A blowtorch (US), blow torch (US), or blowlamp (UK) is a tool for applying lower-intensity and more diffuse flame and heat for various applications, than the oxyacetylene torch. Prior to aerosol cans and pressurized gas cylinders, fuel was pressurized by means of a syringe or pump. Present day pressurized gas containers in a huge variety of forms have negated the need for the integral and often times dangerous pump.
Technically, a "blowtorch" must burn a liquid fuel using a vaporizer.[citation needed]
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History
The first known blow lamp patent is from France and is dated January 7, 1791. Another early blow pipe patent comes from USA and is dated May 13, 1856. In 1882, a new vaporizing technique was developed by C. R. Nyberg in Sweden and the year after, the production of the Nyberg blow lamp started. It was quickly copied or licensed by many other manufacturers. The US blowlamp was independently developed with a distinctive flared base and was fueled by gasoline, whereas the European versions used kerosene due to safety and cheaper economical reasons.
Post 1950's Korean War propane caused a lot of changes in the blow lamp industry world-wide abnd by 1970's most manufacturers of the old type of blow lamp, using gasoline or kerosene as fuel, had disappeared during 1970´s.
There remain several manufacturers producing old brass blow lamps in countries like India, China and North Korea for markets where propane gas is too difficult to or too expensive to be viable.
Applications
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:soldering, brazing, 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, melting snow and ice from pavements and driveways in cold climate areas, especially the USA and Canada Road repair crews may use a blowlamp to heat asphalt or bitumen for repairing cracks in preventative maintenance.
Types and Variants
The blowtorch is referred to in industry and trade as per the fuel consumed by the tool:
- propane gas Propane torch
- butane gas
- fuel oil- which required a commonly alchohol-fueled preheater to heat oil feed coil to combustion temperature.
- oxy-gas torch
- kerosene as per C.R. Nyberg of Sweden patent of 1882: a simple heating torch using liquid fuel (such as kerosene (USA) / paraffin oil (*UK).*** * diesel
- biodiesel) 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
- liquid petroleum gas with ambient atmospheric air via a replacebale LPG cylinder example at this link.
Variants
A flame gun is a larger form with a longer handle and wand used for
Media
 A small butane torch |
 Handheld butane blowlamp (UK) / blowtorch (USA) |
 Modern paraffin flamegun, 3 feet 3 inches = 1 m long |
 Workman using 15-liter propane flamegun |
References
- Popular Mechanics October 12926, pp 685. "Blowtorch Mde from Gasoline Lamp" by LB Robbins: Google books: [[1]]
- Pressure Lamps International[[2]]
- Blow Lamps Unlimited [[3]]
- Southern Steam Trains [[4]]
See also
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Look up flame gun in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
External links
- Popular
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