Bright spark possibly carbon on my minor head

[Enchanted Cobwebs]

A few times recently when torching I have seen a small spark on the face of the torch, if I ignore them they get bigger so I have stopped turned off and then tiny particles flick off when I touch them. The torch lights up fine again but I just wondered if this normal or am I doing something wrong?

[Les]

perfectly normal

[Enchanted Cobwebs]

Thank you!

[Les]

It's just a bit of build up ... a quick clean of the tubes every so often will help. My minor came with a little pokey tool, a bit like thick wire

[garishglobes]

I have a bobcat, but I think the principle is the same. Your torch should have come with a bit of wire - poke it gently into each hole, then give the torch nozzle a gentle tap when you fire it up. You may see little bright sparks fly out, these are carbon bits that you've dislodged from the tubes. Totally normal but it is worth cleaning them out like this every now and then to avoid a build-up.

[Redhotsal]

You can clean this off while the torch is going. Just take your pointy tool (stainless steel pick or tungsten rake, if you're posh) and scrape the "elbow" bit of it across the face of the torch. This will dislodge the "spark" and you'll be good to go. Do it quite quickly though or you may end up with your pick attached to the torch. No, it won't harm your torch - well, it might, but I've been doing this for ten years on my hapless Minor and it still works okay.  

[Kaz]

I remember Q posting about this and suggesting clouting the underside of the torch to dislodge any crap whilst it is going. I often do this with the handle of my marver and usually sparks fly out for a bit then it settles down. Otherwise I do what Sal says and sort of wipe the end of the torch with a pick or a knife to dislodge. Sometimes it can be a bit of frit that has jumped off a bead.
Kazx