Smith Little Torch Surging

Sounds like you may have a regulator "sticking" a little bit. Do you completely back off the regulator knobs when you shut down the system? I personally turn off the tanks tightly, then open torch fuel valve, bleed off fuel, then back out regulator knob, then close torch fuel valve -- then open torch oxy valve, bleed off oxy, back out oxy reg valve, then close torch oxy valve. I have a set of Airco regulators and torches and have had them for well over 30 years - NO problems like you mention. Ken.

Another thing to check is the torch valves themselves, mine will unscrew themselves, slowly, from the body, if I don't watch them. When the gland nuts, or whatever you want to call them, are tight, I don't get any change in mixture when I manipulate the torch. It's happened a couple of times. I also have a set of regular-sized regulators that really don't like running at those low pressures, I can get some variation in gas mixtures trying to run at 2-3 lbs. I usually set them to about 5-6 lbs and use the torch valves to drop to working pressures.

Stan

It sounds to me like you're describing regulator "drift". This is just part of living with single stage regulators. Dual stage regulators give much better results in this regard.

VT

Whatever the reason, the Smith Little Torch (now owned by another company) is a great torch and if I had known just how good and utilitarian they are, I would have had one years ago. It enables you to work on small-sized items whereby a regular torch is too big and cumbersome.

Can you imagine welding fishing leader?

Cass

temperature

Why would smith put single stage regulators on a kit they designed for the little torch? It seems strange that they would say use dual stage but when they build a kit it has single stage.

On further reflection, it wasn't Smith themselves that reccommended two-stage regulators for the Little Torch. It was a note in the Rio Grande Jewelers Supply catalog, that is where I bought the torch kit ... and the regulators.

Bob