A complete guide to getting the best performance from your BIX burner
If you’ve invested in a model steam engine, getting the right burner is an important part of enjoying it.
A good burner needs to provide consistent heat, be straightforward to use and work reliably with your boiler. BIX gas burners have been developed specifically for model steam applications, providing a compact and convenient gas-firing system for enthusiasts who want to spend more time steaming and less time dealing with fuel.
One of the most important things to understand about a BIX burner is that it needs to be correctly adjusted before it is installed under the boiler. Don’t worry, this isn’t complicated. Once you’ve understood what you’re looking for, tuning the burner becomes a very simple process.
In this guide we’ll take you through everything from filling the gas tank to adjusting the flame and installing the burner beneath your boiler.
Important: Gas burners and steam boilers must be treated with care. Always work in a well-ventilated area when handling gas, make sure the boiler contains sufficient water before lighting the burner, and never leave a running steam engine unattended.
What makes a BIX burner different?
The BIX system uses a gas jet and adjustable gas jet holder to control the gas and air mixture entering the burner.
This adjustment is important because the ideal setting isn’t necessarily identical in every location. Factors such as ambient temperature, humidity, air pressure and the particular gas being used can affect burner performance.
Rather than simply fitting the burner and hoping for the best, BIX allows you to fine-tune the mixture for your particular setup.
Once you’ve found the correct setting, it’s worth marking the position of the gas jet holder. If you later remove the burner for maintenance or installation, you’ll have a useful reference for returning it to its tuned position.
What do I need to use a BIX burner?
Before getting started, you’ll need:
- Your BIX burner
- Either a BIX gas tank, or a BIX 018 gas canister valve
- A suitable disposable gas canister
- A screwdriver
- A long-nozzle electronic lighter
- A fireproof surface
- Good ventilation
- A little patience
What gas does a BIX burner use?
The BIX system is designed for butane or a 70/30 butane/propane mixture.
Suitable canisters can generally be found through camping, DIY and hardware suppliers and are available worldwide. The important thing isn’t simply the type of gas — the disposable canister must also have a self-sealing screw fitting compatible with the BIX system.
Do not fill the BIX tank with pure propane. The tank should not be filled with gas containing more than 30% propane because of the higher pressure involved.
DID YOU KNOW? All BIX gas tanks are pressure tested to 400PSI and conform to gas regulations. All gas tanks are uniquely numbered and are supplied with a certificate of testing.
How to fill a BIX gas tank
Filling the gas tank is a straightforward process, but gas safety comes first.
Do this outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, away from flames and other potential ignition sources.
- First, make sure the control valve on the BIX tank is fully closed.
- Attach the BIX 019 gas refill valve adapter to your disposable gas canister.
- Turn the canister upside down and press the adapter firmly onto the refill valve on the BIX tank.
Gas will transfer into the tank. When liquid gas begins to spray back from the refill valve, the tank has reached its fill point.
Larger tanks will naturally take longer to fill.
An especially useful feature of the BIX arrangement is that the gas pipe does not necessarily need to be disconnected from the outlet when filling the tank.
Once filling is complete, make sure the gas supply is safely shut off before moving on to burner setup.
Fitting the gas jet
Before lighting the burner, check that the correct gas jet is fitted.
The recommended jet varies according to the particular BIX burner, so check the product information for the burner you’re using. This can be found in the product description of the BIX burner you have purchased.
The gas jet needs to be properly sealed when it is installed, or whenever it is removed and refitted. You can use PTFE tape or a suitable non-hardening sealer such as Hermetite.
The gas jet is an essential part of the system, so never operate the burner without the correct jet fitted.
How to tune a BIX burner
This is probably the most important part of setting up your burner — and once you’ve done it, you’ll understand how simple the BIX system is.
For the initial adjustment, place the burner and gas tank on a fireproof surface. A metal tray makes a useful work surface.
Subdued lighting is helpful because it makes the flame easier to see.
Start with the gas jet holder
Slide the gas jet holder into the burner so that approximately 8mm (⅓ inch) protrudes from the end of the burner tube.
Lightly tighten the locking screw.
Now you’re ready to light the burner.
Give the flame time to settle
Don’t judge the flame immediately after ignition.
Allow the burner around 30–40 seconds to settle before assessing the flame. The burner becomes hot during operation, so switch off the gas and allow it to cool before making physical adjustments.
Initially, you’re looking for a soft yellow flame.
That tells you the burner is running relatively rich — in other words, there isn’t enough air in the mixture.
Moving from a yellow flame to the correct flame
Once you’ve established the initial flame, you’re going to make very small adjustments to the position of the gas jet holder.
Loosen the locking screw slightly and move the holder a small amount outwards.
Retighten the screw gently, relight the burner and allow another 30–40 seconds for the flame to settle.
Then examine it again.
Repeat the process, making small adjustments each time.
The aim is to gradually move from the richer yellow flame towards the correct gas/air mixture.
You are looking for small blue flames across the ceramic burner surface, with little or almost no yellow flame extending above them.
