How to Use a BernzOmatic Propane Torch

Otto Bernz founded the BernzOmatic hand-held torch and accessory company in 1876. This provided the home-owning handyman a portable option for home improvement without having to hire professional-grade contractors to bring cumbersome oxyacetylene torches to the site. The hand-held torches offer a much more limited use than professional grade torches, but many tasks can be achieved by the use of the portable propane torch. In 1982, the BernzOmatic Company became a division of the Newell Rubbermaid Company.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Safety glasses
• Striker (optional)
• BernzOmatic torch and tank kit (or)
• BernzOmatic torch
• Portable propane tank
• Owner's manual
• Safety manual

1. Read the owner's manual and safety manual from cover to cover before attempting to use the torch or torch tip with a portable tank.

2. Assemble the torch kit per instruction manual. Some kits come complete with the torch tip and tank, and some kits simply come as a self-igniting torch head that can be screwed onto a portable propane tank. Be sure the torch tip has a tight seal to the tank.

3. Put on the safety glasses and point the torch tip away from you.

4. Have the striker ready if applicable. Most of today's BernzOmatic propane torches have self ignitors. Once the gas is turned on for the manual lighting torch, place the end near the edge of the torch tip and strike. The spark will instantly ignite the propane gas emitting from the cylinder. For self-igniting torch tips, turn the gas valve on to full open. You will hear the propane dispensing from the cylinder. Hold down the trigger safety button and pull the trigger. It may take a couple of clicks from the trigger to ignite. If you are unsuccessful lighting the self-igniting tip, turn off the propane and allow a couple of minutes to air out the area before reattempting.

5. Adjust the flame of the torch to desired height and intensity by turning the gas valve clockwise or counterclockwise.

6. Place the tip of the flame to the intended object. If soldering, the flame should be small and the solder placed into the blue of the flame. If sweating, a higher flame can be used, but further away from the pipes to sweat slowly. If heating metal connections to expand and remove, heat the intended nut only, or heat the area around the bolt only. Heating the entire area will only expand the metal of the connecting component you're trying to remove the nut or bolt from and you will be unsuccessful.

7. Turn the gas valve to off and make sure it is all the way off when you're done using it. It is recommended to disassemble the torch head or the torch kit once it has cooled down for safety reasons.

Tips & Warnings

• It might be wise to practice with the torch if you've never operated one, before you attempt to use it for its intended purpose. This will help you get to know the torch and how the flame works and you can adjust it to optimize its potential for the task at hand. Most of the earlier BernzOmatic propane torches provided the "pencil-tip" flame. This was an acceptable flame for sweating pipes, soldering and heating corroded metal connections, but lacked the intensity of a professional oxyacetylene torch. Today's BernzOmatic torches have several options and several grades of flame and heat intensity, from the age-old pencil-tip to the high intensity flame.
• Read the instruction manual thoroughly before operating your BernzOmatic propane torch. Follow all safety recommendations and requirements to maximize the safe and efficient operation of the propane torch.

References

• Safety Tips and Warnings by BernzOmatic
• BernzOmatic Propane Torch Kit
• BernzOmatic Self-Igniting Propane TorchBe