Welding and Metalworking - problem with Bensomatic oxygen/mapp welder

Just got this and am having trouble getting a neutral flame. When I turn the oxygen on, it either 'snaps' off immediately, or comes out in an on/off kind of rhythm, is it just that this is a cheap setup and doesn't work right, or is there some trick to it? I've tried both blasting the gas out first, and keeping it low, neither works.

The symptoms you describe sound a lot like a near empty oxygen cylinder.

The normal way to light a fuel/oxy torch is to first light the fuel alone and set it to a medium stable flame.
You then slowly open the oxygen valve to where you have the flame you want.

Besides low oxygen, a low mapp cylinder, faulty regulator(s), dirty or plugged tip and too low a flame being used could cause your problem.

Not sure how long you have been trying to get it going but the life of the oxy cylinder is only about 15 minutes with a properly adjusted flame.

If you are fusion welding steel you will need the heat of an oxygen fed torch but if you are only brazing a Bernzomatic ts8000 (http://www.bernzomatic.com/bernzomatic/consumer/jhtml/ts8000.jhtml?_requestid=94854) mapp gas torch works well.
I have been using one of these for soft and silver soldering smaller size tubing for years.
They are waaaay cheaper to operate that the oxy fed unit like yours.

Thanks for the quick reply Greg. The unit is brand new, so unless they sold it with an empty oxy cylinder, it's probably one of the other problems. I got this for exactly the purpose you stated, fusing steel. But I think I'll take your advice and get the single canister setup for other stuff. I am having trouble matching that model number anywhere though. I found a single cannister propane torch, but yours is mapp gas? Does it burn hotter than propane? Thanks for your advice.

I just answered some of my own questions on a web search. I see that mapp does burn hotter than propane. I guess the thing to do will be to buy the Bernzomatic pencil torch rig, I believe it's interchangable with both cannisters. Then I can try both. I know propane is cheaper, so if that works for me, that's the way I'll go for the most part, I suppose.

This is actually the one I have.
The link must be to their newest model.

Click image:
http://images.hardwareandtools.com/P/u743383.jpg (http://www.doityourself.com/invt/u743383)

These torches can use mapp and propane.
Mapp does burn slightly hotter but the tip also uses swirl combustion to make it burn hotter that simple propane torches.

It the object you wish to weld is not too big you could braze or silver solder with this torch.
What exactly did you want to fusion weld?

It the object you wish to weld is not too big you could braze or silver solder with this torch.
What exactly did you want to fusion weld?
I'm using it for jewelry making. I've been making stuff out of galvanized steel wire, and I wanted to try fusing it instead of soldering. Don't know if it will work yet, cause I haven't gotten the torch to work yet! (I learned some welding with oxy/acetylene torches, so I have a little knowledge) Going up to the studio to give it another try right now. Thank you for the picture of the torch you have, I'm going to get one of those too, for all the other stuff besides steel fusing. I've been using one of those cheapo little butane torches which are a pain-in-the-A.....er...thumb.:thumbup:

Ah, ok.

*First off you need to be careful with galvanized metal.
It gives off toxic fumes when heated especially if you were to silver solder or fusion weld it.
I would stop working with that material if you value your health.

For brazing other materials you would do well with a more specialized torch that has a very fine tip.
This one is an inexpensive import but way better in quality than the Bernzomatic.
It also uses the small cylinders.

Click image:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/03600-03699/03687.gif (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3687)
Image courtesy of harborfreight.com

The one below is also from Harbor Freight but is a better quality.
To use this one you would also need to buy two regulators but you could then attach it to larger trades type oxygen and acetylene tanks.
The cost of fuel in larger tanks would be cheaper if you used it a lot.

Click image:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/95600-95699/95671.gif (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95671)
Image courtesy of harborfreight.com


The type of solder you should be using for jewelery is low temperature silver solder.
It makes a strong braze and the silver material will not tarnish like soft solder or bronze brazing rod.

Say, GregH... I've been looking awhile for a single hose to go with that Bernzomatic ts8000 you posted earlier. So I needn't hold the can when using straight MAPP or propane. It seems like a simple thing, but I just can't find it.

Here is the real deal!
I wonder how much it costs?

Click image:
http://www.bernzomatic.com/bernzomatic/consumer/images/products/JTH7_sm.jpg (http://www.bernzomatic.com/bernzomatic/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=BernzoProd100060)
Image courtesy of burnzomatic.com

You could buy an extension hose at a camping supply store for propane lanterns and such like this:

Click image:
http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-91181333552265_1998_70802449 (http://www.summitcampinggear.com/co8hiprexho.html)
Image courtesy of summitcampinggear.com

You will need to make or buy a holder to keep the cylinder in an upright position.

Ah, ok.

*First off you need to be careful with galvanized metal.
It gives off toxic fumes when heated especially if you were to silver solder or fusion weld it.
I would stop working with that material if you value your health.Hey Greg; thanks for all the info, I wasn't aware of the health hazards with fusing galvanized metal. Ironically, the torch worked fine today, go figure. And it did indeed fuse galvanized steel. I just happen to like to look of steel, which is why I was trying it, but if it's hazardous, forget it!

it is the lead and cadmium, and zinc in the galvanizing that is hazardous, if you use a positive ventalation system with a hood over the welding area you should be ok. but make sure that if pulls at good amount of air past to the outside.
Murphy was an optimist.

[QUOTE=GregH;1360419]Here is the real deal!
I wonder how much it costs?

Click image:
http://www.bernzomatic.com/bernzomatic/consumer/images/products/JTH7_sm.jpg (http://www.bernzomatic.com/bernzomatic/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=BernzoProd100060)
Image courtesy of burnzomatic.com

$29.99 at Lowes.

Thanks GregH and Lynnala. :)