The Armour Archive

I was given this torch a little while back, but i've never seen anything quite like it. I'm thinking maybe it's an oxy propane torch? any thoughts?

there is no threading on the back, but there is some discolouration that sure looks like where gas lines were clamped on. The top tube is labeled as air, the bottom as gas, the flow is controlled with the set of ball valves and the head on it is about 1"x1-1/4".

IMAG0968 by Armourkris, on Flickr

IMAG0967 by Armourkris, on Flickr

IMAG0966 by Armourkris, on Flickr

It looks like a "rosebud" torch for heating up a large area.
Possibly for glass work but that's hard to tell without more detail.

It's laid out like a propane-burning roof tar heater, but two pipes?

What does the writing on the tip say? Maybe someone can find it by the product number if that's what the writing is.

Haven't found it yet, but take a look at this:

http://www.belchfire.com/torch-products ... Torch.aspx

Essentially same plumbing layout.

I second the request for any numbers or other stamping from it to help.
The tip might be a separate piece. It doesn't look like it, but it could be threaded into the end. If it is a separate piece, it may or may not be the same manufacturer as the torch itself.

It does seem pretty obvious it's meant for heating, like a rosebud tip. Could be for asphalt or rubber roofing. Could be meant for soldering large diameter copper pipes.

I think it's odd that there are no fittings on the inlet. I suppose you could braze whatever fitting on you need to. I think it would be more likely that this is an attachment for a torch handle or set. Though, I would still think it was intended to have fittings of some sort on the tubes. Closer inspection of the tubes might reveal signs of it being cut (either to cut off the fittings or shorten it).

It looks very like the torches we had in the workshop at school for brazing- gas/forced draught air rigs

Yeah, the field to look in seems to come under the name of "gas and air torch." I keep finding reference to these torches not using acetylene and being used for rather large brazing heats, such as in piping.

http://www.waleapparatus.com/catalog.as ... prevnext=1

http://www.jewelerstoystore.com/Air_Gas_Torch_p/t98.htm

At worst, these people may be able to tell you what you've got. They offer several torch types that look rather like your mystery tool.

Konstantin the Red wrote:Yeah, the field to look in seems to come under the name of "gas and air torch." I keep finding reference to these torches not using acetylene and being used for rather large brazing heats, such as in piping.

I've got a vague memory pic from metal work classes at HS from the '50s. Town gas (coal gas) & air from a foot operated bellows, both very low pressure, that's why the slip-on rubber tubing would suffice.
Ranif

AGFCO ELIZ NJ
1N

Thats what it's got on the tip, other than that it just says air and gas on the cast piece that all the plumbing joins into on.

It's definitely looking to be some kind of air/gas torch. I'm a little tempted to try and hook it up, but I'm also a little worried about blowing myself up dicking around with it.

Considering the thing is going to burn either propane or natural gas, and not the high-intensity business of oxyacetylene, I think you're pretty safe. Whoever AGF Company turns out to be, Elizabeth NJ is where to look for the remains...

We're getting closer: check out AGF Burner, Inc. Pic on top. And the second pic down shows numerous burner tips, including one called 1N. Their contact address and phone is in Lakewood NJ not Elizabeth, but who knows what an inquiry might clear up.

From what I could find AGF Burner Inc has or used to have a site in Elizabeth NJ. I'm guessing that is where this particular burner was made using their 1N tip. The 1N tip is designed for use with natural, bottled, and slow burning or reformed gas. Thats the best I could find. Page 8 of their burners catalog has a bunch more info on it.


It says they're designed to use 3" to 8" water column on the gas side and air at 1-3 psi.

I'd say it's an old AGF torch with a 1N burner all right. Thanks Konstantin and Collyn for solving that one, should be a cool toy if I can make it work.
Since it says it's designed for air/gas I guess I cant run oxy/gas? and if that's the case how do I get air at 1-3 psi? a good breeze and a funnel?
Also does anyone know what 3"-8" water column translates out to? can I just use the same set-up I use for my tiger torch?

How about a compressor and a manifold?

A certain number of inches or even millimeters Hg... bet there's conversion tables somewhere online like eFunda. Time for you to let your keyboard do the walking.

From what I read I got the impression you could run oxy/gas -- though I think forced air/gas would get you to the temps that torch head is intended to deliver -- red heat on your steel. Kind of a high powered Bunsen burner. The caveat seems to be this type of torch isn't to burn acetylene.

A compressor may be to much,
Perhaps a swing gate and blower like a heat gun?
you may need a regulator, the adjustable ones are a bit pricy.
I'm not sure if the regulator from a grill would be set to the right pressure.

And dive shops, they have both air tanks and regulators.

Armourkris wrote: Since it says it's designed for air/gas I guess I cant run oxy/gas? and if that's the case how do I get air at 1-3 psi? a good breeze and a funnel?
Also does anyone know what 3"-8" water column translates out to? can I just use the same set-up I use for my tiger torch?

1psi = 27.71" WC. So, 3"-8" = 0.108-0.289psi
A B-B-Q regulator takes LPG tank pressure (~250 psi?) to 3"-4" WC. My regulators have 3/8" & 1/4" BSP (NPT to you lot) threads either side. Easy to run compressor tank pressure of 120psi* through the regulator to see what pressure exits.
Ranif
*I run tank at 120psi, piped air through workshop at 100psi, regulators at work stations for any further reductions.