Max Sievert blow torch

jetmechmarty said:

I have a Coleman camp stove from the 1960s. I've always used Coleman fuel. I believe the alternative is "white gas." When I was a child, I understood "white gas" to mean unleaded. Unleaded was not easy to find in the 1960s or 70s. The Coleman fuel does not resemble kerosene. My stove is designed to run on gasoline. BOOM!

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Correct, it was Coleman's name for additive-free gasoline that they sold in a gallon can for about $10 I always used gasoline from the pump. The problem with that was it supposedly clogged up the "generator" on the stove, but the reasonable route was use regular gas and buy a new generator if it eventually clogged up for about $5. In the last 10 yrs Coleman quit making generators, at least for my model, a single burner backpacking-type stove, which makes the stove kind of kaput. Once I ran out of gas about half a mile or so from a gas station and I emptied the stove into my bike and took off for the station.

For the startup ..other alternatives is Possible
If we are talking kerosene fuel
I have used

https://www.biltema.se/en-se/leisure/camping-and-outdoors/gas-stove/methylated-spirit-2000043632

Has been available for ever Gas stations and so it is used for Housecleaning as for Camping stoves
Probably the most common brand
https://trangia.se/en/support/guides/fuel-list/

I have also used lamp oil --> Something like that
https://www.biltema.se/en-se/home/furnishings/fuel/lamp-oil-1-l-2000033721

It burns a bit slower and I believe it is better .. But you did not hear it from me .....

Remedies our (Great?) Grandmothers knew? Apparently, the way to clean tarnished old brass is a paste made from salt, vinegar and flour.





Leave that for an hour and see how it turns out.

Quick update - reasonably impressed with what an hour soak has achieved.





The handle has come up lovely, the tank might benefit from polishing, but the black has started to come off the outer burner tube and even the burner fuel pipes. These parts might get another soak.

I got inspiration last night so I also started working on 2 pcs
The jets are clogged
Please give info on the mixture you are using --- salt, vinegar and flour.
Is there something useful for Aluminium carb cleaning -- the salt probably not -- but putting it out here

Jan_P said:

-- the salt probably not --

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Salt tends to make a mess of aluminum in short order. I do use salt as abrasive to clean cast iron cookware when necessary.

Jan_P said:

Please give info on the mixture you are using --- salt, vinegar and flour.

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Jan, nothing scientific. Just dumped some vinegar in a bowl, added a good few spoonfuls of salt, more than would dissolve, tipped some flour, stirred it to make a paste. It was too thin so added a bit more flour till the paste was thick enough to plaster all over the metalwork.

This is where we are now:



Big improvement over how it was. Just need to wait for some meths to arrive and might be ready to try 'er out.

Raymond said:

Jan, nothing scientific. Just dumped some vinegar in a bowl, added a good few spoonfuls of salt, more than would dissolve, tipped some flour, stirred it to make a paste. It was too thin so added a bit more flour till the paste was thick enough to plaster all over the metalwork.

This is where we are now:

View attachment 232802

Big improvement over how it was. Just need to wait for some meths to arrive and might be ready to try 'er out.

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If I understand this correctly, the flour is just a means of sticking the slurry to the copper, avoiding the necessity of submerging all of the parts in the vinegar solution. A great idea!

Works in progress
Smaller ones bought them this summer on a Flea market
The one to the left had a clogged jet that was difficult to get out .Had to use force .Not looking so good ( Jet ) on the outside after that. .Now the jet is open And pumping it gets pressure even if it leaks at the connections. So the kerosene comes out from the place where the jet goes back in
Promising signs .. don't know if all parts are there.Brand AETNA can be old ..the font looks so

The one to the right also has a jet far down the tube at 1 o clock that is clogged cant pump through it.
the jet only has 2 parallel flat surfaces and is round other sides so it needs a special tool unless it comes out loosening the nut on the outside.
Need to find a 22 mm or so spanner and give it a hammer hit see if it comes loose. Without breaking it.
Brand Primus 832 don't remember seeing a jet deep down there before perhaps a gasoline version .The nozzle also have many parts and nuts.
Seen in the small basket.
.Will try with kerosene.first if i get so far


I don't think I will Polish them but try to make them work.

Very smart up-cycled blow torch lamp you have @jetmechmarty!

Of course those of us, eh @Jan_P (?), who are aiming to run the blow torch can only look askance at the market place. You search for Sievert or Aetna or Primus blow torch, hoping to find some information such as an exploded parts diagram but most of the returns from the search are up-cycled side lamps.
Sic transit gloria Sverige.

Raymond said:

Very smart up-cycled blow torch lamp you have @jetmechmarty!

