hot head - what- how????

Started by firedinglass, November 12, 2011, 06:02:37 PM

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firedinglass

I've been asked by several people locally if i would teach them so i've been thinking about it.  i have carlisle torch but was thinking a hot head as an extra might be good.  I figure that might be what they could gain experience on but what would i  need?  I don't want another big set up it won't be used often and i don't have the space.  So i'm interested in what it would cost me to do this, any answers much appreciated! :'(


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Lisa

cbeadies

I guess the cost would vary depending on whether you want to just use a hothead with Mapp gas, or use it on bulk propane. I think the basic hothead is around £30 but  I notice Marie has one in the For Sale section for less, if it is of help.  :)

Redhotsal

Trying to teach someone on a hothead will drive you mad - the noise and the time it takes to do anything is very difficult. I would be inclined to teach on the Carlisle - demo and then swap places with your student. You should get a HH - you can either attach it to the standard Mapp cylinder or rig up a bulk system. You could in theory put a quick release on the propane line of your Carlisle and plumb the HH in that way. I usually at least demo the HH so that people know what they're in for if they go down that route. Shouldn't be too expensive but if you're thinking of teaching "professionally" you ought to have both set ups so that people can decide for themselves.

firedinglass

Thanks Sal, i'm thinking of using the HH for another thing i have in mind and they say to use Mapp gas.  Does anyone have a photo of there HH set up  - i've never even seen one!


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Lisa

poledra1958

Here is a pictures of my HH on bulk




HH on Bulk,

firedinglass

Thanks for the photo, so how does the torch clamp to the bench or if using Mapp gas does it just stand on the bench?  ??? :-\


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Blue Box Studio

Quote from: firedinglass on November 14, 2011, 08:21:47 AM
Thanks for the photo, so how does the torch clamp to the bench or if using Mapp gas does it just stand on the bench?  ??? :-\

With mine the metal plate screwed to the table top (or clamped), the HH collar was fixed to the metal plate using a jubillee clip.  I wouldn't even entertain the idea of Mapp gas - I couldn't get locally for starters, but ity doesn't last long (think they say 40 mins?) is about £10 a cannister and you have to dipose of them at the tip, can't put in general waste.  The Mapp cylinder screws on to the HH collar, where the gas pipe is shown in the photo.  Nothing about Mapp made me think it was worth it. But, 'tis your choice.

Sue
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Lush!

Quote from: firedinglass on November 14, 2011, 08:21:47 AM
if using Mapp gas does it just stand on the bench?  ??? :-\

Nooooo!

Tuffnells do now sell a kind of ring that you can stand the Mapp in to support it, but never use it unsecured.

You can also stand it in a coffee can full of stand, or attach it to a bent bracket with cable ties, then clamp the bracket to the table.  Or use a bench vice.


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sparrow

#8



Found this pic on t'interweb - I had a bent shelf bracket ( the 'L' shaped ones) with two whatchamacallits........them plumbing things you can screw tighter and tighter?
Sabine x

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Blue Box Studio

Quote from: sparrow on November 14, 2011, 09:00:57 AM



whatchamacallits........them plumbing things you can screw tighter and tighter?

Jubilee clips.
Sue
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Redhotsal

When I used Mapp gas I used to clamp the whole thing in the middle of a Black and Decker Workmate - very handy as I could hang a bucket of warm water under the mapp gas when it inevitably got cold (resulting in a tiny flame).

I made a very simple clamp for my hothead (in bulk propane mode) by bending a cheap bracket and jubilee clipping it to the hothead:



I agree with the others - unless you happen to pick up a second hand HH attached to Mapp then the way to go is attach the HH to propane. You will need (in sequence)
1) Hothead
2) Hothead adapter (which converts the 1" female hothead connector to standard propane fitting)
http://tuffnellglass.com/contents/en-uk/d100.html
3) High pressure propane hose
4) Propane flashback arrestor
5) 0-4bar regulator
6) Standard POL propane fitting.

2) - 6) is what makes up Tuffnells Bulk Fuel Hothead connector kit which he sells for £111.
http://tuffnellglass.com/contents/en-uk/d100.html

Of course 3) - 6) is what you have on your Carlisle, so in principal you could attach a quick release valve between 2) and 3) and just swap the two torches around. However, quick release valves, although being very convenient are quite expensive and can be prone to leaking, so two different set ups may be the way to go.

Simply in terms of what you'd need to spend to get a separate hothead set up I would think you are looking at around £150.

Hope this helps.

Redhotsal

Sorry - just reread your bit about wanting to use Mapp gas. Just for interest - I have successfully used a hothead screwed directly into the little canisters of propane. They are the same size and shape as the Mapp ones (which are yellow). The propane ones are usually blue and they're much cheaper.

If it's beadmaking you want to do you can use the little propane canisters. They're very slow and you have to watch that they don't over reduce but it is do-able if you're patient.

What do you want to do with the hothead other than make beads?

paintboxcrafts

I have set up my old Hothead to run alongside my Mega Minor, to show pupils the cheaper option.
I got Martin to plumb together the pipe and adaptor for me and to include a propane splitter, so they can both run from the same cylinder at the same time. I already had the regulator of course and flashback arrestor, the pipe is split after it goes through those. When you are not using the Hothead you simply turn off that side of the splitter so the propane only goes to your main torch.

http://www.tuffnellglass.com/contents/en-uk/d100.html
www.paintboxcrafts.co.uk  www.paintboxcrafts.etsy.com

firedinglass

Thankyou everyone, a lot of info to think on.  As i won't be using it very often i'll add up my pennies....  Sal i'm experimenting with enamelling metals  and making bracelets out of varying things!  'Experimenting' being the main word!!! :)


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