View Full Version : Want to make glass torch. Valve sourcing?
Squirrel Master
04-01-2017, 07:27 AM
Wanted to make a glass torch. Not sure where to get valves.just for personal use.not for sale to public
http://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Needle+valve&isNewKw=1&isRefine=true&mfs=GOCLK&acimp=0&_trksid=p2056088.m2428.l1313.TR11.TRC2.Xneedle+val ve&sqp=needle+valve
Joe Userton
04-01-2017, 03:02 PM
Wanted to make a glass torch. Not sure where to get valves.just for personal use.not for sale to public
As someone who made their own torch and used it until I could buy a real one(pictures are on this forum somewhere), let me chime in here.
It's almost certainly not going to be worth doing. By the time you buy the parts, put it together, see your design doesn't work the way you thought it would and buy another new part or two to fix it, and so on, it's all but impossible to actually get a functional torch for any real savings over buying a cheaper used torch, and that's not even factoring in your time working on it, or the potential danger of screwing up and blowing yourself up or lighting your house on fire.
If you got a great deal on valves (and they aren't crap valves, good luck), everything works exactly according to your initial design(and actually creates a good flame for glassworking, that's far from guaranteed), AND you value your own time at 0$ an hour, you might be able to save 30% or so over the cost of buying a decent used torch.
Make your kiln, make your kiln controller, make most of your tools, but you are doing yourself no favors trying to build your torch.
Shattered Dreams
04-01-2017, 03:08 PM
i didnt get the impression he was talking about a glassworking torch, just a butane torch, but i could be wrong.
i thought he was looking for the valves needed to mount into the glass.
Squirrel Master
04-01-2017, 03:48 PM
Yeah not for glassblowing. But for heating a nail. I have some valves from a carlisle. But they were replaced for a reason. To much play or not seating I can't remember. Running a mirage right now
menty666
04-01-2017, 03:51 PM
Maybe he just wants to do it for the sake of doing it. Have fun, just don't blow yourself up.
FWIW, the quartz folks occasionally use glass torches.
If you're looking to make a butane torch like this one, unless you have some mad skillz, maybe reconsider until you hit jedi status.
Dig a little bit in the forum threads, there've been some threads on this in the past along with a rather wise warning to tread lightly on this one since you're potentially making something that can easily blow up if it malfunctions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNedyU3xIts
Maybe he just wants to do it for the sake of doing it. Have fun, just don't blow yourself up.
FWIW, the quartz folks occasionally use glass torches.
If you're looking to make a butane torch like this one, unless you have some mad skillz, maybe reconsider until you hit jedi status.
Dig a little bit in the forum threads, there've been some threads on this in the past along with a rather wise warning to tread lightly on this one since you're potentially making something that can easily blow up if it malfunctions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNedyU3xIts
Sweet. I've been trying to make shit blow up for a really long time
http://www.talkglass.com/forum/showthread.php?56287-Glass-valves-for-sale&highlight=Glass+valve+bates+for+sale
Squirrel Master
04-01-2017, 08:37 PM
Yeah. definitely have to respect glass fuel and fire.
I got a whole set up..all the prep for a Bates torch.Paid 120 $ I could do same price.I have a 4 sale thread with pictures on here.
snoopdog6502
04-02-2017, 03:01 AM
As someone who made their own torch and used it until I could buy a real one(pictures are on this forum somewhere), let me chime in here.
It's almost certainly not going to be worth doing. By the time you buy the parts, put it together, see your design doesn't work the way you thought it would and buy another new part or two to fix it, and so on, it's all but impossible to actually get a functional torch for any real savings over buying a cheaper used torch, and that's not even factoring in your time working on it, or the potential danger of screwing up and blowing yourself up or lighting your house on fire.
If you got a great deal on valves (and they aren't crap valves, good luck), everything works exactly according to your initial design(and actually creates a good flame for glassworking, that's far from guaranteed), AND you value your own time at 0$ an hour, you might be able to save 30% or so over the cost of buying a decent used torch.
Make your kiln, make your kiln controller, make most of your tools, but you are doing yourself no favors trying to build your torch.
Funny you say that, I went and picked up extra parts when I went to get fittings for my air injection dohicky, some B to NPT fittings and a few extra pieces.
Going to make my next craptastic ghettorific hunka stuff.
Most hand torches are pretty much junk, I want to start with making one I like.
The people in Belgium are making 4 stage hand torches, 5 and 6 stage bench burner selections.
All premix, premix makes a torch super simple to machine and build.
Some pretty nice looking stuff. You probably have seen them before.
https://www.miema.com/burners
This is the 13 jet hand torch with 4 selections. $843 + tax and shipping.
89731
Squirrel Master
04-02-2017, 05:06 PM
Thanks for info. I will keep the bates torch prep kit in mind LRG. Got to sell some glass first.
nicko0
10-28-2017, 10:53 PM
so ive ordered a few needle valves. they all sucked. i bought the valve from harbor freight you recommended, its just a glorified ball valve. what we need is a needle valve that specifies it has a regulating tip and has fine adjustyment; 15 turns. plenty of the major mfg specify this but avg price is 20$. im sure there has to be some cheapo valve that is specd the way we need. :(
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-brass-needle-valve-threaded-MxF-plumbing-heating-air-propane-flame/172137429425?hash=item281430b9b1:g:IAQAAOSwZetXO1k G I put these on that sargent or whatever and they were really good for the short time I had the torch, and the buyer never complained
AdamCotter
10-29-2017, 10:10 AM
I've made a few with those ebay valves, even built a cc burner copy from scratch with hypo tubing (didn't work well at all).
