I am an all around craftsman who learned to make jewellery using a
torch and a tank of Propane. Now I am teaching myself to work on
larger things and have purchased an Oxy-propane system with a Sol-Gar
torch (Spanish manufacturer) which is slightly bigger than a Little
Torch. The largest head of the torch I would estimage to be
equivalent to the #7 of the Little Torch.
I am building a small box of 1.25 mm copper 6x4x4 cm. Total weight
of the copper is 110 grams.
It is taking about 2 minutes worth of welding to get make a weld.
After about 1 1/2 minutes the flux turns glassy, then the copper
starts to glow red hot, then all of the non-fluxed parts of the box
turn a silvery-black color, then the solder (medium) melts. There
is no fire-scale. The black goes away after a few minutes in the
pickle.
Does this sound right? 2 Minutes seems long to me but I have never
worked on “large” things before, and I want to build things even
larger.
I have read all of the archived messages on Orchid about torches and
I am a bit surprised at the lack of clear specs for the rights size
torch for a job.
Shouldn’t it be possible to say that for a certain size/weight of
metal to be welded what the BTU/temperature required is and hence
which torch can/cannot handle the job?
Why is this issue being debated?
Thanks for any help
Stuart LeVine
Israel