Which propane torch for burning off paint?

[Rednadnerb]

I have just started looking online for a propane torch and cannot decide what it is that I need. There are too many options for me to absorb quickly and I want to buy this tomorrow so that I can get on with the job of burning off about 20 square metres of old masonry paint. There's propane, butane, mapp, is a roofers torch too much? and what about bottle sizes and different types of thread. It would be so much easier if someone just told me what to get. In the meantime I will carry on browsing.

Thanks

Brendan.

[newshound]

I don't think you will find a propane torch much good on masonry paint. Or indeed any sort of torch.

What is the substrate? Render, brick, blockwork, stone?

[newshound]

And why are you trying to remove it? A lot depends on the condition. I managed to remove quite a lot of masonry paint from a rubble filled random stone wall using an air-powered needle gun, but this was mostly Snowcem on top of 200 years of lime wash.

If it is well adhered, then grit blasting is probably the only way to get back to original stonework, and it's still not going to look pristine.

If the adhesion is gone, you may be able to remove quite a lot from flat surfaces (render or ashlar) with a stripping knife.

On random stone, brick, or blockwork I'd be looking at a wire brush in an angle grinder.

[Andy Burns]

With that area to cover, I think you ought to be looking for something larger than a hand-held gas bottle, screwfix sell a roofers torch for £60 but how often will you use it again?

Hire a roofers torch about £20 for the weekend? And put the other £40 towards calor ...

[newshound]

Let us know how you get on.

[John Rumm]

I normally use a standard torch on a hose connected to a 4.7kg propane tank with a regulator:

More comfortable to hold than the plumbing type with gas canister hanging off it, and cheaper to run if you need to do lots of it.

Not sure you will find it much use on masonry paint though... wire brush on an angle grinder may be better for shifting the lose stuff. Paint over the rest.

[Mark]

most masonry paint is not oil based and will not burn off, buy the cheapest small torch first to test it.

_

[newshound]

The problem is also that wood has lower thermal conductivity and specific heat than stone. You have to keep the torch in one place much longer to raise even an oil based paint to softening point.

[Rednadnerb]

It is oil based and comes off with my hot air gun - just not quick enough. Thanks for the recommendation John, I'll go for that.

[Rednadnerb]

Yes. Sorry I said masonry paint. I should have said paint on masonry, it's actually render.

Thanks all.

[Rednadnerb]

Hi John,

If you are still there?

There doesn't seem to be anywhere close to Ealing that sells 4.5kg calor gas bottles.

Would that torch work with these cans?

or

Or I should say, will those cans work with this regulator?

[Dave Liquorice]

I had good results with a pressure washer here. That was for removal of loose stuff on a mix of sandstone and rough cast render, followed by painting over.

I have some emulsion to remove from some rough stone that'll probably get the needle gun treatment. It's inside and I want to get back to clean stone. Only a large square meter ish so spending much money on it isn't viable.

[Rednadnerb]

I've just seen that B&Q do propane for patio gas heaters. 5kg for £28. I'll pop along there.

[Harry Bloomfield]

on 04/08/2017, Rednadnerb supposed :

None of those, will work with any other you list.

The red regulator is intended for a propane bottle on its left, plus something like a roofing torch fitted on the right of the regulator.

[Harry Bloomfield]

Rednadnerb explained on 04/08/2017 :

I think you will find that propane bottle, may not fit the above adjustable regulator.

[Rednadnerb]

Oh gawd. Just as I feared.

Thanks Harry. I will travel through the Saturday morning traffic to get a proper bottle.

[Rednadnerb]

But they are all shut on a Saturday.

I give up.

[Andy Burns]

Beware the "clip" style of regulator on patio/bbq bottles is different ...

[John Rumm]

Yup...

There must be... camping supplies, garden centre, agricultural place etc?

(even some of the sheds do them)

Not easily.

Again not easily - the regulator will be designed to screw onto the typically fitting on the refillable propane tanks - its substantially bigger than the threaded output of the small cans.

[John Rumm]

Yup anything sold as "patio gas" seems designed to be incompatible! (although having said that the TS torch does not incluude the hose etc, so you can whatever you want to suit the bottles you get.

Ideally you need a bottle like:

a regulator and as many meters of hose as required to work comfortably. A hose with the "normal" left hand thread female screw connectors.