You want a 1-10 to 1-20 ratio needle valve.
The one the poster above me recommended are exactly the ones I had the best luck with.
A hand torch or cradle burner is pretty easy to bolt together. My favorite DIY is a 3 tip (#5) cradle burner, I used stainless brake lines , threaded them, and left them long enough to bend for angles.
Good luck, be safe!
AdamCotter
10-29-2017, 10:18 AM
so ive ordered a few needle valves. they all sucked. i bought the valve from harbor freight you recommended, its just a glorified ball valve. what we need is a needle valve that specifies it has a regulating tip and has fine adjustyment; 15 turns. plenty of the major mfg specify this but avg price is 20$. im sure there has to be some cheapo valve that is specd the way we need. :(
Exactly this♤♤♤
15 turns, or 10 or 20, nothing smaller or its basically on and off.
I found some like smith hand torches and GTT use (shape same, about 15 turns), they looked the same, all stainless, but the knob's kept falling off and we're way too loose for our application. I think they were 8$ from china.
AdamCotter
10-29-2017, 10:20 AM
so ive ordered a few needle valves. they all sucked. i bought the valve from harbor freight you recommended, its just a glorified ball valve. what we need is a needle valve that specifies it has a regulating tip and has fine adjustyment; 15 turns. plenty of the major mfg specify this but avg price is 20$. im sure there has to be some cheapo valve that is specd the way we need. :(
Exactly this♤♤♤
15 turns, or 10 or 20, nothing smaller or its basically on and off.
I found some like smith hand torches and GTT use (shape same, about 15 turns), they looked the same, all stainless, but the knob's kept falling off and we're way too loose for our application. I think they were 8$ from china.
Also search for mass control valves.
AdamCotter
10-29-2017, 10:30 AM
so ive ordered a few needle valves. they all sucked. i bought the valve from harbor freight you recommended, its just a glorified ball valve. what we need is a needle valve that specifies it has a regulating tip and has fine adjustyment; 15 turns. plenty of the major mfg specify this but avg price is 20$. im sure there has to be some cheapo valve that is specd the way we need. :(
Exactly this♤♤♤
15 turns, or 10 or 20, nothing smaller or its basically on and off.
I found some like smith hand torches and GTT use (shape same, about 15 turns), they looked the same, all stainless, but the knob's kept falling off and we're way too loose for our application. I think they were 8$ from china.
Also search for mass control valves.
https://s1.postimg.org/7mz8inkmt7/405w_valve_on_plot.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/7mz8inkmt7/)
https://s1.postimg.org/2rjulhd3aj/vnb01and2.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/2rjulhd3aj/)
These are perfect, from directmaterial.com
All different male female configurations, 15 turns, good smooth tightness, $8. I make footpedals, and tried them for bypass, now I use Matheson but they are $50+
https://www.directmaterial.com/brass-needle-valves-600-psi-wog.html
.edit, that's the wrong flow chart,but that's what you want, a nice parabolic curve for tight adjustment, then a big bushy anealing flame with a quick thumb spin.
If you use 1/8" inlets it will mess with your pressure, could be good,could give you sputtering uselessness.
I would invest in the $40 tap n die set from harbor freighy, then you can make your own manifolds, extensions and such.
.this would be the dreamy valve.
https://s1.postimg.org/1eo47luj2j/4180_Brass_87051.1444850615.400.400.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/1eo47luj2j/)
15 turns, butter smooth, amazing curve chart but..... $244 ...so...no.
https://store.mathesongas.com/4170-series-high-accuracy-needle-valves-brass-ss/
If you buy 10 or more of the series 100 they cost less.
.
https://store.mathesongas.com/100-series-needle-valves-brass-ss-monel/
https://s1.postimg.org/1d92mwws7f/100_B_Brass_Valve_66226.1425680177.400.400.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/1d92mwws7f/)
If you want to up grade a Sargent or knight, or even a cc, this is the valve to try. Butter. But $75 is a lot, sometimes you can find them on ebay cheap tho.
AdamCotter
10-29-2017, 10:52 AM
You would probably be best off buying a used Nortel midrange, or minor burner (nit major) if you want surface mix, I've only had success with using premix tips personally. My surface mix jobs technicaly "worked". But...meh.
these did not have fabulous action, but it was the best I have ever found in that price range. you should just order one to test
nicko0
10-30-2017, 08:44 AM
sry for the hijack. if you cant find em for as cheap as you want here, i find em on ebay for very cheap occasionally. no way im paying regular price for them, i think the dostros are way over pricing them
AdamCotter
10-30-2017, 10:42 AM
Here is an easy one just from parts available at Lowes or home Depot
https://s1.postimg.org/1f5cuonorf/20171030_131404.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/1f5cuonorf/)
Parts list
https://s1.postimg.org/6klvm3w3a3/20171030_131342.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/6klvm3w3a3/)
Mount it to a piece of cherry hardwood flooring (free)with screws or brads, put it on a weighted stand or something.
Omit the 3to 1 splitter for a simple hand torch.
Use a tubing bender or a 17mm box end wrench to bend the brass tubing.
This is for national tips.
IMPORTANT use check valves! ! {So no go boom!}
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