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Spinoff story
Portable Home Welder
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Pyronetics, Inc. manufactured a small, do-it-yourself welding torch which weighs only 7 pounds, gives a 5,000 degree Fahrenheit flame, and costs only $40.00. This resulted from information provided by a NASA Industrial Application Center at the University of Southern California. The center provided information on chlorate candles, unique in that they generate oxygen while burning. A retrospective search uncovered information on composition, hazards, applications, manufacturers, and shipping regulations.