Tool Time Tuesday - Butane Torches
A week sure seems to fly by so quickly anymore. Today was my youngest daughters last day of preschool for the school year. I am totally not ready for summer vacation. My oldest has only 13 days left, yes, she told me that a couple of times today. Both are excited to be home for the summer. Little do they know I have a lovely daily chore and educational goals list for them both. hahaha But there will be great rewards if they do all that is on their list.
Well, here we are for another Tool Time Tuesday post. When I teach soldering classes people often ask which torch I prefer or suggest. As you already know I am a total tool junkie. I have 4 varieties of torches that I keep on hand, and just this past week, I added one more. YAY! I love tools!
Today's Tool Time Tuesday Post is about my three varieties of Butane Torches. I also have an Acetylene/air torch and oxy/propane, but my butane torches are what I use 98% of the time. It is so much easier to grab one of these than it is to sit and get the mixtures right or turn on all the knobs to get the other torches going.
These are my three torches. Listed from left to right: Blazer Micro Torch, Blazer Spit Fire; Jumbo Torch.
I learned to solder on my Blazer Micro torch and have had mine for 5 years now. I will swear by that torch and it is the one that i have provided in my kits and classes for years.
The SpitFire is a new torch. My friend Jeanette at Fundametals.net just began carrying these in her shop. I hadn't ever tried one so I ordered it so that I could do this Tool Time Tuesday and compare them. I also did some price checking on this one and she had a great price compared to other places I looked.
The Jumbo Torch is a newer one for me. I have been using this one for about a year now and I am LOVING it. I also offer this one if my students want to buy a good torch. More often than not, they usually end up getting both torches, and with fairly good reason.
I decided to try a couple of different tasks with these three torches. I also knew that the Micro torch would fail in a couple of them because I have tried them many times before and I know what the torch is capable of and what it isn't.
The Tasks:
In the first task I wanted to solder a bezel to fit an 18x25mm stone. The bezel is 3/32 high and 28 gauge thick. This seems like it would be a fairly easy task, but sometimes soldering a bezel closed that is this open can be tricky.
Both the Micro torch and SpitFire did really well. They soldered the seam closed within 20 - 30 seconds. The jumbo torch soldered the seam within 10 seconds.
The next task was to solder the back-plate onto a 22 gauge sheet of copper. I have marked the sizes of the sheets so you can see what I am working with. I already knew beforehand that the Micro torch would not be able to do this, but I tried it again anyway.
The results: Both the Micro torch and SpitFire failed miserably. They didn't even come close to getting the solder to flow before the piece was too oxidized. Nor would they have ever gotten the solder to flow. Their flame, while very hot, is just too small to hold the temperature on the entire piece to get things to flowing point. In both cases, I called in the Jumbo torch to finish the job while the piece was still warm. The Jumbo torch got the solder to flow, but not completely as the smaller torches had oxidized the backplate too much.
On the piece done just with the jumbo torch I was actually surprised by the results. While it certainly got things hot enough to flow the solder, it actually oxidized before the solder could flow completely. So while the solder did flow in all three pieces with the jumbo torch, all had to go back for a second round of soldering. This is actually not atypical for me when I am working on larger pieces.
In all cases I was using a paste flux with hard solder.
The next task was to solder some rings. I uses these bands for my spinner rings. So that is what these three are destined to be.
The bands are all 10 mm wide and 20 gauge. So we are talking some good amounts of silver here. They are different sizes and that did make a difference.
The Micro Torch soldered the seam closed after about a minute and a half. I started with a sheet 10mm wide by 58mm long.
The SpitFire began to flow the solder, but it didn't complete the flow before oxidation wouldn't allow for it to flow. I started with a band 10 mm wide by 64mm long. I believe this made all the difference in this piece flowing. The flame is certainly hot enough, but again, because it is such a tight and concentrated one it can't keep the temperature on the entire piece long enough for everything to get to temperature at the same time.
