Dont be fooled by a torchs small

size. With the right fuel, a little

torch can produce a flame thats hot
enough to handle a wide range of
jewelry-making applications.

all levels
reference

Buyers Guide

Torches
What you need to know before you purchase a torch.
by Nol Yovovich

f youre intimidated by the prospect of buying a torch, dont be

embarrassed youre not alone. Its normal to be nervous
about bringing compressed-gas tanks and open flames into

your home. Not only that, but the options seem endless. Ask a
jeweler for advice on what to buy, and shell recommend the torch
shes most comfortable using. Ask three jewelers, and youll likely
get three different answers.
A torch is essentially made up of two components the fuel
source and the hand piece unless youre using a handheld
butane torch (see General-Purpose Torches, page 40). The type of
work you do and where your studio is located will determine which
combination of fuel and hand piece suits your needs.
If youre buying your first torch, consider taking a class at a local
school or craft center. Working even briefly with a qualified teacher
can save you from making dangerous mistakes. It will also give you
a chance to test-drive one or more torches before you invest in
one. Even more important than the type of torch you choose is that
you get comfortable with it by using it often. (To help get yourself
used to a new torch, see 5 Easy Soldering Exercises, page 61).

ar tjewelr ymag.com

37

Gentec Small Torch tank regulators

STEP 1: Choose your fuel

When youre choosing a torch for jewelry making, begin by picking a fuel. Base your choice on the fuels availability in
your area and the location of your work studio in your home. Health and safety concerns are paramount and should be
weighed carefully before you decide which fuel youll use (see Play It Safe, page 41). The four fuels commonly used in
jewelry making are: acetylene, hydrogen, natural gas, and propane.

Fuel

Availability

Safety

Torch type

Temperature

Acetylene

This fuel is available in compressed

tanks of various sizes from local
welding suppliers. You can have a
typical B-sized tank refilled at a
welding-supply house for $10$20.
The tank should last several weeks
or months, depending on your
usage. Because the tanks are
heavy, a torch that uses this fuel
wouldnt be very portable.

If your work studio is in a basement, this

fuel is a good choice. Its lighter than air
and will dissipate quickly in case of a leak.
The state of California designates the
soot and other off-gases from burning
acetylene as carcinogenic, with links to
birth defects. Proper ventilation in your
soldering area is a must to minimize these
health risks.

fuel/oxygen

5678F (3137C)

Although hydrogen is very volatile,

its available in compressed tanks
of various sizes from local welding
suppliers. It is used primarily in the
jewelry industry by large casting
houses and refiners.
The fuel has limited portability
because the tanks are heavy and
theres a high risk of explosion.

Hydrogens tendency to explode has kept

it out of use for the average bench
jeweler and makes it an unacceptable
option for a home studio.
However, the clean-burning gas is
available for use with water torches.
Developed to break water (HO) into its
molecular components, this torch
eliminates the explosive risks of
hydrogen, but yields a tiny flame.

fuel/oxygen

Local regulations may require you to

outfit your torch with a flashback arrestor,
which stops a flame from traveling back
up the gas pipe and causing an explosion
at the gas meter. When gas-line pressure
is less than 1 psi, the flashback arrestor
will block the flow of gas to the torch.
There are pressure boosters for
natural-gas lines on the market, but they
are costly ($1,000$1,500) and are not
necessary unless your gas-line pressure is
below 1 psi.
Check with your local gas company to
find out your gas lines psi and any local
gas-line safety regulations and codes.

fuel/oxygen

Small, disposable tanks are safe for inhome use. If you remove the preset
regulators from a disposable tank when
youre not using your torch, youll also
remove the risk of a leak or explosion.
Dont store larger propane tanks
indoors, especially not in your basement.
If theres a leak, propane will pool in low
areas, because its heavier than air, and
could cause an explosion. Most jewelers
opt to keep a large propane tank outside
and plumb a gas line into their studio.

fuel/oxygen

Hydrogen

Natural gas Readily available in many homes,

natural gas eliminates concerns
about fuel tank storage. To access
the natural-gas line in your home,
you will need a minimum line
pressure of 1 psi (pounds per
square inch). A nipple with a shutoff valve must be plumbed into the
gas line, to which you can attach
your torch hose.
Clean-burning and cheap,
natural gas is an excellent fuel
option, but because its piped into
your home, its not portable.

Propane

38

Clean-burning propane is available

in compressed tanks of various
sizes at hardware and grocery
stores, and you can have them
refilled at propane suppliers.
The small disposable tanks are
very portable. To use the larger
tanks (the kind you might use for a
barbeque grill), youll need a dualstage regulator.

