An oxygen and acetylene or propane torch with a cutting tip, used to cut steel plate, sever stuck bolts and heat parts for bending or breaking loose seized fasteners. In the fabrication shop it is the tool of choice for rough cuts, and in maintenance it is the last-resort wrench. Its cuts leave slag and a hardened edge that needs grinding before machining.
Heard on the job
Bolt's rusted solid, get the gas axe and heat the nut cherry red, then it'll come off with the wrench.
Also heard as
- torch
- hot wrench
- blue wrench
- oxy