Ahhh. Spring has sprung. The trees have all blossomed and turned to leaves. And the gophers are out.
I tried my new device today, and it has some failings I'd like to ask your opinion of.
I have O2 and propane. Then flashback arrestors. Then through a common T hose. Then there's a coupling where both gases go through the same line and down into the hole through a weed burner with a close off valve. The igniter is at the end of the line.
I seem not to be getting good gas mixing. It appears to me that if I have the O2 pressure over the propane pressure that the propane does not flow. Could this be something in the OPD that senses this and cuts it off?
I have alternated putting O2 and propane in the hole, then hitting the igniter. So far, I had four good blasts. Two were low volume thumps that I read were a sign you were getting into the deep tunnels. Two of them were what I would call very close to the report of a .357 Magnum pistol with a short barrel.
I'm thinking of rethinking this. Using a torch mixing body, then a long single flexible hose with the igniter in the bottom. All I need for an igniter is two wires that run up to a stun gun. I'm also going to add another pair of flashback arrestors and a 90 master valve. Also making the stun gun box moveable so you don't have to stand in front of the tunnel. Duh.
I did learn that the five foot long stiff weed burner head ain't gonna get it, as I need the flex to get into tunnels without digging a big hole.
But for right now, it appears the gas just isn't mixing right for some reason. I believe the pressure on the oxygen is pushing back on the propane, possibly even closing the flashback arrestor, or activating something in the OPD device of the tank.
I was turning the gas and O2 off between every spark, and apparently did things right enough to write this. I still want more arrestors and safety layers.
And this is going to make an awesome Fourth of July and New Years Eve noisemaker. Ten foot of eight inch pipe ought to do it.
What do you think?
Steve