[Jewelry making - Article 00575] - Re: [Orchid] Striker verses lighter when lighting a torch.

[SERVE4GWM]

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    Striker vs. Lighter & Hydrogen Heat Limit: 

    Hello all: Striker vs. Lighter when lighting a torch: There are two
    primary reasons a common pressurized fuel lighter should not b e
    used. First, it is a poor safety concept to hold a pressurized
    container o f fuel (no matter how small) which can leak near intense
    heat.   We have seen examples of inexpensive cigarette lighters
    igniting and then sticking to an object such as clothes or a hand. 
    The second, even more common problem is a lighter will be placed on
    the workbench near where the torch flame will pass , or radiant heat
    from the torch will be.   The plastic softens or is pierced and the
    fuel in the lighter ignites.   The plastic casing melts and sticks
    to whatever it comes in contact with.   Very Exciting!   An older
    style Zippo lighter without pressurized fuel is much safer, if a
    lighter must be used.   Our firm, and most jewelry tool supply firms
    have a much better alternative.   A n inexpensive spark igniter which
    creates a series of sparks when the torch he ad is placed on a switch
    (ours is $20.00) runs off 2 AA batteries and lasts for ma ny years.  
    It is much easier and safer to use than a lighter.   Buy one for each
    torch, explain to each person and the issue is resolved. 

    Hydrogen Heat Limit: This is an interesting subject which our firm
    works with daily, world wide.   The answer is effected by many
    things.   The highest temperature a t wo part hydrogen one part
    oxygen flame produces is 3,300 degrees C or 5972 degr ees F.
    Hydrogen/oxygen generators then run this gas through different sorts
    of booster tanks or systems.   The booster fluid can be a number of
    different chemicals which alter the flame profile and change the
    actual temperature. As an example, most platinum and gold work is
    done using Methanol as the booste r fluid producing a temperature of
    2,700 degrees C or 4,892 degrees F and produces a precise blue flame
    with only axial heat (heat in front not on the sides). If you were
    doing large silver work, such as a tea service and wanted a cooler
    softer "bushier" you could use Acetone which would provide a much
    wid er flame similar in configuration to natural gas, but cleaner and
    safer.   This flame would be considerably cooler at 1,500 degrees C
    or 2,732 degrees F.  There is an extensive number of booster fluid
    options which produce an excellent range of temperatures.  The other
    part of this equation is gas volume and control.   There are
    different types of "water welders," single cell and multicell.   A
    single ce ll unit is limited (by physics) in the amount of gas which
    it can produce, and control.   You could not do hollowware (small
    teapot) raising (anneal) a she et, soldering the handle, spout, feet
    with a single cell generator.   With a multicell generator not only
    very small precise work can be done, but hollow ware manufacturing
    is not too difficult, and we have a number of customers doing exactly
    this, for many years.   In those hollowware applications some of it
    "plated ware," such as decorative rims onto trays, then the feet to
    tray, th e soldering is even automated.   (shameless plug coming)
    Our firm Spirig, manufacturers a (fully patented) multicell
    generator, the Spirflame, with a good number of customers in the
    metalsmithing and jewelry industry, world wide.   Please feel free to
    contact me directly if we can offer any additional information in this
    area.  Sincerely, Gary Miller


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