Cannot light Blowlamp

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All

I haven't posted for a few years, and now I'm 'retired' I am finishing the diy ...

Problem: I have a Wickes butane/propane blowlamp with the self-sealing cartridges. Yesterday I lit it without problem, but today it just blows out all the matches. What's gone wrong ?. It is colder today (West Sussex), is this the problem. What if it heat up the nozzle with a hot air gun first ?. I'm right in the middle of moving the cold tank in the loft (link to photo to come) and I getting annoyed now (anyone see Griff Rhys-Jones last night :-) ).

Andrew

[dom]

Too much gas flow.

Open the valve just a crack so you're lighting a little candle flame. Then *gently* increase the gas flow.

[OG]

Does it have an adjustable collar to regulate the amount of air mixing with the gas? If not enough air it can blow itself out.

[marpate1]

I guess either the flow rate is too high, or their is not enough air being pulled through with the gas.

[marpate1]

Great ... that makes me look like a right numpty!

I did post this before I read the other replies .... honest :)

[newshound]

Or could be too much air. Close off the air inlet holes by gripping with thumb and forefinger, not too much gas flow, it should light with a soft yellow flame. The nozzle will warm up which helps evaporation of the gas, gradually let more air in and it should stay lit OK

[George]

Screw the cartridge on then back it off and finally screw it home as tight as you can screw it home. Open the valve a touch and try lighting it again.

[Roger Mills]

As others have said, don't turn it on too much to start with, or the rush of gas will blow the match out.

My wife has a little blowlamp for cooking, which has an inbuilt spark generator for lighting it. I always borrow that to light my big plumbing blowlamp - far better than using matches!

[TheScullster]

"ad" wrote

As everyone else has said, but also hold the match in front of but below the nozzle so that it is the flame only in front of the nozzle, not the match head itself.

Phil

[meow2222]

Dangerous move with some cartridges.

Re gas/air mixes, its too much air content that makes it unlightable, not too little.

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

Oh dear. You must tell that to God.

Or whoever sets teh laws of cjhemistry,.

But to make it easy, here's a hint: combustion requires fuel AND and oxidant. Without BOTH, no flame.

Its perfectly possible to blow a light out with pure propane..

[George]

Dangerous move with some cartridges.

What are you on about?

Re gas/air mixes, its too much air content that makes it unlightable, not too little.

Heh?

NT

[Steve Firth]

Cobblers. Do they not teach the fire triangle anymore?

[The Medway Handyman]

I think it makes you look like a nice helpful bloke. Not like some of the trolls around here.

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Thanks for the replies - I tried turning on the butane/propane mix (Its the Wickes canisters that are made in France) less vigorously and it lights ok.

As for the fire triangle - yes thats still part of the compulsory set of on-line training aids that Cable & Wireless make all staff and contractors do. I believe its a legal requirement for all Co's over a certain size.

Andrew

[meow2222]

Whatever mix comes out of a blowlamp it meets the surrounding air, and a too rich mix will thus burn, even if not behave well, since it will always mix with the surrounding air to form a burnable mix. Close the air holes right off and try it - it burns.

I'm reasonably assuming the blowlamp be operated with the usual air atmosphere around it

I've never yet seen anyone unable to light a lamp with the airholes closed - in fact its pretty much a guaranteed way to light it if its being difficult. Light it, you get a yellow flame, then slowly open the holes to get the right mix.

NT

[meow2222]

well done Captain Obvious. Now, with a torch adjusted to put out pure bottled gas, how exactly do you propose to keep that gas stream away from the air in the vicinity, thus keeping it unburnable?

demo? :)

NT

[The Natural Philosopher]

The gas does that all by itself..

Try it.

[meow2222]

I think you'll find gases mix pretty rapidly, and where the gas meets the air it will inevitably mix. There will inevitably be a region where the mix is within limits for burning. If what you were saying were true, gas escapes would never ignite.

NT

[Steve Firth]

Yes, other than a demonstration that you didn't understand the point and that you wanted to teach your grandmother to suck eggs was there any reason for your post?