Annealer Pressure Regulator?

[nmkid]

My annealer has a simple BernOmatic torch head. During annealing, I have to watch the flame closely or it will at times surge either high or low. Would a regulator work for addressing this problem? I would appreciate a link to where I can get what I need to add a regulator. Thanks.

 

[Dimner]

I would think a regulator would help, or if you have the ability, open up the torch head flame valve to emit a longer flame and back off the torch head distance wise as a whole from the neck of the brass.

I'm using the ugly annealer with benzomatic head and tank. I have the extension hose running from the tank to the torch. I turn the tank valve side of the rig wide open. And at the torch end my valve is about a quarter open. Provides a very steady flame for the entire session. As the tank empties after many sessions, I just find myself opening up the torch head side valve a bit more and more each session until it is empty.

 

[Fuj]

Use a propane gas grill tank with regulator.

 

[Straightshooter1]

My annealer has a simple BernOmatic torch head. During annealing, I have to watch the flame closely or it will at times surge either high or low. Would a regulator work for addressing this problem? I would appreciate a link to where I can get what I need to add a regulator. Thanks.

I've had a similar issue and found I just needed to turn it up and let it burn hot for a few minuets, then adjust the flame down to where I want it. Part of the issue seems to be when running it at a low flow. I don't recall that when I've used a regulator any of that issue. I've run a regulator on both the 1lb bottle and the large 20 pounder. . . see here:

 

[Bill Clifton]

Use a propane gas grill tank with regulator.

This

 

[JMayo]

The torch head is a regulator. If it's malfunctioning it'll continue.
Don't shake bottles hard, don't let wet propane into hose. Burn out end occasionally with big flame.
Low fuel will cause jumping flame.

 

[SmokinJoe]

Best solution, as was said above, is a large propane cylinder like the one used on your gas grill, etc. If you run two torches you can get a tee and extra hoses to rig that up from the 20# cylinder too.

 

[DocBII]

Fuj,

Have you or anyone used a regulator with a splitter on a larger tank? I use a dual torch design annealer. One torch doesn't vary, the other one does during the session.

Thanks for the help,
DocBII

 

[Bill Clifton]

Fuj,

Have you or anyone used a regulator with a splitter on a larger tank? I use a dual torch design annealer. One torch doesn't vary, the other one does during the session.

Thanks for the help,
DocBII

I have a regulator on the tank and hose to splitter so both torches get the same pressure. Seems one of your valves on the torches is changing for some reason which would effect both. I have wondered if I should have set it up with separate regulators and hoses for each torch.

 

[Bill Clifton]

The torch head is a regulator. If it's malfunctioning it'll continue.
Don't shake bottles hard, don't let wet propane into hose. Burn out end occasionally with big flame.
Low fuel will cause jumping flame.

I'm not sure that is true, I thought there was just a valve in the torch head. That's a bit different than a regulator.

 

[DocBII]

Good day,

Thanks to all for the replies. I'll quit being cheap and purchase another torch head, but it may take several months before I'm able to post the results.

As far as the bottle, its temperature matters. A long annealing session with a 20lb. bottle in a cold shed (40 farenheight) in GA makes a difference. You may need to use a heating pad to replace heat absorbed from the environment. 1 lb bottle temperature changes made me change to the larger bottle.

Thanks,
DocBii

 

[SmokinJoe]

Best solution, as was said above, is a large propane cylinder like the one used on your gas grill, etc. If you run two torches you can get a tee and extra hoses to rig that up from the 20# cylinder too.

Took a couple pics so you will know what to look for.

 

[D-4297]

Since I also use a Aneelez with a small bottle , I started getting some of the sputtering and flame variation as the bottle got below halfway empty . I started slowly "rocking" the bottle for a few minutes , gently , before starting a "run" , and the problem went away . Suggest you do it gently , just to get the Gas / Liquid to mix to a "equal" level . It worked for me .

 

[DJSBRS]

Be advised that synthetic oil builds up in those propane hoses after many hours of use. This will also cause your flame to reduce in length and heat. I regularly take all the hoses apart and hang them up and let them drain over night. The next morning you will find a puddle of oil that came out of your lines.

FYI,

DJ

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Be advised that synthetic oil builds up in those propane hoses after many hours of use. This will also cause your flame to reduce in length and heat. I regularly take all the hoses apart and hang them up and let them drain over night. The next morning you will find a puddle of oil that came out of your lines.

FYI,

DJ

Interesting. Never heard that and never paid attention. Thanks DJ.

 

[DJL]

Be advised that synthetic oil builds up in those propane hoses after many hours of use. This will also cause your flame to reduce in length and heat. I regularly take all the hoses apart and hang them up and let them drain over night. The next morning you will find a puddle of oil that came out of your lines.

FYI,

DJ

I also have had the same buildup, plugged up the torch head, i would turn off the torch and tank and leave propane in the line.I have since just got into the habit of turning off the main tank shutoff allowing the lines to empty/burn excess out. No problems since.

 

[nmkid]

When I started fiddling with the hose/torch I noticed that with everything turned off, I could still hear the hissing sound of fuel at the torch head. When I took the torch head off I noticed some liquid flowed out of the hose as DJSBRS commented. I ordered a new hose and torch.

 

[Walt Krafft]

Never, ever leave a 20 pound propane bottle in your basement. Fifty foot hole, big fire, no house, and a funeral later, a neighbor found that out.

 

[divingin]

Interesting. Never heard that and never paid attention. Thanks DJ.

My torch heads occasionally start to spread the flame (pencil flame nozzles.) I allow them to cool, unscrew them and give the inner screens a quick blast of carb cleaner. Fixes that for a while. Never thought about cleaning/draining the hoses.

 

[nmkid]

The new hose and torch head got here today. I am a happy camper. It works as it should, with no changes in the flame that I could see.