We happened to notice this post and thought a few comments would be helpful.
#1. Our current M series, Multi-Port Tips & MA Rosebuds are Not designed for melting… or glass working, as we note on our www site and in Etsy listings. Paige Tips are built for soldering & annealing. We are coming out with a Tip series that can be used for melting precious metals (not Pt or Pd for the most part). Our Tips are also built only for use with propane / oxy. & natural gas / oxy.
The Rosebud Tip referenced (from Rio) is designed for acetylene & hydrogen… not propane. The person who suggested that Rosebud Tip may have missed the setup mentioned that was being used: propane & oxy.
#2. The Little Torch is much better employed as a soldering / annealing Torch than a ‘casting’ Torch especially with propane or natural gas. It was not designed to meter larger gas volume flows frequently used / needed for casting purposes. Acetylene / oxy is hotter than propane or natural gas although not as clean a flame. Hydrogen / oxy is clean & hot but hydrogen is not available in many locations plus other issues with tanked hydrogen come to play. It’s a wonderful fuel gas for some processes (and metals) but for the most part should only be used by very experienced Torch users in other than commercial HHO or water Torches which some jewelry makers use.
#3. Casting (melts) should also be done fairly quickly. Using the wrong Torch or Tip (very important) or too large a melting crucible or resting the crucible on an inappropriate surface which dissipates too much heat (e.g., heat sinking) all contribute to long, melt times and poor practice. Trying to push a small size Torch past its primary design functions is also poor practice.
Posts sometimes mention gold melting. Does the poster mean 14K yellow or white? Is the white nickel or palladium alloy? Different alloys, different heat requirements. Melting a couple ounces of 14K yellow is quite different from melting a couple ounces of 18K palladium alloy white gold.
We encourage you to call us at Page Tools. We’re glad to assist (206) 527-1515.
I’m sure we can help with sometimes confusing information re: Torches, fuel gasses & related details.