General > General Technical Chat

Old School Soldering

<< < (10/13) > >>

IanB:

--- Quote from: joeqsmith on January 22, 2021, 04:00:55 am ---The large torches are jaw dropping.    Does he ever run them?  If so, any videos of one of the large ones in action?

--- End quote ---

My grandfather had a torch similar to those really big two-handed ones. I remember playing with it as a child. It was called a "flame thrower", it ran on kerosene, and it was used for burning weeds and undergrowth to clear ground for planting. It made a giant flame about a foot long.

tautech:

--- Quote from: joeqsmith on January 22, 2021, 04:00:55 am ---I would be interested to know if your friend has ever seen an iron like that small one I showed  (not my home made one for electronics, but the old one found with one of the torches).
--- End quote ---
This one in the OP ?

He's got nothing like that that I've ever noticed but I'll ask.


--- Quote ---In one of the photos, on the top shelf, there appears to be some sort of very large shell casing.  Looks like about 100mm.  Any idea what it is?
--- End quote ---
I'll find out.


--- Quote ---Everyone I have shown their collection to has been impressed.   The large torches are jaw dropping.    Does he ever run them?  If so, any videos of one of the large ones in action?
--- End quote ---
Very occasionally however if they get all cleaned up for display then not.
I have seen one of the bigun's running and they are indeed fire and brimstone breathers !  :scared:
Pretty darn noisy too.

A rainy day is what I really need to spend a few hours there however now in mid summer in NZ they are not that common and I normally need them for catching up on paperwork due to the never ending outside jobbies here at home. Let's see what I can arrange in the next few weeks however we have an expo coming up so it's gunna be a busy time.

tautech:

--- Quote from: joeqsmith on January 22, 2021, 04:00:55 am ---In one of the photos, on the top shelf, there appears to be some sort of very large shell casing.  Looks like about 100mm.  Any idea what it is?

--- End quote ---
Jimz was out when I called however a pic from which I'm fairly sure it's a British 25 pounder 3.45" Howitzer casing although it looks much bigger held between knees for the pic.  :)
At one time they were common here in NZ and pop told me he had used them when he did his CMT in the late 40's.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_QF_25-pounder

joeqsmith:
That's a big shell casing. 

I finally put the Turner back together.   Your friend my not like my repair work.  The handle screws are new brass as I had destroyed the original ones.  I left the paint on the handle original.  Note the pump stems discolored part way up.  The torch was stored on it's side and the stem had corroded to the point where it was about to snap off.  I welded that entire stem to build it up and then put it in a lathe to cut it back down and polished it a bit.   Used some Teflon tape for the small pipe and replaced all the seals.   

I ran water through it today for the first time.   No leaks and seems to hold pressure well. 

Now we just need some good weather and I'll try out the new soldering iron...

tautech:

--- Quote from: joeqsmith on February 28, 2021, 04:45:16 am ---That's a big shell casing. 

I finally put the Turner back together.   Your friend my not like my repair work. The handle screws are new brass as I had destroyed the original ones.  I left the paint on the handle original.  Note the pump stems discolored part way up.  The torch was stored on it's side and the stem had corroded to the point where it was about to snap off.  I welded that entire stem to build it up and then put it in a lathe to cut it back down and polished it a bit.   Used some Teflon tape for the small pipe and replaced all the seals.   

I ran water through it today for the first time.   No leaks and seems to hold pressure well. 

Now we just need some good weather and I'll try out the new soldering iron...

--- End quote ---
Looks just fine in fact very tidy Joe.  :-+
If it wasn't functional the only options are restoration, buying a donor to fix it or scrap/recycling.

But like anything aged one must decide its value to you and whether you intend to use it or have it as a collectors piece in used, restored or NIB condition where the common models are worth more as a tool that gets used rather than just sitting on a shelf.

Jimz and I chuckle at your water pressure tests where we'd just be adding some fuel and pressurizing it ready to fire up and if it leaked then back to square one. They need be in a very abused condition before leakage is likely and they were made as portable so got a pile of abuse over the years. Don't remember ever seeing a blow lamp leak.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page

[*] Previous page

There was an error while thanking
Thanking...
Go to full version
Powered by SMFPacks Advanced Attachments Uploader Mod