I have had my bulk hothead kit for three months now. I get about 6 hours a week on it possibly less but I have gone through a 6kg propane bottle and I have almost gone through another one!
Is this a normal amount of gas to go through??
To me it seems quite a lot for not very long on the torch!
Thanks in advance for any help xxx
The last time I recorded how long a bottle lasts on my hothead, I got approximately 80 hours out of a 13kg bottle before it got unusable (i.e. a bit before it's actually empty empty), so that sounds about right to me.
The hothead does use up the gas quite quickly, assuming that you have checked carefully with a leak detector spray or something to make sure there are no leaks. I used a hothead for quite a while and seemed to go through a lot of the 6kg tanks.
When I eventually moved onto a minor torch and oxycon I was amazed at how long the propane seemed to last. :)
I used to get around 40 hours from a 3.9kg tank. Perhaps try adjusting the regulator, and you don't have to turn on the gas fully at the tank, just enough to give a decent flame. You can't adjust the flame much at the torch end, but you can at the tank.
HH's are very gas hungry. I used to do what Shirley said 'adjusting the flame at the regulator', but it still ate up the gas. 3 Months sounds about right at the hourly rates you mentioned.
My advice is, ditch the HH and invest in a dual fuel & oxycon, humungously superior and cost effective in the long run - gas wise, you won't look back ;)
Quote from: Barnacle Bay on October 14, 2013, 10:23:59 AM
My advice is, ditch the HH and invest in a dual fuel & oxycon, humungously superior and cost effective in the long run - gas wise, you won't look back ;)
I'd agree, plus you'll be able to hear! Even with the hum from the oxycon it'll still be so much quieter too than the roar of a Hothead!
Thanks for the replies ladies ;D
Unfortunately I don't have the space or money to be able to upgrade yet! However I am going for a job interview on Friday and if I get the job I shall be earning practically double what I am on now so will finally be able to start saving for a kiln and shedio and then finally after those an upgrade on ze torch! ;D