filtered, compressed air instead of oxygen

**silario** · 04-15-2009, 07:05 PM

would it be possible to use regular air instead of oxygen for our torches rather than oxygen?

**skip** · 04-15-2009, 07:08 PM

lol uhh you could use it but you wouldn't like it.

**silario** · 04-15-2009, 07:23 PM

why is that?

**Firekist** · 04-15-2009, 08:01 PM

not enough heat generated. air is only about 20% o2, so 80% of what you'd be blowing through your torch wouldn't be flammable.
i'm guessing you'd get a flame about 20% as hot as a pure o2/propane flame.
useful for annealing or preheating i'd guess.

z--seth

**kobuki** · 04-15-2009, 08:40 PM

The Japanese use torches that run on propane and air. The air source can be a air compressor, fish pump and there are even torches that have little fans on the bottom to force air up through the torch. The glass that they use these torches for has a COE in the 120s. I think the temperature these torches get to is around 950.
Basically a bunsen burner.

JK

**glassdocnc** · 04-16-2009, 03:08 AM

I've got one of those Japanese torches and it's kind of fun but even with 104 COE it is slooooow. Forget trying 33.

**Dale M.** · 04-16-2009, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by kobuki

The Japanese use torches that run on propane and air. The air source can be a air compressor, fish pump and there are even torches that have little fans on the bottom to force air up through the torch. The glass that they use these torches for has a COE in the 120s. I think the temperature these torches get to is around 950.
Basically a bunsen burner.

JK

Yah and Japanese glass (Satake) melts like butter with a match.... Well not really but its has much lower melting point then more popular 104 COE glass or Boro.

More info on Satake glass and Japanese fuel/AIR torches here: http://shop.dogmawglass.com/index.php

Dale

**Firekist** · 04-16-2009, 04:26 PM

damn me and my borocentric thinking. eh.

z--seth

**Jimi The Don** · 04-16-2009, 04:45 PM

originally lampworking was done with oil lamps or wax lamps and forced air. forced air is used to direct the flame, it makes the flame more controllable. oxygen is used because it's a catalyst, it makes flames hotter. oxygen itself is not flammable it's used to help the combustion of the propane. so like everyone else said, no it would not work for boro.