In earlier days, everyday drivers relied on a simple blowtorch. It ran on gasoline and produced a flame hot enough for tasks like heating radiators for soldering brass parts. These days, gas burners are more commonly used to heat various car components and even for some household repairs.
The hassle of lighting a jet flame is gone: these burners light instantly and emit a narrower flame. The devices resemble nozzles for gas cylinders of different standards, or, in smaller models, possess a compact, refillable gas tank.
Gas cylinders vary in operating temperature and in how the burner connects to them.
What are they for?
The first use of a torch in auto work is to heat rusted threaded fasteners so they can be unscrewed more easily. It is common to burn away rubber parts of silentblocks when the whole assembly cannot be dismantled by other means. Sometimes pressing-fit parts, such as connecting rods before installing piston pins, require heating.
Beyond automotive work, gas burners can braze brass, copper, and even aluminum.
When working with electrical components in a car or at home, torches help heat up heat-shrink tubing quickly.
They prove useful for defrosting locks and gate pins in garages or rural settings.
Burners can also thaw pipes, light barbecues and stoves, roast wood products, and roast carcasses of animals and birds when appropriate.
What did they experience?
Different sized burners were chosen for testing. The assembled lineup was diverse—from very small devices that function like a lighter with refueling and soldering nozzles, to sturdy burners capable of burning through a large wooden panel or a deer carcass.
The most interesting burners for motorists are those delivering a powerful, narrow beam of a high-temperature bluish flame, which quickly heats rusted fasteners. If other factors matter more, the product notes provide guidance for each model.
The tests covered units designed to work with common propane-butane mix collet-mount gas cylinders, as well as rarer threaded-mount cylinders. Small burners include a filling unit similar to regular gas lighters, charged with special cartridges.
Cylinders with gas differ in operating temperatures, driven by the gas’s fractional composition. Frost-resistant cylinders tend to have more propane. The same pattern appears at car gas stations: summer uses a higher-butane mix for cost efficiency, while winter shifts toward nearly pure propane.
Test method
The assessment looked at how well burners of various types heat a bolt with an M10 thread and two nuts tightened with a 17 millimeter wrench. Heating began at 25°C and continued for two minutes. Each burner was tested at least three times, with more trials if there were flame fluctuations that affected consistency.
The bolt head temperature was checked with a Megeon 16550 pyrometer. Results were judged by temperature gains, and the burners were evaluated on their stability in different positions during operation.
A bolt with two nuts simulated a worn fastener in a suspension. A fresh bolt was used for every new test.
Members
All results are presented in a photo gallery and refer to a specific product selection only.
What is the result?
Low-cost burners without piezo ignition work fine for infrequent use and price-conscious buyers. Some models emit a hot, sharply directed flame that reaches substantial temperatures.
For reliable flame stability, keeping the gas cylinder steady and in a fixed position matters most. Gas inside the cylinder exists in two states: a liquid at the bottom and a vapor at the top. When the cylinder is kept vertical, vapor is drawn into the burner. If the setup is moved or tilted, the output may switch to liquid gas, causing flame failure in many simple burners. Only designs that feed gas through a thin tube heated by the nozzle flame themselves ensure a stable flame because the gas in the tube evaporates before entering the nozzle.
The takeaway is clear. The era of a powerful blowtorch being a garage-only tool is gone. A popular cartridge with a collet chuck for a burner costs around 100–200 rubles, and many burners are slightly higher in price. A quick press of the piezo ignition button and heat what’s needed. Progress indeed!
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