When working on cars, sometimes you need to get something hot. You need a heat source better than a soldering iron and bigger than a butane mini torch, but less involved than an oxy-acetylene rig. With it, you can remove schmu (the same thing as shmoo, but on German cars--think of Mitch Rossi's Project 911 adventures), burn old bushings out of suspension parts, free rusty fasteners, braze and perhaps even blacksmith small parts.
The obvious solution is a propane torch, but the ordinary hardware-store torch has several shortcomings. Starting it requires a flint striker, another component to carry and an inconvenient and time-consuming addition to the process. This inconvenience encourages one to leave the torch burning when using it intermittently, wasting fuel and adding potential danger--it could tip or be knocked over. A simple needle-valve flow control is subject to changes in fuel bottle pressure, leading to changes in performance at different ambient temperatures and as the bottle is used.
In addition, propane does not burn hot enough for some uses, even though its flame temperature is well above that at which most non-welding processes occur. As heat transfers from a gas to a solid, the rate of energy transfer depends on the temperature difference between them. When the solid is highly conductive, or has a large thermal mass, a hotter flame may be necessary to get it to the required temperature. Methyl acetylene-propadiene (MAPP(R)) gas burns hotter than propane and is available in the same convenient torch-sized cylinders as propane, but not all torches are designed to burn it safely.
The SureFire T655 torch from BernzOmatic addresses all these concerns. It is compatible with propane or MAPP gas with no adjustment, and brings the convenience and safety of a piezo barbecue lighter to the heavy-duty world of the gas torch. It features a trigger start with piezo ignition and deadman-off. If the torch is dropped, odds are the flame will be out before it lands. There is a latch for continuous burning, which is released by pressure on the trigger, as well as a safety lock for the off position. The torch is internally pressure regulated for consistent performance over just about any ambient temperature and throughout the capacity of the gas cylinder. The burn rate is adjustable independently of the regulator for precise heat control. Interchangeable tips are available for heating larger or smaller areas than the standard general-purpose tip. The SureFire T655 torch is a quality, U.S.-made product that is a pleasure to use.
You say, plumbers of the world rejoice, the SureFire is the Mercedes-Benz of handheld torches. So what, right? Well, it turns out that propane isn't just for plumbers, barbecues and killing weeds. Next month, I'll show you why this matters to you. Hint: Go back and read the first paragraph carefully.