After pickling the piece clean I gave the SpitFire one more chance. It was feeling pretty bad that it didn't get the job done the first time and certainly felt up to the challenge of getting it done completely. So after about a minute and a half the solder flowed beautifully into the seam. It might have been that I didn't get the piece fluxed well enough the first time and oxidation set in before the solder could flow.
The Jumbo torch had no problem with this at all and the seam was closed within 30 seconds. Again the band was 10mm wide by 66mm wide.
The final task was to ball up the end of copper wire. Sterling always balls up for me really well, even when I am using thicker gauges. But I really wanted to put the torches to the test and decided on copper. You need to get copper much hotter before you can get it to ball up on the ends. The first task with the copper was with a 44mm piece of 14 gauge copper wire. That is a pretty tough challenge. I already knew that my Micro Torch wasn't up to the task, but I made it push through it all the same.
The Results: 14 Gauge
The Micro Torch gave it a pretty good shot, but failed in the end. I was able to get the surface to go molten, but just couldn't get that desired ball to form.
The SpitFire had me really excited. The wire was bright red, the surface was flowing, but the ball just never formed.
The Jumbo Torch had a nice little ball on the end of the wire within 10 seconds.
The Results: 20 gauge
In this task all three torches walked away with a great self esteem.
Both the Micro torch and SpitFire had a ball in the end of the wire within 15 - 20 seconds. The Jumbo torch did it within about 3 seconds.
So how do they really compare? What do I recommend?
You have just read my results of testing these three torches. As stated before, I knew going into this that the Micro Torch would not be capable of some of the tasks. I didn't know what the SpitFire was capable of so I decided to push the limits.
Why is the Jumbo Torch able to do so much more? Well, both the Micro Torch and SpitFire have a smaller more concentrated flame. The SpitFire is able to concentrate its flame even more than the Micro Torch. The Jumbo torch has a much broader flame. You are able to change the size of the flame. This is a great feature if you work with fine delicate wires and also larger pieces.
Each of the torches allow you to change and control your flame type and oxygen flow. Both the Jumbo Torch and SpitFire have safety levers on them which take a bit to get used to, but I like that they are there. The Micro torch doesn't have any safety switches allowing you to lock it from being accidentally turned on.
The Jumbo Torch and Micro Torch hold more butane than the SpitFire. I can usually solder several large pieces before refilling the canister. I am not quite sure how long I can solder with the SpitFire yet. I was able to get through all of these exercises and it is still ready to go. All three torches use refined butane and it is readily available at grocery stores and hardware stores. It is the same kind of fuel used in the butane lighters.
I have found that my Micro Torch is great for pieces that are no larger than 1 1/4" x 1 1/4". It seems that it holds the same for the SpitFire as well. The thing I really like about these torches is that because the flame is so much tighter it is easier to control. It takes longer for the piece to get up to temperature and while learning that is very important. It gives you a chance to really get a feel for the temperature changes in the metal. You can see things warming up, the flux changing phases and finally your solder flowing.
My Jumbo torch is great for larger pieces. I have done pieces up to 3" x 3" with layers. The flame is much larger and can get your piece to temperature quickly and hold it there while the solder flows. With smaller pieces it goes really fast. Sometimes that is nice, but when I have students using it to learn on, it is kind of frustrating because it happens so quickly that they don't get the chance to really see all the temperature changes. At first, they tend to over heat and sometimes that means melted silver and bezels.
I use both the Jumbo Torch and Micro Torch about the same amount. I always solder my bezel wire with the Micro torch. Any time I have fine wire designs or open wire designs I do it with the micro torch because I have more control. When soldering a bezel onto a back plate or working with layered objects and larger items I use my Jumbo torch.
I am very excited to use this little SpitFire torch a bit more. The flame gets really tight and REALLY hot. You can also soften the flame a bit so that it is pretty comparable to the Micro Torch. So with that feature, it may actually be a bit more versatile than the Micro Torch. I am going to play with it a little bit and see if it will work to do some of the torch fired enamels. That will be in a future Tool Time Tuesday however.
