Old blowtorch ad charming, scary
Back at Boy Scout camp--which most young men are lucky to have survived--we thought we were pretty clever to construct makeshift flamethrowers from camp stove fuel, cans of Off!, and contraband but ubiquitous Bic lighters.
Turns out Craftsman beat us to the pyrotechnic punch, according to this 1949 gasoline blowtorch ad posted on Toolmonger.
The big difference between our tools is that the Craftsman model has some, um, "safety features."
Not only does this machine's "massive solid bronze burner with a 5-inch opening" have a "blowproof design" and a windshield to guard against its 2200-degree flame, it also has a "lead-coated steel bottom."
Leaded: For your protection.
I think I'll stick with the Toolmonger reader that owns one of these but has "never had the nerve to fire it up."
If you had handed me this flamethrower at age 15, though, I probably would have turned it on the first anthill I could find.
More torches:
Learn how to choose and use this gas gun's modern descendants.
And watch how TOH plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey uses a torch to solder a copper pipe.
Posted by Harry Sawyers | Categories: Books & Software, Power Tools | Permalink
(1) Comments
Quote,
"a windshield to guard against its 2200-degree flame"
The wind guard isn't used for that at all. It is for when fuel is put in the drip cup and lit. That fire is needed to heat up the head of the torch so when it is lit, it doesn't shoot a flaming stream of burning gas.
Also, quote,
"it also has a "lead-coated steel bottom."
Incorrect. The ad is a little vague, but I have this model and it is lead paint on the bottom.
There is nothing dangerous about these torches as long as long as some common sense precautions are taken.
Unless you know what you're doing, don't light one of these. Stupidity can get you hurt or killed quickly.