[Jewelry making - Article 00070] - Re: [Orchid] Wit's end torch problems

[Kay Vontz]

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Carla:

>     [snip] And finally to warm your day, a story from several years
>     ago.... [snip] With the torch in my left hand and the tank at my
>     left hip I was happily soldering when I removed my torch and held
>     it out to my left side. I lit my tank on fire as it was leaking a
>     prodigious amount of gas. I dropped the torch, screamed for my
>     beloved daughter in the next room (why?!) who came running, and
>     finally turned the tank off. We laugh to this day how I tried to
>     blow myself up and take her with me. 

    How funny and how very human! I also had a "scary" incident - I was
    soldering very late at night (1 a.m. to be exact) and all of a
    sudden looked and my left hand was totally engulfed in flames. In
    what seemed like slow motion, I turned off the torch handle, turned
    off the tank, doused water all over the torch tip (why? it wasn't
    burning anymore!)- then dragged the set up out on my patio - made
    sure nothing was leaking. Went to bed slightly shaken. Next day, back
    out and checked out the situation. The torch tip was not screwed on
    tightly and was allowing extra gas to leak out around the base.
    Fortunately I did have a flash arrestor attached right behind the
    torch tip, but the experience taught me to frequently check all
    connections. And, I've been soldering now for over 16 years using
    Acetylene/air with no further problems. But keep your torch tips
    clean and check your tank with bubble solution to be sure it doesn't
    leak (I test mine generally once a month and for sure every time I
    change out my tank.) I'll bet everybody out there has had a similar
    experience. I just don't think you can pursue this field and not
    encounter some problems. 

K
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