New fuel source for torches

[aggie.p]

This is not a subject to start a flame war, pun intended given what this is about.

My son found something that I think is interesting. In the EU (Europe area) Ya know across the pond from Florida. They have a project going to do a new fuel source for torches. It's call safeflame all one word.

Problem is it doesn't have much info as what is the temp of the flame and such. But I only read the blurbs on the main site, I didn't google it further. For those In the EU, do you know more? SAlso for an old lady I would like to know the cost.

Maybe we can in a civil manner discuss this.

Aggie

[albalmer]

They have a project going to do a new fuel source for torches.

It doesn't really appear to be new (except maybe the marketing). It seems to be a hydrogen/oxygen generator and torch similar to the Hydroflux torch. Otto Frei has one -

http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80qy

Al Balmer

[jbin1]

It is a water torch, electrolysis. They claim a new method of splitting the water.

"The Safeflame has the ability to split water into oxygen and hydrogen to then recombine them outside of the torch's mouth in order to create fire. The byproduct of this procedure is only water."

http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/ep80qz

Given the size flames they are producing they are using a lot of power to split that much water. My guess is it is going to be very expensive.

James Binnion
James Binnion Metal Arts
mokume-gane.com

[Orchid]

Comments made on our Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/ganoksin

Judi Stefek: Bondurant I have heard of these before too. However I have never used one.

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Jo Haemer: Wait a minute. Is that the Water torch that was invented decades ago? It was supposed to be safe until one blew up in my face. They forgot to put in a back flash valve.

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Jeri Simpson: I'm right there with you Lee Anne, I have one that hasn't been used in 10 or 15 years since my husband (who knew how to use it) passed away. I'd love to use it again since in recent moves my regulator was stolen & I haven't replaced it yet. But frankly I'm afraid to try to set it up if I'm not positive what I'm doing or if it even still works! .

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James Binnion: To get the volume of gas they are showing in those pictures of torches will require a very large power supply to split that amount of water to get the needed for that size flame. This will not be cheap. Also I am not sure how you can adjust the ratio of O2 to H2 without having to either pressurize the gas to store it or vent the gas that is not being used by the torch neither of which is in line with their safety claims. But till I can see one first hand it is hard to know how well it will work. They certainly have an impressive amount of partners and government funding.

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Jennifer Gow: The website is singularly uninformative. So called "water torches" that burn oxygen and hydrogen produced through the electrolysis of water have been around for some time. The only clue I have about the distinctive features of this one is that it separates the oxygen and hydrogen and allows flame adjustment from reducing to neutral. I have looked into getting a water torch in the past because in Australia the only way I can obtain compressed oxygen is by renting a cylinder from one of the industrial gas companies that are all in on the same racket at around $200 a year not including gas. I use this with propane because at least with propane I can buy and refill my own cylinders or use a swap and go system. If I wished to use acetylene as well I would be up for $400 a year cylinder rental.

The problem with the water torches I investigated at over $2000 for the cheapest I am still marginally better off succumbing to the extortion of the industrial gas companies.

The other attraction of a water torch to me is that I can avoid using fossil fuels because my studio is solar powered by the 2.5 Kw system on our roof so my jewellery should get another modest sustainability boost.

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Lee Anne Messerschmidt: I have an Aqua Torch..actually 2 not sure what to do with it or if it works.. The Manuf. has no instructions or manual.. so I just have the torches with a lot of ??? If anyone can help me with infor it would be greatly appreciated..PM is always appreciated...

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Jo Agopovich: I recall using a water torch years ago.

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Joao von Horn: This technology is already old. we also call it brown gas

[scottsteward]

Aggie, This looks to be a larger version of the water torch, which has been kicking around the jewelry world for a while. The hydroflux is the brand I see most often. Scott

[aggie.p]

Thanks for the consensus of opinions on this. If you have at home a bright young adult, and often argue subjects with them (mine will take the 180 degree opposite of me just to argue) You probably know how frustrating it is when you tell the, give them the

and ask them to find more supporting Score one for those
of us old methane exhausts.

Just this evening he also argued another metals working point with me.

That trains when their wheels do not catch and spin at high speeds without moving can weld the wheels to the tracks. I told him that would not happen given air temps and other factors to put into the equation. So he pulled out this I phone and showed me a U Tfube video of inertia welding. In a closed environment and t high speeds yes that system did weld. It was enclosed. Then he proudly pulled up a video of a tran track that had been heated by a spinning wheel showing the rounded divot made into it. I sasked him where the weld was. He not knowing he was being baited said, "It shows it right there. I patiently reminded him welding was joining, not just melting of metal. Halloween candy with his headphones on.

I too have played with and used a water torch in the past. I think they are horrible. That was back in the mid 90's

Aggie Owner of 8 torches of various sizes and gas sources.

[dmcdandsons]

Hi Agnes, Teenagers they will argue black is white, on the train thing as far as I know rails are steel and wheels are cast iron very difficult to weld these two metals.

Donnie