S.S. MINNOW BURNER
™
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
:
The Bethlehem SS Minnow Burner was designed for use
with gas and oxygen. Propane is the gas of choice, even
though all fuels will burn in the torch. Be sure that your
gas distributor can supply you with a pressure regulator.
The regulator should be equipped with a gauge so you can
see how much fuel remains in your fuel tank, and indicate
the pressures you are sending to the torch.
BEFORE OPERATING ANY GAS BURNER YOU
SHOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ODOR OF
THE FUEL YOU ARE USING. ALL GAS FUELS
HAVE A DISTINCT ODOR. THE ODOR IS
PURPOSELY ADDED BY THE MANUFACTURER
SO YOU CAN EASILY DETECT A GAS LEAK.
THE ODOR IS DIFFERENT FROM THE SMELL
OF BURNED FUEL (CALLED PRODUCTS OF
COMBUSTION). READ ALL INSTRUCTION
MANUALS SUPPLIED BY YOUR GAS
DISTRIBUTOR BEFORE OPERATING YOUR
NEW BURNER.
HOSE CONNECTION
The S.S. Minnow Burner has two hose connectors at the
rear of the burner. The valves are marked as to respective
gas type.
Use 1/4 inch inside diameter hose to connect to the burner.
Both the gas and oxygen hose connectors are the same
diameter. Be sure to use hose clamps to secure the hoses to
the burner.
FUEL PRESSURE
Gas:
1.3 to 5 lbs.
Oxygen:
6 to 20 lbs.
DO NOT EXCEED 25 lbs. pressure on any feed. Excess
pressure may cause gas or oxygen to leak through the
valves and increase the chance of leakage through the hose
connections.
THEORY OF OPERATION:
The SS Minnow Burner is designed to produce a wide
variety of flame configurations so you can have the greatest
versatility in your glass-working. The flame is surface-
mixed and operates without loud noise or flashback.
Surface-mixed flames have the distinct advantage in that
they are soft, quiet flames while producing a penetrating
heat. Turning the precision needle valves easily changes
flame settings. For best results, keep the fuel flow to a
minimum. On Bethlehem burners, loud noise does not
indicate more heat. The soft, intense blue flame will bathe
your work in heat which will quickly penetrate the glass.
For best results, you should light the gas flame first. Once
you have the yellow flame close to the burner head, you can
slowly add oxygen. As soon as oxygen is added, the color
will change from yellow to blue. This indicates complete
combustion. As you change the flame height you should
always keep the flame color as blue as possible. The
individual jets (small cones of sharp color near the burner
face) should be kept from giving off any yellow “candles”.
Yellow candles indicate unburned fuel. They are usually
caused by the addition of too much gas, either by volume or
pressure.
Unburned fuel will cause carbon deposits in the face of the
burner. Keep carbon deposits to a minimum. If deposits
build up on the burner face, you will overheat the front
face, causing the burner to deteriorate. Carbon deposits
will also change the flame characteristics of your burner.
Use the stainless steel cleaning wire to remove all carbon
deposits.
To extinguish the flame you should always turn off the
oxygen before the gas. Do not over tighten the valves.
For more information about Bethlehem Burners
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