Orca torch

[sparkles]

I think I have probably made a mistake by buying an Orca from an ebay shop following a recommendation.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ORCA-Hand-...26ao%3D1%26asc

The gas bottle connection doesn't fit UK bottles and I would like to know what is the best and least expensive solution. I know Suttons sell a connector for Mapp gas bottles and wonder whether this is all I need or whether the connection at the end of the hose won't work with this. Ideally I would like to connect it to refillable butane bottles. If I have to buy a new hose and connector it will cost almost as much as the original torch. I now wish it would have been better to have bought it from Walsh's in the first place.

Does anyone have any experience of these torches or have any solutions?

[mizgeorge]

The Walsh version doesn't come with a hose at all, so you'd be no better off in honesty.

You can either just replace the bottle connector with the right one for you (I use a quick change as I keep one propane bottle for several torches), or get the adapter to use it with a MAPP cannister, which has the slight advantage of being more portable, and which runs a fair bit hotter. I don't use large cannister butane at all, but I imagine it works in the same way as propane.

I find hamilton gas (www.gasproducts.co.uk) pretty good for these types of fitting, and always include a flashback arrestor and regulator in the line.

I have a couple of orca's, and they're one of my favourite torches.

[sparkles]

Thanks George. My concern is making sure all the different fittings fit together Ok. I'm guessing that it's a 5mm hose and so the suppliers ought to be able to advise me. If you have already gone through this and can let me know without going to too much trouble any serial numbers, brands, sizes or anything that would be great. Does the regulator need to be high or low pressure? I watched the video on the Suttons site and they don't seem to use a regulator or flashback arrestor but I guess it's best to play it safe.

Many thanks again.

[Patstone]

While we are on the subject of gas etc. Is there any difference between Propane and Butane. I bought a Sievert type handpiece and the gas company that I bought it from supplied me with the gas. I have no flashback arrester or anything like that attached to the bottle, do I need it.

[ps_bond]

Flashback arrestors are really only needed if you're running oxy/fuel mixes - with fuel/air mix torches (like Sievert) they aren't required (there's no way to have combustion in the fuel line as there's no way to get oxygen in). Note that this is NOT the same for fuel/compressed air torches like the Flamefasts, they should have them fitted.
http://www.bullfinch-gas.co.uk/index...emart&Itemid=5

That said, I do run a hose burst device on mine. The idea is that a sudden pressure release causes a shutoff valve to trigger; it's generally pretty good so long as I don't try to immediately run a torch flat out, but gradually raise the pressure.

Butane cylinders as supplied by Calor & similar use a male thread on the cylinder, while propane cylinders use a female thread with a bull-nose connector (POL).

[Patstone]

So the gas on the inside is the same, its just the fitting that screws the other way. Not sure what a bullnose connector is tho.

[ps_bond]

Nope, butane (C4H10) and propane (C3H8) are different gases.

You can see some lline drawings of gas fittings here -
http://www.bes.co.uk/products/063.asp

(Actually, it's probably their valve I've got fitted)