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I found that on Etsy. If you fail to make your torch function, that is another option. There are lots of these old torches that can be purchased for $25 or so. The asking price for the lamp is $225. I just posted it as an idea. If the torch functions, I'd rather have it than the lamp.

jetmechmarty said:

I found that on Etsy. If you fail to make your torch function, that is another option. There are lots of these old torches that can be purchased for $25 or so. The asking price for the lamp is $225. I just posted it as an idea. If the torch functions, I'd rather have it than the lamp.

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I used to have one of these but sold it in my garage sale a few years ago. All this talk and pics makes me want to go out and get another one.

Your lamp looks great @jetmechmarty.

@Raymond, yours looks really nice now. Leaving some of the black on gives it a nice look too.

Raymond said:

You search for Sievert or Aetna or Primus blow torch, hoping to find some information such as an exploded parts diagram but most of the returns from the search are up-cycled side lamps.

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Is this anything like the internals of your torch Raymond?

Mailman said:

Is this anything like the internals of your torch Raymond?

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Unfortunately, no. I have tried looking for a parts diagram, but nuffin doin'. Luckily, it's a simple device.

The only question I have regarding how it goes together - the main fuel pipe, from the bottom of the tank to the burner, has a piece of twisted wire in it. 'Hullo', thinks I, 'wot's this doin' here?' So pulled it out and the top of the wire is wrapped in fine brass mesh. Close fit within the pipe. Could this be some form of wick or regulator to control the flow of pressurised kerosene? Doesn't look like something somebody left there after trying to clean the blow torch.

I'll probably put it back before attempting to blow it up. I mean, light it . . .

Perhaps you know this but a few hints.

It is outdoors the lighting up happens .. and preferably with some walls around it of some sort.

I would check the fuel delivery first .
Everything closed pumping up the pressure and then slowly open the throttle wheel nothing on fire yet
It will then start dripping kerosene into the bowl at the top of the burner where you later put the igniting fluid.
It can even squirt out a jet kerosene like a water gun 1 meter or 1.5 ( that is one reason why it is done outdoors because later on that jet can be on fire )

Then having control over the throttle wheel so to speak ON / OFF
Try to pour out kerosene from the top bowl if there is any...not so important if there is a little.

Fill up with the igniting fuel ...pressure pumped up everything closed.
Set fire to the ignition fuel and let it burn for a while half of it burnt off or 3 /4 then slowly open the throttle and listen for the sound and watch the flame should be blue. It is a bit like a jet engine the sound goes --- Pppppsssssshhhshshshhs
Opened to much and that 1.5 meter Yellow jet of fire is out. Then close it some
Should it flow out and spill down into the igniting fuel No big Problem just close it a little
But the thing can be engulfed in flames and the gloves a good thing. So you can close the throttle
And then eventually burn off.

Have gloves on and if it not succeed first time just top it up with igniting fluid try again .It needs some learning by doing.. but be damn sure it has cooled down a little and is not burning.
Preferably topping up from a small cup not the whole bottle ..

I have seen one bottle fly away like a Rocket once --- catching fire at a Barbecue The chef trying to get the coal burning Pouring on more
Another time it caught fire at the opening of the bottle and the chef threw it like football out on the lake Or should I say Like a Moltovcocktail.
Where it stopped burning.

Perhaps this is famous last words but Kerosene should not be dangerous. I have had 1.5 meter horizontal and vertical flames Nothing exploded yet.
Can be tricky getting to start.

No need to have it full either at first tests.

Good advice, @Jan_P, pretty much how I was thinking but it's very good to hear others think the same.

I have put a new fibre gasket at the base of the pump. Still need to tighten the fuel pipe joint - the big nut top centre of the tank. I don't think this needs a gasket or sealer. Tried some dry pumping - shut up at the back - with no fuel and it builds a little bit of pressure but not enough so I think the leather pump fitting is not very good. I'll take a look and see if it can fit better with some grease but might need to find a new leather cup.

An unexpected Christmas present is turning into an enjoyable little project.

That leather sometimes dries out if sitting to long dry on the shelf.
I would give it some grease and pour down a little kerosene into the tube.

having said that I have bought a new leather cup. once.

Tried to light them up did not happen
The one with a clogged jet deep down # 30
I was not able to loosen the pipe ..Nothing to hold on to .. Cant clamp it. -- and applying force would have dented the outer surface
Or break the handle
But with a thin copper wire and solvent got it working. Pumped pressure
On both of them . Not much on the one but better on the last one.
But after setting fire to the ignition fluid. Both of them no longer held pressure and the one with
clogged jet was without any resistance whatsoever when pumping Needs new leather seals on both..

I am thinking of making my own seals .I have a leather sewing machine + an old leather belt with thick leather + and have glue .
making the opening in one layer or two layers leather -- and no hole in the upper one.
I think i will try that since this can happen in the future also.

How it looks can be seen 7 o clock post #30
Can work making a leather seal cup. No quick fix.

Jan_P said:

Needs new leather seals on both..

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Maybe a good oil soak will bring it back. It's worth a try.