually is refueled by changing the fuel tank with the liquefied gas in it The forms with gaseous fuel are sometimes fed from a liquid petroleum gas cylinder via a hose Variant EditA flame gun is a large type of blowlamp with built in fuel tank used for various purposes weed control by controlled burn methods melting snow and ice off walk and driveways in the winter starting a fire etc It is commonly confused in word usage with a flamethrower 5 Media Edit A small butane torch Handheld butane blowtorch Modern paraffin flame gun 3 feet 3 inches 1 m long Handheld propane blowtorch Large propane torch used for constructionSee also EditButane torch Gas burner Oxy fuel welding and cutting Plasma torch Propane torchReferences Edit Americans Expect their Earnings to Get Whacked by Red Hot Inflation Blow Off Fed s Sermons about Temporary Wolf Street 13 September 2021 History Rusty Remakes Archived from the original on 2014 05 21 Retrieved 21 May 2014 Iran s 2022 LPG exports seen around 6 mil mt China main market sources Hellenic Shipping News Worldwide www hellenicshippingnews com BBC Food Caramelising with a blowtorch A Philly Dinner Event Where People Cook Your Food With Flamethrowers Philadelphia Magazine 26 July 2021 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Blow torches Look up flame gun in Wiktionary the free dictionary Website with information about gasoline blowtorches Popular Mechanics October 1 1926 pp 685 Blowtorch Made from Gasoline Lamp by LB Robbins Pressure Lamps International Blow Lamps Unlimited Southern Steam Trains Archived 2009 05 21 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blowtorch amp oldid 1170276629, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
