Hydroflux torch

Jewelry Discussion
1

My torch, brand new, has been in storage for a couple years. I know
that I am to put the electrolyte solution into the distilled water
section…but, the directions say nothing about the addition of
distilled water. How much should I put in, and when?

Thanks for your help,
Margaret

2 
My torch, brand new, has been in storage for a couple years.  I
know that I am to put the electrolyte solution into the distilled
water section...but, the directions say nothing about the addition
of distilled water.  How much should I put in, and when?

Use pure electrolyte without any distilled water when filling your
torch the first time or when changing electrolyte as you are
supposed to do from time to time. As you use the torch, the water
breaks down to hydrogen and oxygen but all of the sodium hydroxide
remains in the solution becoming stronger and stronger as you use up
the water. You use distilled water (or even better, deionized
water) to make up for the electolyte used up generating the gas so
that the sodium hydroxide is diluted back down to its original
strength.

If you were to use tap water to make up for the water consumed, the
minerals from each addition of water would build up in the reaction
chamber eventually causing problems. If you were to add electrolyte
to make up for the water consumed, the electrolyte (sodium
hydroxide) would get stronger and stronger eventually consuming too
much electricity and blowing a fuse or getting so strong that it
solidifies.

The bottom line is that pure water must be the only thing used to
top off what is consumed because pure water is the only thing
consumed.

Howard Woods
Eagle Idaho

3

You must add the two ingredients (elelctrolyte and water) very
carefullly, as you could get burned quite badly. They form a caustic
sloution. There should be a gage on the front that shows the fluid
level. As long as you can see the liquid and it is not above the top
of the gage, you should be alright. Be sure to keep the liquid
showing by topping up. Your instruction manuel should tell you what
elerolyte to water ratio is used.