Two In One
Page 75
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A COMBINED welding and cutting set ri including the Firefly blowpipe is now being marketed by The British Oxygen Co., Ltd. The torch weighing only 12 oz. can weld mild steel up to
in, thick and cut mild steel up to thick.
The set includes five acetylene welding nozzles and three acetylene cutting nozzles. Propane cutting nozzles are also available. The change from welding to cutting is done by simply changing the • nozzle. This makes the Firefly combined set ideal for use in small workshops and garages.
Cleans Cooling Systems
INHIBITORS to keep engine cooling I systems clean and free from corrosion are now used fairly extensively either in anti-freeze solutions or by adding chemicals to the coolant. Smith Brothers and Co. (Chemicals), Ltd., Stratford, London, E.15, who make Inbibitabs for this purpose, have now introduced Cosol which is a powder chemical intended primarily to clean cooling systems to allow these inhibitors to do their work more effectively.
Cosol cleans on what is known as a chelating principle whereby the sludge present in the cooling system is " solubilized " and goes into a physical solution, this being effected in one process. There are no strong acids or alkalis in the substance so that Cosol is safe and nonpoisonous in use and can have no harmful effects on rubber hoses or gasket materials.
To treat an engine cooling system the system is first drained and then flushed. Cosol powder is added to water, stirred until dissolved and then poured into the cooling system. Al this stage the colour of the liquid is bright red. After a minimum of four hours' running the system is drained and flushed out before refilling with water. The fluid drained out after the treatment does not generally contain much suspended matter, but will be almost clean and dark green in colour. Cosol is sold in packs sufficient to treat 3 gals. of coolant. The actual cost depends on the quantity ordered but the retail price of a single pack is £1 4s.
Acrylics for Refinishing
QEVERAL entirely new vehicle refinish ing materials manufactured from acrylic resins are to be marketed by Lewis Berger (Great Britain), Ltd. First on the market is a primer filler which has been developed for use on repair work over nitrocellulose, body-bake enamels and half-hour synthetic enamels as well as acrylics.
In addition to the advantage that this primer allows acrylic enamels to be applied over any type of paint, field tests of the new primer are said to have shown that it dries more quickly, that it can be wet-flatted more easily and in less time and that it is easier to apply by normal spray techniques.
Efficient Hard Solder •
N efficient, low-melting-point, hard Pl. solder for aluminium and its alloys has been developed by Indastrial (Metallurgical) Services, 138 High Street. Waltham Cross, Herts. The solderSoldalum 121—requires no flux and is said to have a tensile and shear strength slightly h'gher than aluminium.
Other claims for Soldalum 121 are that its corrosion resistance is 20 times greater than solders based on tin-zinc and cadmium-zinc and that it can be applied using a normal source of heat such as a blow torch. Its melting point is 325°C (617°F).
The solder is obtainable in triangular sticks, or thin strips, and costs around 10s, a pound depending on the quantity ordered. Trial packs cost 12s. 6d.
Hand Lamp Improved
TTHREE main improvements are incorporated in the restyled Space Ray hand lamp—No. 5196—introduced by The Ever-Ready Co, (Great Britain), Ltd. The handle is now made of moulded black plastics, the switch is larger and easier to use and the case is stronger.
The hand lamp is well made, having a pressed-steel body whch carries the 6 v. battery and a lid hinged along one side with a piano-type. hinge. The moulded carrying handle is mounted on the lid and the switch is mounted on the top. The light unit is nvoted at the front of the handle. This is relatively large, being 41 in. in diameter and has a clear plastics lens.
Light output of the lamp is very good —the beam has a long range and gives reasonable spread. Retail price is 16s. and the Ever-Ready 996 battery used costs an extra 4s.