I lost my bedroom heater two winters in a row because the burner orifice kept getting gummed up. Managed to improvise a cleaning the first time but last winter I had to replace it entirely, which took two separate shipments from the manufacturer. Wouldn’t have had that problem if I’d had a proper way to clean an orifice, so…
Now I do. Only the very smallest of those bits will be of use to me, the only way I could find to get one was to get the set. Wish I had 2-3 of the tiniest one and none of the others, but that’s life.
BTW when I re-installed my kitchen bypass regulator last month the plumbing, which has pooted along fine since the construction of the cabin, was in fact all oily inside. So it’s coming from my propane supply and it will happen again. Hopefully not for a while but you never know, and now I’m armed.
Sheeesh Joel
What size bit do you need for this periodic repair?
I may have access to either bits or steel wire of the correct diameter
Have been cleaning the orifice on wife’s favorite gas stove burner on a regular basis for years, It clogs about 2 times a year, turns out a plain old wire paper clip was exactly the right dimension in my case.
Do a search for “acetylene torch tip cleaner”. Available on Amazon, and cheap.
Tip: don’t force the cleaner into the orifice or you could upset the size of the orifice. Handy for carburetor orifice cleaning, too.
What size? I bet I can get all you need, cheap. Either actual cleaners or the same size drill bit.
Post it and I will send some.
Since you now know you’re getting dirty gas you should retrofit drip legs into your system if they weren’t originally built in. Usually they’re just a tee with a capped pipe nipple that create a place for crud/condensate to collect that’s not your burner orifice.
If one’s ever desperate sometimes an assortment of wire brushes will yield hard wire approaching the correct diameter to clean an orifice.
Hopefully you have replacement orifices for when you break off a cleaner in the one in use?
Not that such a thing could ever happen to a very small diameter “probe”.
Maybe a filter like they have for the Big Buddy heaters?
+1 on the oxy/fuel tip cleaner set. I’ve got about a half dozen of them floating around in various tool kits from years of welding work. Cheap as snot, and some of the rods are so tiny they like to bend if you look at them cross-eyed.
https://www.simsupply.com/categories/tools/welding/welding-supplies/tip-cleaner-set-standard-plus-6-thru-26-with-file-standardplus-ors-326-standard-plus/?wi=off&CATARGETID=120012830001960391&CADevice=c
Best way to clean plugged orifices is Hoppes #9.
A little late on my part… D’oh!
You could have gotten a pin vice used by hobbyists with several of the appropriate sized bits.
https://www.amazon.com/Pieces-Polymer-Jewelry-0-1-1mm-Random/dp/B084T4PB1K
Okay Joel, one week seems a little too hermitty – are you okay
Ditto what Anonymous said. Did you poke yourself with an orifice probe and bleed to death?
Ok, hopefully people read this. I just spoke to Joel and he is doing alright, he caught a bug that has kept him under the weather for the last week but he is hoping to kick it soon and get back to writing.
Eric.
Thanks, Eric. Would probably piss Joel off to know people worry about him, but we do it anyway.
Thanks Eric
Thanks Eric
Thanks Eric!
Thanks Eric.
Thanks Eric.
Any poker will do. No reason to use a drill bit on an orifice. As someone in the field, I would recommend against it.
I’ve always just blown through orifices with lung pressure. If it needs more than that, replace the orifice.
Joel, hope you recover quick!
Thanks Eric. Seemed to be a long time from the key board even for a hermit.
And another “thanks Eric”!
“Either this oily residue goes, or I do!”
After thought: you can also use a wire brush: bunch together enough bristles to just fit in the orifice, then turn the orifice to ‘scrub’ it clean. Also has a lesser change of accidentally enlarging the orifice size.
Farm-boy carburetor repair tech, that.
Starting to get a little worried .
Thank you Eric for the update. Take care Joel, and get better soon!
Eric, I think you need to do another well check
Anon at 12:08, I emailed him on Wednesday he said he was feeling better and eating again. I also reached out by phone yesterday but haven’t heard back yet.
I’m sure he’ll get back with us soon, He probably has a ton of chores to catch up on.
Eric.
Thank you again Eric.
Yes, thank you and good point
Joel, hope recovery goes well and you get back up to strength soon.
Thank you, Eric!