On Saturday, July 2, 2005 at 6:31:02 AM UTC-4, wrote:
I acquired an old brass Craftsman (plumber-type) blowtorch in
preparation for building a model boiler so I have several questions
about blowtorches:

Where can I buy a leather(?)washer for the pressure pump?

The valve on the pressure pump looks like it should have a ball valve.
There is a spring but no sign of a ball. Is the ball missing?

What's the best fuel? White gas (naptha?), kerosene? ???

Does anyone happen to have a diagram/parts list(even generic)?

Is there a book that describes the care and feeding of blowtorches?

What do I need to know to operate the various controls?

Does it need to have the vaporizer pre-heated like a Primus stove?

TIA

Max ben-Aaron

I just read your post and can answer a couple of your questions. I just replaced what you think should be a ball. I thought the same thing, but while cleaning the part to measure I found residue of what I deduced to be leather.
Kinda makes sense. If you look inside the plunger where the check valve seats there a raised ring on the face. I have a leather punch and the largest hole punch die makes a perfect fit. I now have one xtra hole in my belt and a good check valve.