how to operate a vintage brass paraffin/kerosene blow torch

smashing old bit of kit, how will it stand up to its modern counterpart?

you can find replacement plungers on Ebay

[wilfredkube]

Thanks for presenting a well thought video. I first used one of these more than sixty years ago, long before bottled gas was available. One of the most important factors, to enable a kerosene blow lamp to function well, is to be scrupulously clean when refuelling. Use a funnel with a very fine gauze strainer. If any dust particles get into the tank, they will inevitably get into the fuel pipe which leads to to very fine nozzle through which the vaporised fuel passes into the combustion chamber. Dust in the fuel is the most likely cause for the blow lamp to function poorly.
I do not think you gave the blow lamp a fair chance in the comparison test, when compared to the bottled gas torch burner. You placed the spanner in the "cooler" part of the kerosene flame. The highest temperature (hottest part of the flame) is nearer to the tip of the flame. If you repeat the test, I think you will find that it is likely that the kerosene blow lamp will heat the spanner to red-heat at least as quickly as the gas torch burner.

[davidhughes]

My dad had one like that, once you know how it works it's not scary. When i was a youngster i used it to make hundreds of fishing weights by melting led with it, great piece of kit.

[franco]

found mine in my grandfather's garage, i tried it out and it's literally a flamethrower... coolest thing ever!!!!

[TheBluetoo]

The best blow lamp/torch video on youtube. I learned everything I needed to know and am buying a vintage one to heat/bend metal. Thanks so much.

[Kheir]

I love these old torches. I collect them and use them myself. I mostly have Gasoline (Petrol) torches although I do have two that use Kerosene (Parafin). There are some areas these torches excel though. Larger flames, so they heat a greater area better than Propane. In very cold climates (far below 0 degrees) a propane torch will not light, as it's too cold for the Propane to vaporize, it just remains a liquid in the tank. Gas and Kero torches, will light, and you can actually buy new ones. Just get the better made Russian ones and leave the cheap China ones to braver men. Or, refurbish a mostly century old one, that will still work as good as new. Can't say that about much made these days...

[BlueTrane]

When I was a child, my dad was fully on board with propane for various tools. Lanterns, grills, blow torches and camp stoves. They certainly perform their purpose, but as part of that upbringing I was somewhat led to believe that propane was always better.

I have since learned that's not necessarily true.

I was somewhat recently gifted a Coleman white gas lantern and camp stove from my uncle who decided he'd never use them again (and they surely had very low time on them, so thanks again for the basically used once or twice and stored away equpiment!). I've completely fallen for how well they work. I don't have electricity in my carport, so the lantern is my go-to out there. It can also run on regular gasoline, which I'm never in short supply of. By contrast, I rarely have a small propane tank on hand, heck I don't even like propane for my barbeque grill, preferring charcoal for that purpose. I don't like that aside from guessing at weight, there's no really great way to see how much fuel is left in your propane tank, where you can shine a light inside your gas appliance or just observe how your charcoal is doing.

I presume there are white gas/petrol versions of these torches as well, definitely going to look into one.

[josephflorentino]

Saludos desde Filipinas! I have 2 pieces of kerosene blow torch. I brought these apparatus some 30 years ago to make brass carbide lamps. They are so durable and efficient and Im still using up to now. Seivert is the brand from Sweden.

[alfblack]

LOVELY! I've seen these in action when I was a wee lad. I was really amazed and curious on how it worked. Thank you for revealing it to me now.

[leneynon]

Great video. Stripped many a door as apprentice. Sweet memories 👍👍

[PedroFaria]

I'm really glad I searched for paraffin torches and found your channel!! Great content!! Thank you very much!

[andrewwilliams]

We used to have an old paraffin blowlamp, as everyone did years ago before alternatives had been invented. I remember getting it going with a little strip of rag soaked in meths. These days I've graduated to an electrically operated heat gun - less fun but more convenient and you don't set paint or woodwork on fire !

[alistaircampbell]

Interesting video. In a similar vein, my father used to have a Sheen flame gun for burning off weeds, it was like a blow torch on steroids. Same fuel, same need to preheat the burner assembly, and a terrific roar once the thing was up to temperature. I believe you can still buy them today.

[JayNewberyy]

I showed Roosa your videos, she thinks you are very good at them and a natural presenter!

[extothebiker]

Thanka kindly for sharing the information! I have a commercial kero blow torch for burning off weeds in the drive and was looking to find out how to operate it properly.
I didn't give it proper time to heat up, and it was operating as a rather vigorous flamethrower.

[albertday]

A super presentation and most clearly explained.. I would have liked you to have mentioned though the cost of the gas and against paraffin... Now paraffin is really cheap about 80 p per litre from my fuel depot.. Caldo oils . and that will last some time in a blow lamp ...


Cylinder gas from a retail outlet is about £9.00 for butane and £11.50p for the higher spec Map X gas...
So folks that is a real massive saving for anyone to use paraffin oil ... efficiency against cost ? you choose
I enjoyed this video well done

[bundibobder]

Hi. This is a great video, and I thank you for taking the time to make it.

I really appreciate the theory explaining how it works.

Well done indeed. Cheers, Bill.

[scavengerjoe]

Just picked up one of these for £2, thanks for a great show and tell.

[fillphat]

my old man had one... scared the life out of me when i was a kid...
always turning into a flame thrower...
sounds like a mini pulse jet..

[alexanderlavrinovich]

Thank you for an awesome performance, which was very enjoyable to watch, and for a bit of education. Nicely done! A+

[julianprendergast]

Thanks for the video. I just bought one of these old blowtorches at a farm clearing sale, which is very similar to the smaller one you took apart. I hope to restore it and get it going. Great video which explains how to use it and how it works. Thanks again.