Ar t Jewelr y

September 2007

Recommended for
casting
fuel/atmospheric

4220F (2327C)

Recommended for
general jewelry use
5082F (2806C)

Recommended with
a water torch
fuel/atmospheric

3831F (2111C)

Not recommended
for in-home use
5037F (2781C)

Recommended for
general jewelry use

fuel/atmospheric

3548F (1953C)

Not recommended
due to low flame
temperature

5111F (2822C)

Recommended for
general jewelry use

fuel/atmospheric
Not recommended
due to low flame
temperature

3622F (1994C)

Buyers Guide Torches

STEP 2: Choose your hand piece

There are two types of torches: a fuel/atmospheric torch mixes fuel with oxygen from the
surrounding atmosphere, and a fuel/oxygen torch mixes fuel with compressed oxygen from
a tank. A fuel/atmospheric torchs flame burns at a slightly lower temperature than a fuel/oxygen
torchs flame, which is more adjustable.

Hand piece Type

Applications

Equipment

Silver
fuel/
atmospheric
Smith
and
Prest-o-Lite Recommended

You can adjust the size of the

flame using the interchangeable
torch tips. The hand pieces
adjustment knob will vary the
for acetylene;
flames intensity within a narrow
not recommend- range for each tip size.
ed for propane
or natural gas
due to low flame
temperature

The advantage of a fuel/atmospheric

torch is that there is only one tank
and regulator, which saves you
money and space. Theres one valve
on the tank and one knob on the
hand piece to adjust, so its simple
to set up and use. These torches
easily do a variety of tasks and
provide long periods of uninterrupted use, so most jewelry makers
will not outgrow them.

Acetylene/atmospheric torch
kits are available from jewelry
suppliers. A torch kit will have a
hand piece with a single knob,
torch tips, a hose, a regulator,
and a fuel tank. To save money,
you can buy your fuel tank at a
local welding supplier.

Smith
Equipment
Little Torch
and
Gentec
Small Torch

fuel/oxygen

The flame from a fuel/oxygen

torch is more versatile and
Recommended
hotter than the flame from a
for propane;
fuel/atmospheric torch, allowing
not recommend- you to work on larger-scale
ed for acetylene projects and to have greater
due to intense
flame control.
flame temperaThe acetylene/oxygen flame
ture and small
produced with a small torch
flame size
burns too hot for most soldering.
The small, intense flame can
easily melt parts of a jewelry
piece while youre attempting
to bring the whole piece up to
soldering temperature.

When you use the number 7 torch

tip with propane and oxygen, the
torch will produce a flame large
and hot enough to solder a 3-in.
(76mm)-square piece of 16-gauge
(1.3mm) sterling silver.
If you use acetylene gas with a
fuel/oxygen torch, the flame will be
bright enough to damage your eyes,
so wear protective welding glasses.

Kits include multiple torch tips

and two single-valve, preset
regulators. For portability,
connect the hoses of these
lightweight hand pieces to
disposable 14.1-oz. (400g)
propane and 1.1-cu. ft.
(.0312-cu. m) oxygen tanks.
You can get both torches in
kits with dual-stage regulators
for use with larger refillable
propane or acetylene tanks or
for use with natural gas.

Hoke
and
Meco
Midget

fuel/oxygen

With a variety of torch tips for

adjusting the flame, these torches
can do just about any jewelrymaking job.
Short of being able to melt more
than 3 oz. (85g) of metal for casting,
these torches are perhaps the most
versatile of all.

The Hoke hand piece will only

include the tips. Youll need to
buy regulators, hoses, and
tanks separately.
The Meco Midget comes in
a kit that includes tips, hoses,
and regulators.
Youll need an oxygen tank
with a regulator and a gas line
hook-up to use these hand
pieces with natural gas.

Recommended
for natural gas
and propane;
considered the
workhorses
of jewelry
manufacturing

Flame control

Meco Midget

The Hokes X-shaped adjustment

knobs are on the side of the
hand piece, allowing the
practiced user to adjust the
oxygen and fuel ratios with the
pinkie and thumb of the left
hand during use.
The Meco Midget hand piece
is smaller and lighter, with its
knobs facing upward.

Gentec Small Torch

Silver Smith torch handle and

standard acetylene tip

ar tjewelr ymag.com

39

 torch anatomy

General-purpose torches

Fuel/Atmospheric Torch System

Fuel
regulator

The torches mentioned below are termed

general purpose, because they have not
been designed to be used for jewelry making.

Valve

Torch
tip

As a beginners first torch, handheld butane

torches offer several advantages. They are
inexpensive, ranging from $35 to $75, and
theyre widely available at hardware and craft
stores as well as at jewelry-tool suppliers. This
style of torch is self-lighting, with a built-in
spark generator, and is easy to refill from butane
canisters that are available for refilling lighters.

Atmospheric
hand piece

Fuel
hose

With no hoses or tanks, a handheld butane

torch is extremely portable. With a limited fuel
capacity, there is little possibility of explosion
due to leakage. The flame from this style of
torch can get quite hot, offering enough output
to solder small projects or melt small ingots.