Like what you read here? Why not subscribe to the blog and you won't miss a post. Just enter your email address in the box that says subscribe in the upper left corner. You will be notified at that email address every time a new blog entry is made.
I have some great pieces to show in the next couple of days. I hope to have a post tomorrow or the next day with some new designs. Have a good night everyone!
Well, here we are for another Tool Time Tuesday post. When I teach soldering classes people often ask which torch I prefer or suggest. As you already know I am a total tool junkie. I have 4 varieties of torches that I keep on hand, and just this past week, I added one more. YAY! I love tools!
Today's Tool Time Tuesday Post is about my three varieties of Butane Torches. I also have an Acetylene/air torch and oxy/propane, but my butane torches are what I use 98% of the time. It is so much easier to grab one of these than it is to sit and get the mixtures right or turn on all the knobs to get the other torches going.
These are my three torches. Listed from left to right: Blazer Micro Torch, Blazer Spit Fire; Jumbo Torch.
I learned to solder on my Blazer Micro torch and have had mine for 5 years now. I will swear by that torch and it is the one that i have provided in my kits and classes for years.
The SpitFire is a new torch. My friend Jeanette at Fundametals.net just began carrying these in her shop. I hadn't ever tried one so I ordered it so that I could do this Tool Time Tuesday and compare them. I also did some price checking on this one and she had a great price compared to other places I looked.
The Jumbo Torch is a newer one for me. I have been using this one for about a year now and I am LOVING it. I also offer this one if my students want to buy a good torch. More often than not, they usually end up getting both torches, and with fairly good reason.
I decided to try a couple of different tasks with these three torches. I also knew that the Micro torch would fail in a couple of them because I have tried them many times before and I know what the torch is capable of and what it isn't.
The Tasks:
- Solder a Bezel
- Solder a bezel to a large back plate
- Solder a large/thick ring
- Ball up the end of a 14 gauge copper wire
- Ball up the end of a 20 gauge copper wire
In the first task I wanted to solder a bezel to fit an 18x25mm stone. The bezel is 3/32 high and 28 gauge thick. This seems like it would be a fairly easy task, but sometimes soldering a bezel closed that is this open can be tricky.
Both the Micro torch and SpitFire did really well. They soldered the seam closed within 20 - 30 seconds. The jumbo torch soldered the seam within 10 seconds.
The next task was to solder the back-plate onto a 22 gauge sheet of copper. I have marked the sizes of the sheets so you can see what I am working with. I already knew beforehand that the Micro torch would not be able to do this, but I tried it again anyway.
The results: Both the Micro torch and SpitFire failed miserably. They didn't even come close to getting the solder to flow before the piece was too oxidized. Nor would they have ever gotten the solder to flow. Their flame, while very hot, is just too small to hold the temperature on the entire piece to get things to flowing point. In both cases, I called in the Jumbo torch to finish the job while the piece was still warm. The Jumbo torch got the solder to flow, but not completely as the smaller torches had oxidized the backplate too much.
On the piece done just with the jumbo torch I was actually surprised by the results. While it certainly got things hot enough to flow the solder, it actually oxidized before the solder could flow completely. So while the solder did flow in all three pieces with the jumbo torch, all had to go back for a second round of soldering. This is actually not atypical for me when I am working on larger pieces.
In all cases I was using a paste flux with hard solder.
The next task was to solder some rings. I uses these bands for my spinner rings. So that is what these three are destined to be.
The bands are all 10 mm wide and 20 gauge. So we are talking some good amounts of silver here. They are different sizes and that did make a difference. The Micro Torch soldered the seam closed after about a minute and a half. I started with a sheet 10mm wide by 58mm long.
