Comparing the Mechanical Gas Saver with Charley’s Deadman Switch
The Gas/Saver: was designed for use in the wielding industry. A very good product and has been serving that industry very well for many years. It has been the go to item for the glass industry as well. In the hot glass art world, it has been the only choice and it comes with user friendly issues. It has been the only choice, till now, for gas flow controls for surface mix torches.
The Deadman Switch: was designed by a glass artist for glass artists. The design came after years of refining and testing. Being versatile and simple with a robust design was high on the must be list. The Glass industry needs to have a cleaner, safer and more economical control over the gases being used, in this very expensive process.
The Gas/Saver: allows the operator to hang a torch (as a counterweight) from the long lever arm, shutting off the gas flow. Removing the torch, releases the arm, to open the gas valves and returning the gas flow. When pressurized, these valves are designed to be open. The counterweight is the only thing to keep gases from flowing. Gases are always trying to escape, thru these valves and the manifold to the pilot light. With all these moving parts, made from brass, there is a fairly high frequency of repair and replacement of parts, with less than one year of medium use and 6 to 8 months with very high repeated use. Usually mounted and controlled at one location only.
The Deadman Switch: places the on/off controls in the operators’ hand, at the end of the hose where all the action is. When pressurized, these valves are designed to be closed. Can be mounted onto movable hand torches or installed on fixed or movable armatures. Light in weight, made from all Stainless steel and nickel platted parts an all aluminum manifold. The operator can be working any where the hose goes.
The Gas/Saver: has a “bleed out time” of gases, till the hoses run empty. That time is determined, by hose length. That time, can be seen and measured by the flames and bubbles, from the unseen gasses as well. That time, is money going up into the air, shorter the hose, bigger the savings.
The Deadman Switch: has no “bleed out time”. There is an instant on/off or hold. Longer the hose, the bigger the savings. The valves used, come from the medical industry, where failure is not an option. Comes with a life time warranty.
The Gas/Saver: has a pilot light, which is under designed and inefficient on fuel use. It produces a lot of carbon soot that floats into air and gets into/onto everything. A lot of leak issues.
The Deadman Switch: has no pilot light. That gives the operator a choice of ignition. Use a more efficient micro burner or an intermittent gas pilot light or a battery powered electronic igniters. All readily available on the internet. There is a bit of a learning curve on proper use.