The author of this article often has to fix equipment and other metal structures away from residential areas. He already has a decent arsenal of portable devices and convenient tools, many of which are made with his own hands.
In this article, YouTube author NightHawkInLight set out to do something that even cuts thick steel.
So the idea of a thermal spear arose. To heat iron, such a spear will use pure oxygen, due to which temperatures will be created that can melt the stone, not to mention nuts or bolts!
Materials
- Oxygen balloon
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- A tube from the brake system
- Steel wool.
Instruments, used by the author.
- Cutter for metal tubes
- Lighter.
Manufacturing process.
The melting mechanism of steel when using this spear is similar to that which occurs when igniting steel wool. The latter, in the form of small chips, easily reacts with oxygen, whose concentration in the air is about 21%. The result is an exothermic reaction, which proceeds until oxygen is in contact with steel fibers, or until the metal completely burns through.
A thermal spear generates the same chemical reaction, but instead of finely woven metal filaments and a low oxygen concentration, it uses a much denser metal tube ???, used as fuel. The small plane of the surface at the tip of the spear is compensated by the supply of pure oxygen through the tube to ignite the flame.
Industrial versions of thermal copies are usually powered by oxygen through a large acetylene-oxygen burner.
To maintain the mobility of the device, the author uses an available oxygen small cylinder as an oxygen source.
A special nozzle is put on the cylinder, which allows you to connect it to any other container or system, in this case it will be a regular ¼ inch vinyl tube.
The author warns his readers from attempts to modify the cylinder on their own, as this can lead to its depressurization and fire!
For the spear itself, the author uses a tube from the brake system of the car to 5/8 inches, one end of which is cut away so that it can be inserted into a vinyl tube.
Now, to ignite a steel tube even in a pure oxygen environment, a really high temperature ignition source will be required. For this, an acetylene-oxygen burner is used in production to initiate ignition.
The author finds a replacement for this cumbersome technological design. Based on his previous experience, he comes to the conclusion that steel wool, which was discussed above, can also act as such a source of metal ignition.
The author takes a small amount, twists it into a thin bundle and tucks it into a metal tube. In this form, steel filaments are very easily ignited, and if at that moment when the filaments begin to smolder, slowly begin to supply pure oxygen to them, the temperature will become so high that it will easily warm the spear.
At this moment, the thermal spear begins to resemble a super hot Bengal fire, which can be safely used to cut through any materials.
Also, with ease this spear melts even cobblestones.
It is important not to forget to turn off the oxygen supply in time before the metal tube burns to the vinyl tube itself.
And finally, a few fireworks.
Thanks to the author for the idea of a simple but useful fixtures for cutting metals!
All good mood, good luck, and interesting ideas!
Author video can be found here.