Fig. 30.—Simple Bench Burner
Fig. 31.—Gas Blowpipe for Bench
A design of gas blowpipe which leaves one hand free is shown by [Fig. 31]. This enables the worker to apply the solder to the work (holding the end of a strip against it), after it has been brought to the melting heat of the solder. The blowpipe is arranged so that it can be held in the hand or dropped into a hole in the bench.
Tapers.
—Tapers for a blowpipe flame are made by untwisting cotton rope until the threads of the individual strands are straight. These are then dipped in melted wax made by melting two wax candles over a gas stove in a jam jar. They are repeatedly dipped until sufficient thickness of wax is obtained. The wax should be just sufficiently hot to keep melted.
Catching-tray for Bunsen Burner.
—The blowpipe is not essential for some kinds of work, such as when the job can be held wholly in the flame without causing any damage. When solder is being melted to drop on to a surface, the plain bunsen or atmospheric flame is also sufficient, though in this case it is well to tilt the burner over so as to prevent the solder dropping down the tube. An elbow fitted on the top of the tube is handy in this connection, to deflect the flame at an angle, and [Figs. 32] and [33] show this, with the addition of a tray to catch the dripping solder which otherwise would splash on the bench and cause untidiness. The tray is riveted to a strip of brass bent round to slip over the outside of the elbow, and a small pin riveted into the tube prevents the tray from falling down.
Figs. 32 and 33.—Bunsen Burner and Solder-catching Tray