I was given the task to evaluate and sell an L&R Aqua Torch 2800 by
my boss. We are a small art foundry specializing in bronze casting
and have never found a use for this machine so it is time to make
room for new toys. I would like to know more about this welder and
get an idea of what a used one might sell for as well as some
resources for parts and service.
Thanks for reading this, I hope someone here knows all about this
and wants to make my job easier.
Shane- I’ve used a water torch for at least 30 years. I love it.
However it’s uses are limited. Mostly to very small amounts of metal.
In a bronze foundry it won’t be of much use. I can see why yall want
to sell it.
The beauty of a water torch is that the flame is very very hot
hydrogen, and it can be pin pointed in a very small space. I use
hypodermic syringe tips for an orifice. I find it perfect for fine
chain repair, rivet end balling, and tipping stones is a dream. It
will not heat up large surfaces very well and is mostly ineffective
in working on silver.
Sell it to a jeweler who does repair work or very small fine
fabrication and spend your money on a good PUK welder. It will be of
more use to you in your environment.
Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com
Could somebody explain what the “water” is in a “water torch”?
Jo mentioned that the heat comes from hydrogen, but where does water
come in?
James
Could somebody explain what the "water" is in a "water torch"?
Water torches are actually burning hydrogen and oxygen. But they
don’t use gases from compressed tanks. Instead, they generate both
the hydrogen and oxygen as needed by electrolysis of water, in an
electrolytic cell within the torch, using electricity to break the
two elements apart before burning them again. The electrolytic cell
in the torch also contains an electrolyte, such as potassium
hydroxide, which allows the water to conduct the current needed. But
only the water is used up in the process, so the “fuel” for these
torches are electricity and distilled water, and often, some sort of
fluxing solution, usually a solvent with or without boric acid or
borax, etc, which is added to the gas stream in a vapor fluxing unit
before the gases are burned, in order to cool and control the flame
temperature (needed because the ratio of hydrogen to oxygen is
fixed, not adjustable as it would be in a torch fed from compressed
tanks.
Could somebody explain what the "water" is in a "water torch"?
Water, H2O, is broken down into hydrogen (the H2) and oxygen (the
O).
Al Balmer
Hi James,
Water’s made up of two hydrogen atoms, combined with an oxygen atom.
(H20) The water torches use electricity to break the water down into
its component atoms of hydrogen and oxygen.
That then gets used as fuel for the torch. (So yes, with a little
science, you can make fire from water.)
Regards,
Brian
Could somebody explain what the "water" is in a "water torch"?
A “water torch” is a device with one or more electrolytic cells, in
which a conductive electrolyte is added to water and then an
electrical current is passed through 2 electrodes to ‘split’ the
water molecule into oxygen and hydrogen. These are then sent to the
torch head where they are burned back together to produce an intense
hot flame. The more cells and /or the higher the amperage pushed
through the cell the more water gets split into hydrogen and oxygen
and the larger the flame.
Kay
Jo mentioned that the heat comes from hydrogen, but where does water come in?
The hydrogen comes from the water. Electrolysis of water, separating
the H from the O2. Simple chemistry experiment you can do at home
with two iron rods and a battery.
Elaine
CreativeTextureTools.com
It’s about 98% of the wet bit inside the machine
Water (H2O) and the nasty Potassium Hydroxide is the common mix
inside them.
Electricity in the form of DC is passed though the mixture and
breaks down the water into Hydrogen and Oxygen. As you use the gas
the water gets used up and the potassium mixture gets stronger, but
you just let the pressure out the machine open the top and refill
with distilled water. Don’t use tap water as it will fill the machine
with calcium etc.
When burnt the Hydrogen and Oxygen form heat and water. It’s quite
strange to see water running away if you play the flame on a metal
plate.
Note hydrogen and Qxygen burn at about 3000C far to hot to work
with. So you bubble the gas through MEK or Meth’s this adds extra
fuel to the gas without increasing the oxygen. So not enough oxygen
to burn all the fuel which lowers the flame temperature. So by
selecting the fuel you put in the bubbler is the only way of
controlling the heat. The torch only has an on/off control. The size
of the tip controls how big the flame is, not how hot it is.
Very good for small work, but most machines only produce a small
amount of gas so although the temperature is high the energy is quite
low, hence only good for small jobs. But great at them, also no gas
to carry around and the bubbler acts as a flash back control. But if
the flash back gets as far as the tank I’m told it don’t go bang.
Love mine, and very easy to strip down and clean. Just to remember
that Potassium hydroxide is a base chemical and will burn in contact
with most things, burns through a newspaper quite quickly. So Eye
protection and long rubber gloves are a must. But in normal use no
problems at all.
You just need to remember that if the gas generation light does not
go off after a few seconds when the torch is turned off you have a
leak. So when I turn mine on I always wait for the first turn off
before moving away from the machine as a quick and easy safety check
for leaks.
Neil
James- A water torch separates the hydrogen from the oxygen in H2O
thus making hydrogen gas.
Have fun and make lots of jewelry
Jo Haemer
timothywgreen.com
A water torch splits water (H2O) into oxygen and hydrogen gasses.
Then it recombines the gasses into a fuel that the torch burns.
It’s a brilliant invention.
Kathy Johnson
featheredgems.com
No doubt someone out there knows more than I, but as I understand it
the hydrogen for the torch’s heat comes from the water (water of
course being 2 molecules of hydrogen and one of oxygen - H2O) The
torch splits the hydrogen and oxygen in some way - don’t ask me how!
Janet
Water is where the hydrogen and oxygen comes from. H2O water. Using
a electrical current you separate the H2 from the O and now have a
very clean burning gas and oxygen. You have to add water to the
system to do this. Have fun and make lots of jewelry.
Basic chemistry. Water is made up of 2 hydrogen atom and 1 oxygen
atom (H2O). Pass an electric current through water, it separates
into the 2 gases. That’s what a water torch does. To have combustion
you need 3 things. Fuel, an oxidizer, and heat. When the water
separates you have a greatfuel (hydrogen), great oxidizer (oxygen)
and then all you need is heat(a spark). That’s what a water torch
does. Conventional jewelers torches us natural gas, propane or
acetylene as fuel. That and the oxygen are just packaged in tanks
first.
The space shuttle and many of the rockets shot off by NASA use
liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as fuel.
Gary
James,
Simple answer: water is the chemical H2O. Yes, it IS a chemical! One
atom of oxygen bonded with two atoms of hydrogen. Separated with
electricity in to a molecule of O2, and two molecules of H2. It takes
energy to separate because it gives up energy when they combine
(burn)!
OK despite the chemistry. Does it work as a tool to make jewellery, specifically rings in silver and gold. I have a friend who swore by hers but I noted a comment that the machine is no good for silver. 
Yes you can use it on silver. I do all the time. What it’s not good for is evenly heating large areas. That’s because the flame is small. You can adjust the flame by replacing the tips. But there is a limit to how big you can make the flame. That being said, if you are very patient and are good at keeping that flame moving, it can be done.