Really cool torch on sale.

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Mon May 14, 2001 10:08 am

At princess auto for all you canucks.

I picked one up on friday but haven't had a chance to try it out yet. I'll let you know how it works as soon as I get a chance (hopefully tonight).

Anyway this thing is basically a portable and instantly and safely built propane forge.

It'll run up to 500,000 btu. It takes a minimum 20 pound tank of propane (barbeque size) and said 20 pound tank will run it for about 2 hours straight according to the listed consumption.

The tip is about 2" across so it's gonna be a pretty big flame.

Anyway it's on sale now for $64 CDN at princess auto.

Also if anyone's used one of these things before or knows what the heck a btu is feel free to chime in.

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The budding mid 14th century German Transitional guy.
Mad Matt's Armory

Frederick The Heavy · Mon May 14, 2001 10:31 am

Its "something termal units" I believe. Substitute "something" for the word that starts with a B.
I wonder if that have them here in the U.S.? Do you have a the makers name and model number? I'd like to check that out.

The Lost Scott · Post by **The Lost Scott** » Mon May 14, 2001 10:46 am

I think btu = British Thermal Unit if any one has a chemisrty text book it should have an explination of them and a conversion to whatever you understand best.

jgalak · Post by **jgalak** » Mon May 14, 2001 11:06 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally posted by Mad Matt:
knows what the heck a btu is feel free to chime in.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A BTU, or British Thermal Unit is a unit of energy. Unfortunately, I am aware of at least 3 definitions of the BTU - the International, the US, and the "Therm". They are all fairly close to each other, and can probably be used interchangeably unless high precision is required.

1 BTU (US)= 1054.804 Joules = 251.94 Calories

Again, there are at least 3 kinds of calories (International, 15deg C, and therm. All are very close together.

Galileo · Post by **Galileo** » Mon May 14, 2001 2:33 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Originally by Mad Matt (in the topic title)
Really cool torch on sale<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ummm... aren't torches supposed to get hot?

G--

[This message has been edited by Galileo (edited 05-14-2001).]

Dragon · Post by **Dragon** » Mon May 14, 2001 5:31 pm

Tiger Torch. I've never thought of using one for a forge component, but I do know they throw lots of nice heat. To give you an idea of the heat that they will generate, take one frozen Caterpillar (bulldozer) @ -30 degrees Centrigrade. Cover with a parachute, throw a Tiger Torch under the Cat under the stump pans away from any oil leaks or drips... Come back in 18-24 hrs, to find a nicely thawed heavy chunk of solid steel which is much nicer to work on when your hands aren't freezing to everything otherwise.
BTU's, hmmmm, I'm too tired and groggy to try explain it clearly, so I'll let someone else explain.

horsefriend · Post by **horsefriend** » Tue May 15, 2001 12:53 pm

Look around the keenjunk site, I think there are descriptions of a forge built with said torch.. They call them "weedburner" forges. I picked up the same torch for $20 U.S. from Harbor Frieght.

Alail

ToolGoon · Post by **ToolGoon** » Thu May 17, 2001 9:38 am

Horsefriend, and everyone else out there...

That propane torch kit from HF, despite it's potential as a sweet deal, has recall info on the HF site.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/taf/showpage.taf?pageid=184

I don't know why they still offer them for sale, but it's sounds not quite so good.

Ben

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He who lives by the sword, dies by the crossbow bolt...

Post by JT » Thu May 17, 2001 9:53 am

If memory serves, a BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise 1 pound of water 1 degree F (at sea level). It's the English analog to a calorie -- the amount of energy needed to raise 1 gram of water 1 degree C.

Since there are 454 grams per pound, and 1.8 degrees F to each degree C, you can convert BTUs to calories<ul>
calories = BTU * 454 / 1.8
[/list]

This gives that a BTU is equal to 252.22222 calories. I don't know nothin' bout no other BTU scales.

-- jt --

Ragnar Sveinbjornson · Thu May 17, 2001 1:17 pm

I believe it (BTU) is the energy required to raise 1 gallon 1 degree, But I could be wrong, college was a long time ago.

Ragnar

Anton · Post by **Anton** » Thu May 17, 2001 1:29 pm

yup... 1 BTU = One gallon of water raised 1Â° F... I consulted the Bible (Machinery's Handbook) to make sure...

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God help us we're in the hands of engineers...

Anton · Post by **Anton** » Thu May 17, 2001 1:31 pm

Hey... wow... that was my 50th post... I'm a... *GASP* ... archive member!

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God help us we're in the hands of engineers...