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Old 2017-01-07, 5:31pm
Alaska Alaska is offline
Alaska Boro
 
Join Date: Dec 10, 2009
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 1,065
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Natural gas works well with boro. Using a Scorpion with three concentrators with NG at 5 psi. The flame temperatures between NG and propane are not significant enough to worry about. i.e. NG has a slightly less cooler flame temperature than propane.

The negative part of NG is that the standard rules for flame colors do not apply. Thus one has to develop their own methods to determine the standard flame types.

Many torches like to see 5 psi as a fuel pressure. Some will accept the lower home pressure NG and work well. Homes generally run at .3 psi which is a long way from 5 psi. IMO at .3 psi a torch will work, but will work better at a higher pressure as the torch is then not fuel starved.

There are NG compressors that will increase the .3 to 5 psi for torch use but they are not inexpensive. i.e. the range can be from 1 to 25 psi with some units.

The positive part is NG burns much cleaner, thus the torch does not carbon up. Also it takes less oxygen for complete flame combustion with NG thus the flame is oxidizing which is a requirement for many boro colors. Plus no more midnight runs to the local 24 hour stop and rob for more tanked fuel.

If you stay with propane, the tank outside is a must. Contact a local licensed plumber for propane line installation into the torch area from the exterior building tank. They will know the local building codes and the costs for the necessary installation permits and inspections, etc.
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