This Ultra-Safe Blowtorch Creates Flames From Water

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Fire and water may be opposite elements, but a UK-based company is using the liquid to produce a flame hot enough to weld metal.

SafeFlame has developed a blowtorch that runs completely on water. The device separates the hydrogen and oxygen molecules in water, and burns them as fuel for the torch, according to the company.

Since the only thing that goes into the flame is water, the only byproduct is water, when hydrogen and oxygen recombine during the reaction.

With low emissions and no gas needed, SafeFlame says the torch is ultra-safe. The company claims that the burner remains cool to the touch, and that the flame is always visible.

The blowtorch's safety is its selling point. SafeFlame reports that each year, UK Fire and Rescue Service respond to about 100 fire incidents involving acetylene cylinders, which transport the highly flammable gas, and are used in more traditional blowtorches. The company aims to cut down on these kind of accidents with its creation.

And since water is also cheaper and easier to store and transport than gas, which requires pricey insurance to manage, SafeFlame could be more cost-effective than gas-burning torches.

SafeFlame is suitable for welding many metals, including copper, aluminium and steel. The blowtorch isn't commercially available yet, but it's being tested by welders in the UK.


Homepage image: Flickr, Dan Tentler

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