Why you should tune from rich to lean
There’s an important point here.
Don’t try to tune the burner from ‘lean’ back towards ‘rich’.
We always recommend starting with the richer mixture and gradually moving towards the leaner, correctly adjusted setting.
Running excessively lean can cause the burner to overheat, which can damage the burner and is inefficient.
Small adjustments are the key.
Think of it like tuning an instrument: you’re looking for the point where everything is working together properly.
When the burner is producing a consistent pattern of small blue flames across the ceramic surface, with virtually no yellow flame above them, you have reached the desired setting.
At this point, tighten the locking screw securely.
Mark your BIX burner once it’s tuned
Here’s a simple tip that can save considerable time in the future.
Mark the position of the gas jet holder once you’ve finished tuning.
If you subsequently remove the burner, replace the gas jet or install the burner beneath your boiler, the mark gives you a reference point.
That means you don’t necessarily have to start the complete tuning process from scratch every time the burner is removed.
Installing your BIX burner under the boiler
Once the burner has been correctly tuned, it’s ready to be installed beneath your boiler.
The BIX copper gas pipe can be very easily bent by hand to suit the particular installation, making it possible to position the burner appropriately for your model.
Before lighting the burner under the boiler, however, carry out your normal safety checks.
Most importantly:
Make sure there is enough water in the boiler.
If the water level falls below the lower limit specified for your boiler, switch off the gas.
How to light a BIX burner
When you’re ready to start steaming, make sure the boiler has sufficient water.
Have your long-nozzle electronic lighter ready.
Important: Ignite the lighter before opening the gas supply.
Once the burner is lit, allow it to operate normally and keep an eye on the boiler throughout the steaming session.
A BIX burner is designed to provide the heat needed to raise steam, but the burner should always be operated as part of a properly maintained and supervised model steam setup.
And remember:
Never leave a running steam engine unattended.
BIX burner safety checklist
Before every steaming session, it’s worth getting into the habit of running through a quick checklist.
Before lighting:
- Is there sufficient water in the boiler?
- Is the burner correctly fitted?
- Is the correct gas jet installed?
- Are the gas connections secure?
- Do you have your electronic lighter ready?
- Are you working in a suitable environment?
During operation:
- Keep an eye on the water level.
- Never allow the boiler to run dry.
- Don’t leave the engine unattended.
- If the water level reaches the lower limit, turn off the gas.
Before refilling:
- Turn the burner off.
- Turn off the gas supply.
- Allow the equipment to cool as appropriate.
- Refill only in a well-ventilated location away from flames.
These precautions are simple, but they should become part of every steaming routine.
BIX burner FAQs
Will a BIX burner damage my boiler?
A properly set-up burner will not damage the boiler provided there is sufficient water in the boiler. Never operate the boiler dry.
Why do I need to tune the burner?
The ideal setting can vary depending on conditions. Temperature, humidity, air pressure and the gas being used can all influence performance, so the burner is adjusted to suit the conditions in which it is being operated.
Can I tune the burner outdoors?
Yes, but tune the burner while there is no wind, or use a windbreak to prevent the gas being blown away. The performance should not change significantly when the burner is subsequently installed beneath the boiler.
Where can I buy suitable gas?
Camping, DIY and hardware suppliers commonly sell suitable canisters. Look for butane or a 70/30 butane/propane mixture with the correct self-sealing screw fitting. This is a 7/16″-28 UNEF thread, and is the EN 417 screw-cartridge connection.
Where they’re commonly found
They’re used for disposable screw-thread camping/torch cartridges in many markets, including:
- UK & Europe — widely available online (amazon, ebay etc) also in DIY and camping stores, fuel stations etc, although some European countries predominantly sell bayonet/puncture cartridges, so be sure to buy the screw type.
- North America — common on screw-thread camping cartridges. Coleman 70/30 mix with screw top available in Walmart stores.
- South Africa and parts of southern/eastern Africa — 7/16″ UNEF disposable cylinders are documented.
- Australia / New Zealand — Widely available, though other cartridge systems are also common so check for the screw type.
- South America — 7/16″ UNEF cartridges are documented in several countries.
- Asia and other markets — available through camping/industrial suppliers.
A BIX burner is simple once it’s set up
The initial tuning process might look like the most complicated part of using a BIX burner, but in practice it’s simply a matter of making small, controlled adjustments until the flame is right.
Start rich, make small movements towards lean, allow the burner to settle after each adjustment and look for that characteristic blue flame across the ceramic surface.
Once you’ve found the correct setting, mark the position and install the burner beneath your boiler.
From then on, the process becomes part of the normal routine of running your model steam engine.
A properly set-up BIX burner gives model steam enthusiasts a convenient and controllable way to fire their boilers — helping you spend less time worrying about the burner and more time enjoying the engine.
Ready to try BIX gas firing?
Whether you’re replacing an existing burner or converting a model steam engine to gas firing, choosing the right burner for your boiler is important.
Browse our range of BIX burners and find the setup that’s right for your model.
