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The Cedar Room A place for cigar storage and cigar accessories discussions. |
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07-27-2006, 08:01 PM | #12 |
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From: Roger W. Farnsworth
Date: Sat, Nov 20 1999 12:00 am Groups: alt.smokers.cigars Well, after seeing the phenomenal job that Blazer Corp. did repairing Bob Ray's PT 4000 Pencil Torch, (14" cobalt blue flame with delayed-action off button,) when mine went tits-up I decided to forgo the $20 fee and 6 month wait and "take matters into my own hands" so to speak. Here are a few notes from the altogether too exciting but eventually successful venture: The PT 4000 has a brass butane tank inside. This tank has an output valve that is lifted by the on-off switch. The flame adjustment collar is immediately adjacent to the tank, and then there is an extension tube that is approximately 2" in length. This extension runs almost to the head of the torch, where it fits neatly into a small carburetion valve assembly. It is this assembly that is visible at the tip of the torch. On my torch this carburetion valve had worked itself completely closed, thus cutting off all fuel flow. It took me a while to figure this out, however, so I got to have fun reducing my torch to individual components and thoroughly cleaning them all. One of the things I attempted to clean was the inside of the 2" extension tube. This tube has an interior diameter just slightly greater than .5 mm. After thinking for a few minutes, I came up with the idea of using a pencil lead from a mechanical pencil. Voila! Perfect fit. Can you see where this is going yet? First note: Do not, under any circumstances, pull up on the valve while the pencil lead is inserted in the tube. Ffffftttttt! Holy flechette, Batman! The pencil lead was ejected from my torch at a speed that I can only approximate as twice the speed of sound, firmly embedding itself in the ceiling. Once the problem carburetor was found and adjusted, I reassembled the torch. Proud of my mechanical acumen, I called Stacy into the room and prepared for test firing. Second note: Upon reassembly, please double check to make sure that the 2" extension tube actually fits *into* the carburetion valve and not along side of it. Snick, click, WHOOOOF! The ensuing 12" in diameter fireball was singularly spectacular and dramatic in the extreme. I quickly switched off the torch, salvaging precious few knuckle hairs and a tiny bit of self esteem, and demonstrating to my gal that I am, as always, cool under fire! Reminds me of two old jokes: What are a redneck's last words? "Watch this!" and How do you make a cat go woof? - With a pint of gas and a match. Well, here I sit with naked knuckles, several pieces of pencil lead embedded in my bulletin board (right, like you wouldn't keep doing it!) and a perfectly functioning pencil torch. I think I'll take the $20+ bucks that Blazer would have charged me and blow it on a nice cigar. Then I'll pop the cork on a nice bottle of shiraz, tear the paper off a box of truffles, and sit down to a good movie. Have a great Saturday night, all! R. |