Acetylene
fuel tank

If you decide to start with a handheld butane

torch, choose a model that allows you to adjust
the flame by adjusting both the air intake and
the fuel. Opt for a model with a larger refill
capacity bearing in mind that the large handle
on a 30g (1.06-oz.)-capacity torch may be
awkward for a smaller hand. The experts agree
that the Blazer, with a 30g (1.06-oz.) capacity,
is the standout among the handheld butane
torches, because it has the greatest flame
adjustment and highest-quality construction.

Welding
glasses

Striker
Valve key

The drawbacks to handheld butane torches are

that you will have to refill them every 90 minutes
of continuous use. To avoid running out of fuel
at an awkward moment, youll want to refill the
torch before you do any long soldering operations. Also, soldering on projects heavier than
small pieces of 18-gauge (1.0mm) wire or sheet
stock will be out of range for this torch.

Fuel/Oxygen Torch System

Torch tip

Torch
hand
piece

Child-safety controls on some models are

excessive and difficult to operate, wasting time
and fuel. Models that are designed for culinary
use have limited flame adjustment, making them
fairly useless for jewelry.

Oxygen
regulator

Fuel
regulator

Oxygen
flashback
arrestor

Fuel
flashback
arrestor

Red
fuel hose
Oxygen
tank

Green
oxygen
hose
Fuel
tank
40

Ar t Jewelr y

September 2007

Another tempting low-cost torch is the simple

plumbers torch that attaches to a 14.1-oz.
(400g) disposable propane tank without the
need for a regulator. While it has a hose, a larger
fuel capacity, and an easy-to-hold pencil-style
hand piece, it produces a lower-heat flame that
cannot be adjusted for fine jewelry work.
As a final caveat: do not be tempted by the very
small, pencil-style butane torches. Their flame
and fuel reservoir are too tiny to be of any real
use. Handheld butane torches, while avoiding
the problem of fuel handling and storage, cant
provide the range of flame adjustment and
prolonged uninterrupted use you need from a
jewelry-making torch.

Buyers Guide Torches

play it safe
Using a torch is literally playing with fire. Using a torch responsibly means knowing what
safety precautions you can take to prevent dangerous occurrences and taking them.
Flame aim: One of the most basic rules is
the most obvious: pay attention to where you
point the flame. Any time the torch is lit and
you are not actually heating metal, it should
be aimed parallel to the ground and toward
the back of the bench. This is an important
safety habit to establish.
Fireproof surfaces: The hardwood top of
a typical jewelers bench should not easily
catch fire; it is still a good idea to protect it.
There are many products made for this
purpose, but an inexpensive scrap of steel or
cement board will work. The area under your
feet deserves thought as well. Cement is
ideal, but if you work in an area with another
type of floor covering, a sheet of plywood
will protect it. Keep paper towels, sketchbooks, and other flammable materials away
from your soldering station.
Ventilation: Soldering and other jewelrymaking procedures can produce fumes and
dusts that are hazardous to inhale. The ideal
situation is one in which air is drawn away
from your face. An intake vent that sits
across or above the bench and is vented
outside is more effective than just an open
window. Stove vents can be adapted to move
the air away from your face. To test an air
vent, light a candle and blow it out, then
watch the smoke. If the smoke heads straight
out the vent, youre okay.
Flashback arrestors: These are small,
cylindrical devices that are inserted in the fuel
and oxygen hose lines (see Torch Anatomy,
opposite), to prevent a flame from traveling
back down the hose to the tank. They are
considered essential for
welding and are strongly
recommended for all
torches. A fuel and
oxygen pair costs
under $50.

Setting up: Damage to the tanks valve,

which can occur if its knocked over, could
turn the tank into a missile, or worse a
bomb. Oxygen and acetylene tanks are
particularly difficult to keep upright because
they are tall and slender. The traditional
solution is to put a screw eye in a wall or
in the side of your bench, positioning the
screw eye just below the shoulder of the
tank. Then, hook a chain or bungee cord
tightly around each tank to keep it from
being knocked over.
Lighting up: Its dangerous to use a lighter
to ignite a torch, because the lighter may
explode. Use a traditional striker (see Torch
Anatomy,opposite) or get yourself a nice
little gift of a battery-operated igniter for
about $30.
Closing down: Never open the valve of a
fuel or oxygen tank more than a quarter of a
turn, and always keep the key in place on the
valve. This way, you can close the tanks very
quickly in case of an emergency. When youre
closing the tanks, remember the machinists
rhyme: lefty loosey, righty tighty.
A last word: Always
check the connections on
your torch and tanks with
a leak-detection fluid whenever you change the tanks
and once a week as part of
your regular routine.

Leak-detection
fluid

Flashback arrestors

acknowledgements
Thanks to all who provided input and guidance for this
article, including Eve Alfill, Karen Christians, Cynthia Eid,
Chris Ploof, and all the fine folks on the Orchid Forum
(orchid@ganoksin.com).

ar tjewelr ymag.com

41

Make jewelry
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