The Lapidary Digest has an article online named, “Hot enough for
you?” This is about torches. To quote a piece of advice, “when buying
a torch you should get the hottest torch you can afford.” What if I
told you that you could get a torch that will turn a piece of copper
into a puddle lickety-split, in seconds? What if I told you that you
could get this for $100 for the basic? (Well actually about $102 US,
plus shipping.) The full works comes to about $118 US. This is quite
capable of alloying silver or gold, and what I told you that you
could do this off a disposable propane canister. The kind you buy at
the hardware store. Or you can of course hook it up to whatever you
like. As long as if it is LP (propane or any LP fuels).
There is a torch, The Precision LP Gas Torch, that is more than just
a solution to zoning ordinances, landlords, and insurance companies.
It solves a problem for those who have limits on them on what they
can use in their home. As I do. I wrote to Don Clark of the
International Gem Society about the possibility of pressing
air/propane into service for silver work. These are basically brazing
torches, they will work but there is a drawback. He replied that I
needed to rethink that, that most jewelers use oxygen and propane or
acetylene. That what you need in a torch is high heat and fine
control. This way, you can do in seconds what will take minutes. I
knew there had to be a solution out there somewhere, and I was right.
The very first thing that got my attention was that this torch is
designed for the professional jeweler, and that it is hot enough to
alloy gold or silver. Last night in the Golden Spike Gem and Mineral
Society�s class/shop I was able to get a piece of copper off a
member. I took that and a piece of silver and placed them on a
firebrick. In a few seconds I had completely alloyed them. This will
easily and quickly turn copper into a molten pool. In fact, you can
if you want, alloy bronze or brass and cast them.
In spite of naysayers who think that a propane torch can not
possibly get that hot, this is not really so surprising. The
I got from Bernzomatic lists the temperature of propane
burned in air as 3450F. The only thing that keeps this from not being
close to this in a torch, is design. The business end of this, the
tip, is radically different than the swirl tip of acetylene torches
that will burn propane by the addition of different tips.
This torch is small and fits the hand well; you can certainly do
just about anything with this. Its range is from casting, and
alloying, to fine detail work, and all this on propane. This is a
well thought out package. These torches are widely sold to colleges
and trade schools in Germany and Australia, and have proven
themselves to be reliable and robust in the hands of inexperienced
students. Let�s face it, many of these are not good on equipment, as
they didn�t pay for it out of pocket. This torch is made by Rudhard;
a respected name, and it of course has the well know quality German
workmanship products like this are known for and expected of. The
high-pressure hose is two meters; this is almost six and a half feet
long. This torch will last you for years without a problem, with any
kind of sane care of it.
I should also point out that I am operating this torch off of a
throwaway propane can, the kind you buy at the hardware store. As
long as you get a regulator that goes o-60 PSI you will have more
than enough pressure to operate. In fact with the largest tip I have
no reason to open this up full throttle. This was a concern. The
instructions say to set the regulator between 400 KPa and 600KPa. At
60 PSI this is about 414 KPa and this has proven to be far more than
enough. I can think of no reason, or use, of needing to turn this on
full throttle, despite earlier concerns. I, like many others, am
limited to one pound of gas where I live. This means the throwaway
propane can. Without going into detail this is far more widespread
than many think.
An interesting note is that this comes with an “in-built regulator
for possible use on small camping gas bottle without extra
regulator.” Many of you out there may consider hooking this up to a
five-pound propane tank. In Australia they hook them up to the 2kg
tank. I am not certain but I think they are actually the same. I am
certain this is what the C fitting that shipped with it is for. If
this is a plan, you can go down to a RV place and get an on and off
valve, and away you go. That C fitting should work; I think that is
standard on that.
As for contact or for anyone who may be curious you can
see this and get more at
http://www.apecs.com.au/guild/lpgas.htm or simply type precision LP
gas torch into the google search engine. These are the people to
contact if you want this torch. Moreover, as a point you should
consider is, few manufactures are interested in dealing directly
with the public. As this requires additional people, such as
accountants to deal with the paper work etc. This fact may be of
importance to you. Unless, that is you enjoy wasting your time. So
you know now what to do, but please no nonsense. I need to thank the
Martin and Dorte Planert for the help they have given me; this was
unselfish and timely. Again, I can not say enough about this product.
Only that if a sale is made it will not put as much as a penny in my
pocket. Please read the following carefully. This should answer any
questions you may have.
“Dear Eric, Thanks for your e-mails. We are worldwide agents and
contact persons for any clients interested in the torches, as the
German manufacturer does not speak English. We can arrange direct
supply through the manufacturer for American dealers. quote
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