Thread: LPG heating torches

With fathers day coming up I splurge out and buy one of these Bullfinch torches. Arrives today and my joy turns to frustration as quickly realise how clueless I am with this. I was expecting to be able to use the BBQ bottle, but no the fitting does not fit. So, Anyone care to spare time and wish to educate me please? It it even possible to use the BBQ bottle?

Originally Posted by nearnexus

I've got one of these LPG torches and they work very well.

Bullfinch 404 Autotorch Brazing Gas Blow Torch Kit | Buy Now at gasproducts.co.uk

Binary take your regulator to BOC or maybe even a plumbing supplies like Reece and they should have the correct fitting for it

john

when you get it up and running could you give us a bit of feedback please

Failing what John said you could try a BBQ shop.

Stuart

Mines just got the standard tapered 9 kg LPG bottle connector. You use a wrench on it.

You do know it's left hand thread ?

You should use a 9 kg bottle with the Bullfinch - to get plenty of gas through put.

I used mine again today. Great unit.

I'm nearly out of gas and I see that my now well and truly out of date gas bottle can be swapped for a full one at Bunnings for only $20 - pretty good deal.

Work out what 9 kg of MAPP gas would cost in comparison.

Rob

Thanks all, I'll see what is available in this small town.

Nearnexus, I know it is a LH thread, I'd be rather crazy removing a LH fitting (the BBQ) and then trying to fit a RH thread I am just above that level of cluelessness

It almost goes in but gets tight very early. I have just had a better look, thread pitch looks to be the same but the thread is around 0.25mm too large.

I wondered if it was a classic case of brain fade

Where did you buy it - from EH Cambridges or imported ?

Rob

Kmart used to sell, maybe still do, adaptors for the many different styles of LPG tank fittings. Camping supply shops might be able to help.

Jordan

Originally Posted by Binary

It almost goes in but gets tight very early. I have just had a better look, thread pitch looks to be the same but the thread is around 0.25mm too large.

I've come across that before as well. Can you unscrew the fitting from the reg? if so you might be able to swap a nut from an old BBQ reg (that fits the bottle) onto your new torch reg.
bollie7

I ordered it from the link earlier in thread, the UK site.

It looks like one should be able to unscrew the tail, though It looks like there maybe a pin that needs removing. I can get a little turn but not much. There is also a dimple above the pin you can see in the photos that exists on both sides, I hope thats not some kind of thread crimp..

Here are two photos, if anyone has some input I'll be grateful.
Photo 1
Photo 2

Oh, Yes wife visited Reece and they are at a loss. Maybe being in a Country town they have not had much exposure....?

Thanks all.

Here's what mine is like - looks the same.

Are you sure the gas bottle connector (female) is not slightly oval shaped/out of round. I have seen this.

Also check that the rubber nose cone/seal that some barby regulators have, hasn't come off and is still in the gas bottle (female) connector - seen that too.

Can you try it on another gas bottle ? Maybe your Reece man might let you try one of theirs

Rob

I like your thinking, but I have tried it in the bottle, the gas fuse and a bottle @ Reece. Each time the thread starts but get tight a few threads in. It is so close.

*looks for a POL die*

And yes they do look the same, though mine still has a nice shine (thanks for taking the time to provide images)

Binary,
Have a look at the cone end of the pol fitting it may have a hex instead of a round hole, if so just insert a allen key to undo the fitting.
The fitting is probally just like a acetelene bottle fitting which is slightly larger major diameter.

I have been using LPG/oxy for the last 15 years and have gone through 2 sets of oxy/acet gear, on both I have just used the acet reg and fitting on LPG bottles.
An acetelene fitting will fit a LPG bottle if you force it a little with a 12" shifter, it will still be a tight fit and will require a shifter each time you want to remove the reg but with the reg you have you need to tighten with a shiter as it doesn't have a o-ring like a standard hand tightened LPG POL fitting has.

The next thing to do is compare the Bullfinch fitting to the barby fitting - use a micrometer or good dial caliper to check the outside thread diameter.

With a bit of luck it may just be slightly O/S on the outside of the thread from the machining process and may be rubbed back with a bit of emery tape.

You could also (very carefully) run the thread over a wire wheel to polish it up and take the edge off the thread.

Other than that you will need to run the fitting through a POL die if the thread valley is different.

Rob

Originally Posted by ozheat

Binary,
Have a look at the cone end of the pol fitting it may have a hex instead of a round hole, if so just insert a allen key to undo the fitting.
The fitting is probally just like a acetelene bottle fitting which is slightly larger major diameter.

I have been using LPG/oxy for the last 15 years and have gone through 2 sets of oxy/acet gear, on both I have just used the acet reg and fitting on LPG bottles.
An acetelene fitting will fit a LPG bottle if you force it a little with a 12" shifter, it will still be a tight fit and will require a shifter each time you want to remove the reg but with the reg you have you need to tighten with a shiter as it doesn't have a o-ring like a standard hand tightened LPG POL fitting has.

Hi,
Thats an interesting thought, i was going to go to LPG oxy when my current acet bottle ran out, but thought i would need a new reg. Do you use the same pressure for the LPG as the acet or different?