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Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and using small accessories for gas cutting and welding.
Common types are the flint lighter, where a striker scrapes a flint to make a spark; the cup lighter, where a small cup fits over the nozzle so that the spark and gas meet in a protected space; and the electronic lighter, which makes a spark from a crystal and needs no flints.Flint types are simple and easy to keep going by changing the flint. Electronic types are neat and have no flint to replace. Choose one you can operate comfortably with a gloved hand, and keep a spare, as a lighter that fails tempts people to improvise.
Always follow your torch maker's instructions, as the details vary between torches. In general, check the equipment and connections first, open the cylinder valves slowly, set the regulator pressures, open the fuel gas valve a little at the torch and light it with a spark lighter held away from your body and face, then add oxygen and adjust the flame.To shut down, close the fuel gas valve first, then the oxygen valve, then close the cylinder valves, release the pressure from the lines and back off the regulators. Never light a torch in a confined space or near anything flammable, and never point a lit torch at people or cylinders.
Some gas cylinders, notably acetylene, have a valve that is opened with a spindle key rather than a handwheel. The key fits over the spindle and turns it open or closed.While the cylinder is in use, leave the key on the valve spindle so that you can shut the gas off quickly in an emergency. Open the valve only a little way, as the instructions say, and never use pliers or a wrench in place of the key, as they can damage the spindle.
On a flint lighter, the usual cause is a worn flint. Replace it with the correct type of flint and check that the striker and spring move freely. Clean any oil, dirt or spatter from the spark area, because grease and dirt can stop the spark. Keep spare flints with your tools.On an electronic type, check that the contacts are clean and that the striking action moves smoothly. If it still gives no spark after cleaning, replace the lighter. Do not improvise with matches or a cigarette lighter as a stop-gap.