What should I look for buying a torch?

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

Just need something to loosen stuck nuts/bolt on the car. Wielding would be nice but don't have the know-how.

Yesterday, I was working on one tranny mount bolt for a good 3 hours, after lots of yelling, cursing and looking up the blue sky, wondering why I was underneath the car instead of playing outside, I finally gave up. Penetrating oil didn't help. Plus I can't get a good torque on the bolt either.

Anyway, after lots research, I came to the conclusion that heat might be my only answer now. So which do you recommend? I see Home Depot has one for sale for $15...

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

any torch will do.
lucky [EDIT] a certian british poster named after a disgruntled Computer [/EDIT] isnt here or else he'd be like
Torch, huh? why would this help???

 

[bbs lm-r]

How often do you wrench? If it's something you do often, then this may be something you could look into. Have you thought about an inductive heater?

Just an example: http://www.tooltopia.com/induction-innovations-md-600.aspx

That one looks alot like one I've used before here and it works great. Don't get me wrong, torches are nice to have too, but when you're in a tight spot, using an open torch flame could burn through nearby brake lines, tranny oil lines, fuel lines(!), etc.

If you scroll down there's a video there showing you how it works.

And obviously it would be more of an investment really, just giving ideas.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

I appreciate the input, but that thing costs $800...

I am looking for something <$50.

 

[JCH13]

A buddy of mine who does repairs for a living has a kit like this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-torch-kit-with-oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-65818.html

Only takes a few moments to hit a nut or bolt with a torch enough to break it loose, so large tanks aren't a huge deal.

 

[manimal]

A buddy of mine who does repairs for a living has a kit like this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-torch-kit-with-oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-65818.html

Only takes a few moments to hit a nut or bolt with a torch enough to break it loose, so large tanks aren't a huge deal.

That thing looks pretty cool! Could totally use for the zombie Apocalypse too!

 

[thedarkwolf]

I think he is wanting to hear something more along the lines of a MAPP gas torch. Just go to Walmart and pick up a bottle.

 

[JCH13]

I think he is wanting to hear something more along the lines of a MAPP gas torch. Just go to Walmart and pick up a bottle.

I've done MAPP/Propane, they can't hold a flame to an oxy-fuel setup in terms of fast, localized heat-up for busting fasteners loose.

*rim shot*

 

[thedarkwolf]

No but I doubt he wants to spend $300 either.

 

[JCH13]

No but I doubt he wants to spend $300 either.

Agreed, $300 might be a little steep. Worth it when you sit there and think "I would write the check right now if I could have all that time back". At least that's what I've thought before...

It really needs the focused heat of the oxy-fuel setup to be effective. I was amazed on what I could get away with using oxy-fuel. Like getting a snapped-off bolt red-hot, while only damaging paint maybe 1/4" away.

Something like this might work fine. For $60 it's probably worth a shot.

 

[NutBucket]

So far I've only had to resort to heat for exhaust bolts and propane worked just fine.

 

[JCH13]

So far I've only had to resort to heat for exhaust bolts and propane worked just fine.

That's because you live in California and don't know what real rust is.


/jealousy

 

[yottabit]

A MAPP/Oxygen kit is probably your best bet at that price point

It will get more than hot enough to heat small bolts (up to 3/8" or so). Much hotter than MAPP or propane on their own.

Oxy/Acetylene is ideal (and the only way to weld- MAPP is only hot enough to braze, Propane to solder) but it is expensive and from your lack of experience I wouldn't recommend trying to pick up a second hand set when important safety features could be missing or compromised

People have good comments about burning and melting things though. It can be dangerous

Another way to go is if you have or happen to know someone that has a high amp. arc welder, it can be more convenient to heat up bolts that way. So long as you know the ground path doesn't pass through anything important.

 

[JCH13]

Just be very careful when welding on/near cars, some welders' high-voltage arc start can cook ECUs and other electronics.

 

[IHAVEAQUESTION]

A MAPP/Oxygen kit is probably your best bet at that price point

It will get more than hot enough to heat small bolts (up to 3/8" or so). Much hotter than MAPP or propane on their own.

Oxy/Acetylene is ideal (and the only way to weld- MAPP is only hot enough to braze, Propane to solder) but it is expensive and from your lack of experience I wouldn't recommend trying to pick up a second hand set when important safety features could be missing or compromised

People have good comments about burning and melting things though. It can be dangerous

Another way to go is if you have or happen to know someone that has a high amp. arc welder, it can be more convenient to heat up bolts that way. So long as you know the ground path doesn't pass through anything important.

Thanks for the great info. I was just thinking what sort of temperature is needed for brazing, welding, and just loosening a bolt. Your answer provides some of the answers I was looking for.

I am thinking more in line of these below. Take a look let me know which I should get. Again, just need something to loosen a bolt or two, I am trying to be a home mechanic (still learning, it's been a frustrating fun as someone mentioned in another thread).

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=torch&storeId=10051
My main concern is whether the flame will be concentrated enough seeing how big the mouth is.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=torch&storeId=10051
Self ignitor is a big plus for me.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=torch&storeId=10051
Good review. Self ignitor comes with it.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=torch&storeId=10051
Gets up to 3600 degree. Enough said.

 

[NutBucket]

That's because you live in California and don't know what real rust is.


/jealousy

Truth! But heat + impact = busted bolt = disassembled. I guess that's why I don't mind old cars. I'm only used to working on pristine ones

 

[JCH13]

I've had WAY better luck not breaking bolts with heat+impact than pure torque. I'll pick up a torch and impact gun and try those a few times before I even think about a cheater bar.

 

[justfrank]

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25e...d=10053&langId=-1&keyword=torch&storeId=10051

This one's nice but Home Depot also sells an inexpensive 2 gas torch (O2 and Map gas) for $60 that really gets hot.

Don't get the one that looks like cigar lighter because that's about all those are good for, not for heating up bolts.

 

[yottabit]

Yeah sorry I thought I had linked the home depot MAPP/O2 torch

Definitely don't try butane, I wouldn't bother with just propane or mapp either, I would get the mapp/02

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/bernzomatic-oxygen-mapp-brazing-torch-kit-316989.html

Also for the type of work you are doing you don't need a very fine nozzle- you actually want a larger nozzle (to a certain extent) to disperse the heat better

On oxy acetylene they actually have big fat heater nozzles you use for this type of work

 

[Zargon]

i use my propane plumbing torch all the time with no issues

a small benzo would be sweet but $$ for how often I wont even use it....hard to justify

 

[mvbighead]

Just bought the Bernzomatic TS8000, and upgrade over the TS4000 model. Supposed to have a hotter flame with MAP gas than the TS4000.

http://www.amazon.com/Bernzomatic-TS...5977809&amp;sr=1-1

Got it for $49 ($8 more than the TS4000 model) at Home Depot with a "fat" can of MAP gas.

 

[NeoPTLD]

That thing looks pretty cool! Could totally use for the zombie Apocalypse too!

If you're going to use it more than a few times a year, do not get that. They're very very expensive to keep up. They're used by air conditioning techs where portability is a paramount, but brazing linesets don't use much fuel.

If you use it for heating/bending/welding, you will pay through your nose on refills.

The 20scf oxygen in that kit costs something like $25 to fill. Another $30 or so for the 10scf acetylene. The pair costs $50-60 to fill.


251 scf oxygen cylinder costs $40 to fill, which is 12 times the size, but only twice the cost.

I picked up the portable oxy-acy from that came with two sets of filled cylinders from a retired HVAC tech, but when both sets are empty, I'm going to get rid of them. I'm not paying $50 to have them filled up.