I have a chinese made, "Harris Type" cutting torch that is only about a month old. Recently, I've been having problems with the cutting attachment popping and extinguishing the flame.
I'm using 3PSI acetelyne and 15PSI oxygen on my regulators. I fully open the oxygen valve on the torch body, but have it completely closed on the cutting attachment. I open the acetelyne valve just so an audible hissing can be heard, and light it. I increase the acetelyne until the soot is minimal and the flame is fanning fairly well. When I start to add in the oxygen with the valve on the cutting attachment, the flame sound becomes very strong and it pops very loudly, filling the air with pieces of black soot. Most recently when I lit the torch following the same procedure, when I began to add in oxygen it sounded like it was going to pop, so I turned off the oxygen, then the acetelyne. Two or three seconds after the torch was completely off, the tip popped with a loud snapping sound. Though the tip doesn't look terrible dirty, I've cleaned it thoroughly, yet I'm still having this problem.
Any ideas anyone?
Thanks in advance,
--J.K.