Primus model 802 blowtorch

[Maddad]

Good afternoon Everybody
I have found this cute little Primus model 802 blowtorch yesterday. See pictures. I am in process of cleaning it up, it looks promising. A little bit bent here and there but nothing major.

I will add some photo's when finished.
I cannot find much on Internet about this one, e.g. how to start it etc. Can anybody advise on what fuel to use please?

Thanks
Jan.

[Pharos]

Hi Jan, The 802 burns petrol (or hopefully something cleaner like preclean or benzene) and is self pressurising.  

In the interest of safety, make sure the filler cap seal is new and flexible, and that the fuel valve and its graphite stem seal do not leak. 

Test outside where a fire won't burn your house down ;-)

To light it, fill the fount 3/4 , open the valve, heat fount with your hands so that a little fuel runs into the basin on top of the fount, close the valve again, and light. When the flame is out, open valve and light torch. 

If it is like the Optimus 80 stove, it will have a cotton wick in the fount. You may need to soak and rinse the fount repeatedly over a few days with something like benzene or thinners to get all the old crud out.

-Phil

[Maddad]

Thanks for the advice Phil and especially for the starting procedure. I suppose there isn't an easy way to test the valve other than starting the torch? To stop it, would one open the filler cap to release the pressure? Sounds a bit scary due to the gasses that will escape there! Benzene is substantially cheaper than Preclean, however it is carcinogenic as I understand. Is there views on safe usage of it?
Thanks
Jan

[Pharos]

NNOOO!!!!  Please do not vent the pressure before the blowtorch is completely cold! You may suffer serious burns and start a fire if you do.  

Just close the fuel valve and let it go out and cool down. 

This goes for any liquid fueled appliance except those using pure paraffin.

Benzene is only carcinogenic when it comes in contact with your skin. Burning it is OK health-wise, but it provides much less heat than preclean or petrol.

-Phil

[Andrew Potgieter]

Hi Maddad
That is nice little blow  torch.
I have been told by someone that the spelling of benzene/benzine (production method or brand)determines wether or not it is carcinogenic.
I have no idea if there is any truth in it or not but guess it will be a good time to do some google research on it.

[Maddad]

Hello Andrew, Phil
Of course, there is a valve that can be closed,stupid! I think my mind was at a lantern.
I will Google the benzene and benzine, if there is a difference one should pick it up somewhere.
Jan.

[Pharos]

Benzin is the German word for petrol. Benzene is what we use here for dry-cleaning etc.

[Andrew Potgieter]

OK just looked up on google.
There is only one way of spelling benzene and it is not good for your health.
It is an important part of petrol so we are exposed to it if we come into contact with petrol as well.
A smoker of 2 packs a day gets exposed to 1.8 milligramsof bezene per day and the preservatives in soft drinks(bezoic acid and ascorbic acid)produce benzine if they interact with each other.I am so glad I dont drink soft drinks!
I guess I wont be cleaning my greasy hands any more with petrol either. 

[Maddad]

Where does "White Spirits" fit in this picture? Can it also be used as fuel somewhere?

[Pharos]

Lots of other unhealthy stuff in petrol apart from the minimal amount of benzene in it.

White spirit is mineral turpentine and white gas(oline) is Coleman fuel or naphtha, purified petrol without additives.

[Pharos]

And in sugar free drinks the artificial sweeteners break down into formaldehyde in your body. Formaldehyde or formaline is used to preserve dead things in jars. It kills all living organisms including human tissue.

[Andrew Potgieter]

Hi Jan
Does the blow torch have a date stamp .
I have found one for myself but can’t see any date stamp on it.