The SpitFire began to flow the solder, but it didn't complete the flow before oxidation wouldn't allow for it to flow. I started with a band 10 mm wide by 64mm long. I believe this made all the difference in this piece flowing. The flame is certainly hot enough, but again, because it is such a tight and concentrated one it can't keep the temperature on the entire piece long enough for everything to get to temperature at the same time.
After pickling the piece clean I gave the SpitFire one more chance. It was feeling pretty bad that it didn't get the job done the first time and certainly felt up to the challenge of getting it done completely. So after about a minute and a half the solder flowed beautifully into the seam. It might have been that I didn't get the piece fluxed well enough the first time and oxidation set in before the solder could flow.
The Jumbo torch had no problem with this at all and the seam was closed within 30 seconds. Again the band was 10mm wide by 66mm wide.
The final task was to ball up the end of copper wire. Sterling always balls up for me really well, even when I am using thicker gauges. But I really wanted to put the torches to the test and decided on copper. You need to get copper much hotter before you can get it to ball up on the ends. The first task with the copper was with a 44mm piece of 14 gauge copper wire. That is a pretty tough challenge. I already knew that my Micro Torch wasn't up to the task, but I made it push through it all the same.
The Results: 14 Gauge
The Micro Torch gave it a pretty good shot, but failed in the end. I was able to get the surface to go molten, but just couldn't get that desired ball to form.
The SpitFire had me really excited. The wire was bright red, the surface was flowing, but the ball just never formed.
The Jumbo Torch had a nice little ball on the end of the wire within 10 seconds.
The Results: 20 gauge
In this task all three torches walked away with a great self esteem.
Both the Micro torch and SpitFire had a ball in the end of the wire within 15 - 20 seconds. The Jumbo torch did it within about 3 seconds.
So how do they really compare? What do I recommend?
You have just read my results of testing these three torches. As stated before, I knew going into this that the Micro Torch would not be capable of some of the tasks. I didn't know what the SpitFire was capable of so I decided to push the limits.
Why is the Jumbo Torch able to do so much more? Well, both the Micro Torch and SpitFire have a smaller more concentrated flame. The SpitFire is able to concentrate its flame even more than the Micro Torch. The Jumbo torch has a much broader flame. You are able to change the size of the flame. This is a great feature if you work with fine delicate wires and also larger pieces.
Each of the torches allow you to change and control your flame type and oxygen flow. Both the Jumbo Torch and SpitFire have safety levers on them which take a bit to get used to, but I like that they are there. The Micro torch doesn't have any safety switches allowing you to lock it from being accidentally turned on.
The Jumbo Torch and Micro Torch hold more butane than the SpitFire. I can usually solder several large pieces before refilling the canister. I am not quite sure how long I can solder with the SpitFire yet. I was able to get through all of these exercises and it is still ready to go. All three torches use refined butane and it is readily available at grocery stores and hardware stores. It is the same kind of fuel used in the butane lighters.
I have found that my Micro Torch is great for pieces that are no larger than 1 1/4" x 1 1/4". It seems that it holds the same for the SpitFire as well. The thing I really like about these torches is that because the flame is so much tighter it is easier to control. It takes longer for the piece to get up to temperature and while learning that is very important. It gives you a chance to really get a feel for the temperature changes in the metal. You can see things warming up, the flux changing phases and finally your solder flowing.
My Jumbo torch is great for larger pieces. I have done pieces up to 3" x 3" with layers. The flame is much larger and can get your piece to temperature quickly and hold it there while the solder flows. With smaller pieces it goes really fast. Sometimes that is nice, but when I have students using it to learn on, it is kind of frustrating because it happens so quickly that they don't get the chance to really see all the temperature changes. At first, they tend to over heat and sometimes that means melted silver and bezels.
I use both the Jumbo Torch and Micro Torch about the same amount. I always solder my bezel wire with the Micro torch. Any time I have fine wire designs or open wire designs I do it with the micro torch because I have more control. When soldering a bezel onto a back plate or working with layered objects and larger items I use my Jumbo torch.
