Date:         Thu, 29 Jan 2009 10:57:13 -0500
Reply-To:     Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Lower Ball Joint Adaptor Questions (PICS)
Comments: To: craig cowan <phishman068@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <d1ea9acf0901290745r26dacf18h9bf1b7fc62c53e5@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"

"craig cowan" <phishman068@GMAIL.COM> said:

> Home Depot sells a cheap ($50ish) torch setup that's Map Gas and Oxygen (two
> tanks) that gets pretty darn hot. I'd say just shy of Oxy Acetaline temps. I
> run mine with Propane and Oxygen for a cleaner flame and use it to melt
> silver all the time (which it does with very little effort). If you've
> always said "I sure could use an acetaline or Oxy Acetaline torch" but think
> the price of big tanks and regulators is just shy of scary, go for the home
> depot route and expect the tanks to get used up fairly quickly (Though it's
> not unreasonable, they last plenty long).

If this has the small "propane torch sized" oxygen bottle, those don't
last long at all in my experience -- propane and MAPP liquify under
pressure so the bottles hold a fair amount.  Oxygen does not, at least
not under the pressures that a little disposable bottle would contain,
so there really is not a whole lot of gas in there.

I used a kit like that once, it was a long time ago but I seem to recall
the oxygen being gone in just a few minutes.

Allan
--
1991 Vanagon GL