These water torches are just too little for anything but the
smallest silver work. Gold and platinum are different as they
don't have the same thermal conductivity of the silver therefore
you can spot heat to solder if you need to. There are some larger
units but they are cost prohibitive.
Dear James:
You are unaware of our specific technology or capabilities. When you
say “these water torches,” it simply does not include our Spirflame
[tm]. Your experience with the Hydroflux unit simply has no
relationship to a Spirflame[tm], anymore than driving a bicycle gives
you and understanding of how to operate a tractor trailer. There is
simply no merit in comparison. As an example, the Hydroflux unit has
one or two anodes, the Spirflame [tm] Karat 250 has 22, but could be
fitted with over 100, if needed. A Spirflame [tm] Karat 250 is
currently priced at $3,950.00 This price is underwritten for the
jewelry industry. Single cell units run from about $950.00 to
$2,500.00 The differences are about the same as a top of the line
rolling mill to an economy mill or other equipment. A good number of
jewelers, have felt the differences in our technology were well worth
this price difference. Many of them were previously single cell water
welder owners.
We are also able to produce and easily control, absolutely stable
(no pulsing) flames in much smaller sizes (microscopic) and a MUCH
larger flame than a single cell unit. Spirflames[tm] also produce
completely dry gas, since the anodes are external and act as cooling
fins, not locked inside a container or chamber. We actually provide
bars (rows) of flames for other industries like the semiconductor
mfg. industry. By altering Booster fluids, flame configurations can
easily be altered to easily match flame size, width, shape, and
temperature, except our flame will always be clean and a perfect mix
of two parts to one. We solder, braze, and weld in a number of
industries, like large silverware manufacturers who put together
footed trays with rims or tea services immediately come to mind.
Musical instrument makers (tuba, saxophone, flute, etc.) commonly use
us to solder, braze on these large brass instruments. You can see
photos of this in our
Our multicell technology also gives our units increased reliability,
providing a much longer operational life. It allows us to operate 24
hours/7 days a week, often in harsh environments, in completely
automated applications something regular water welder cannot, for
many reasons achieve. Spirflames[tm] produce enough gas to do larger
pieces (hollowware), and we have customers working in this area. This
greater reliability and much better flame accuracy has caused a
number of “single cell customers” to convert from other water welders
to our Spirflame [tm] gas generator.
Please note, our fully patented (worldwide) multicell cell
technology easily allow us to SAFELY produce multiple volumes of gas
only as needed, in direct comparison to any other unit available on
the market today. We have been working with and developing this
technology for over 36 years, and to be frank Mr. Spirig, and Spirig,
Switzerland currently holds most of the significant patents in this
field. The Spirflame [tm] has a two year warrantee including parts,
labor and service. It is extremely reliable, and it is not too
unusual to see a 20 year old unit still operational. It would be
difficult for a single cell generator to supply gas through 3 or 4
meters of tubing, we canand do routinely deliver gas through 100
meters of tubing. In some Goldsmiths shops the Spirflame [tm] is
installed several floors or rooms away from the torches to save space
near the bench.
A reasonable number of Orchid members are our customers. It should
also be mentioned I have made a series of large silver boxes using a
Spirflame[tm] , a footed sterling cream and sugar set, a group of 18
gauge sterling pictures frames, the largest for diplomas. I have also
reattached single gold granules in granulation work for restoration
purposes. For lack of a better analogy, a Spirflame [tm] is as unlike
a water welder in function, as an ox is a calf.
Best Regards,
Gary
Gary W. Miller
Sr. Technical Advisor
35 Bronson Road
Stratford, CT 06614-3654 U. S. A.
Telephone: 800 499 9933/203 378 5216
Fax: 203 386 1346
E-mail: gwmiller@spirig.net or serve4gwm@aol.com
Web site: www.spirig.com