I am very excited to use this little SpitFire torch a bit more. The flame gets really tight and REALLY hot. You can also soften the flame a bit so that it is pretty comparable to the Micro Torch. So with that feature, it may actually be a bit more versatile than the Micro Torch. I am going to play with it a little bit and see if it will work to do some of the torch fired enamels. That will be in a future Tool Time Tuesday however.
Like what you read here? Why not subscribe to the blog and you won't miss a post. Just enter your email address in the box that says subscribe in the upper left corner. You will be notified at that email address every time a new blog entry is made.
I have some great pieces to show in the next couple of days. I hope to have a post tomorrow or the next day with some new designs. Have a good night everyone!
Posted by Melissa Muir at May 18, 2010 5:48 PM 
Categories: Tips and Tricks, General Announcements, Tool Time Tuesday
Categories: Tips and Tricks, General Announcements, Tool Time Tuesday
Excellent tests and the results are the same as we got picking our torches. The Jumbo is great and adjustable enough to stop the oxidization before solder flows. Well worth the money.
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Thanks Dave! I agree, the Jumbo torch isn't that expensive and I love love love mine.
~Melissa~
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I also have the Jumbo Torch and am very pleased with it. I have a question about it though. I know it has an adjustment for the oxygen flow. How do you adjust it? When I move the lever, it doesn't stay there, it pops back to where it started. How do you adjust it correctly?
Adele
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Adele,
Mine is the same way. There is no way to get that setting so it stays by itself. I rarely use that setting on the torch because of that. That is when I reach for my Micro torch.
~Melissa~
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Melissa, I am just discovering your blog. It is excellent! Thanks for all the great info!
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Maggie, It is so good to have you here.
~Melissa~
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Hi Melissa -
I wonder if you can help. I've got a micro torch - not exactly the one in your picture but a very similar one - and I seem to be having exactly the same problem with it as I had with another one a year ago. The torch has been functioning just fine for about 1 year, but in the last week the flame has got much, much weaker. With the oxygen valve fully open (pointiest blue flame), the fame is barely half a centimetre long - probably about a quarter of what it used to be. And I can hear that there's much less gas coming out than there used to. It's a small flame and not a very hot one - not much good for anything.
I've run a thin wire through the nozzle (with the gas off) and there doesn't seem to be anything superficial blocking it. It's annoying because I had to get rid of another torch just last year for exactly the same reason. Nothing comes out of my old torch anymore - and I had for just over a year! In both cases, the canisters are full up.
Have you had any similar problems? Do you know about fixing or cleaning these types of hand torches?
Any advice would be gratefully received - seems a waste to have to buy one of these every year...
Catherine.
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Hi Catherine,
What kind of torch do you have? I have had a lot of problems with cheapie torches, but not these torches that I showed. Let me know what kind of torch you have and I will see what I can find out for you.
~Melissa~
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Hi Melissa,
I can't find the brand name but this is the one: http://bit.ly/czT0tP
I'm thinking of getting a jumbo torch on your recommendation but I just hate throwing these ones I've got out! Seems so wasteful.
Catherine
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hi! i am really interested in learning to work with metal and im thinking of starting with plain soldered bangle. i was thinking of using 12 ga half-round sterling silver, argentium silver or gold wire. the torch in tanks is quite scary for me, plus they are quite expensive, do you think i can use the jumbo butane torch for this? will i also be able to melt silver or gold with the jumbo torch for casting? thank you very much!
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I would think that you would be able to make the bangle, though it will take a while as you have to make certain to keep everything heated evenly. I haven't tried this though, so I can't say for sure that it would work. If you can bury part of the bracelet, it should work. You can bury it in pumice, or lay a piece of soldering board or fire brick or charcoal block over part of it, that way the entire bracelet doesn't act as a heat sink. That would certainly work.
The Jumbo torch is not hot enough to melt gold and silver for casting. Oh how I wish it were.
Hope that helps a little!
~Melissa~
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