Jewelry making torches and sodering equipment

Jewelry Discussion
21

I have a little torch & use Acetylene and oxygen

Gerry

22

Mapp gas will work and some use it successfully for making jewelry.
The mapp gas comes in the small containers, which I believe are
disposable. However, you will need to check out whether itis
compatible with the torch you will be using. Alma

23

Gary,

Thanks for your feedback. Customers tell us they use the M-1 Tip the
‘least.’ They often want / need more heat ‘volume’ which our M-2,
M-3, M-4 Tips and Rosebuds provide. For most people the small flames
produced by the M-1 Tip (flame size is adjustable) meets all their
tiny flame needs. We could produce an ‘M-0’ Tip but after extensive
testing decided against offering a Tip we felt few people would
likely benefit from. Our ‘Multi-Port’ Tips are optimized for propane
and natural gas (with oxygen). These fuel gasses require ‘Ported’
Tips to produce efficient burning and stable flames. A ‘hypodermic
needle’ solution to achieve micro size flames with propane and
natural gas is still a single-hole Tip that restricts BTU output and
does nothing to improve flame stability. Needle and jeweled Tips are
correctly used with acetylene and hydrogen, not alternative fuel
gasses. Even the well known company that includes jewel insert Tips
with their mini Torch says the jeweled Tips are not for use with
propane and natural gas. There’s more to Tip design than a a nozzle
with a hole in it.

Alternative fuel gas ‘multi-port’ Tips run somewhat hotter than
restrictive, single-hole Tips. Most important to Tip temperature is
flame size and flame adjustment (reducing to oxidizing), how hard a
flame is being pushed and the length of time a flame has been
burning. These are the criteria of flame physics. Torches allowed to
remain burning at adjusted profile will continue to heat sink. The
safest practice for anyone putting their Torch aside on ‘standby’ is
to turn off the oxygen and turn down the fuel gas leaving only a
small, pilot flame for relight. The best, better, practice is
turning off the Torch between each operation.

Propane / ox flames burn slightly hotter than natural gas / ox. Any
Tip will run hotter with propane than natural gas. Our ‘multi-port’
Tips empower these gasses allowing Torches to preform like they
should. Our extension neck for the Meco Midget and Adapter-neck for
coupling Paige Tips to mini Torches also helps with heat control
when bigger flames are used or longer reaches wanted.

Annealing metal plate or coils of wire quickly and evenly using our
Rosebuds soft, even flames brings real benefits. Jewelry makers and
silversmiths (people define themselves differently) working on
larger pieces or objects with more mass like silver bangle
bracelets, larger gold bracelets and big rings up to small
sculptures often need higher heat-volume flames. Rosebuds can be
ideal in these situations. Melting metal is another area where our
Rosebuds shine. For typical soldering needs our M Tips are the go-to
series. Soldering larger objects like a tea cup or various size
vessels using a Rosebud makes the job easy. Someone who had been
using single-hole Tips with propane or natural gas will find our
‘multi-port’ Tips brings new benefits to their Torch work. More
stable flames, balanced primary to secondary flame (another benefit
with alternative fuel gasses in silver / gold soldering), easy
profile management, smooth flame adjustment, etc.

Our November “Tips & Torches” e-newsletter entitled “Multi-Port” vs.
‘Single-Hole’ Tips provides additional to explain why
different fuel gasses need specific Tip designs. Anyone interested
may contact us to receive a copy.

Paige Tools

24

My only experience with the Little Torch is with acetylene, so I
know they aren’t strictly propane.

Noel

25

The little torch will work on either propane or acetylene. I prefer
propane because it creates no soot. Is not quite as hot as acetylene
but still works great for platinum.

Panama Bay Jewelers

26 
The little torch will work on either propane or acetylene. I
prefer propane because it creates no soot. Is not quite as hot as
acetylene but still works great for platinum.

This is true. I have two, one with oxy/ace and one with oxy/LP.

I’m not 100% on that idea that acetylene is any hotter burning than
LP though.

27

Hi Rebecca

Generally, I notice the main discussion is about acetylene and
propane as the fuel, but wouldn't MAPP gas get hot enough? Is it
not for jewelry making as such, or is it a price issue instead?

Acetylene, Propane and MAPP gas; all three of these work equally
well in a Smith Mini Torch, when used along with oxygen.

While Acetylene and MAPP will burn hotter than propane, all three
gases are very suitable for soldering gold or silver and the hotter
temp does not make a material difference.

In Canada (where I live) a one pound disposable bottle of MAPP gas
costs about twice the price of propane. Propane is also more readily
available than MAPP gas.

I use oxy-propane in my smith mini torch, because I like the
simplicity of the one pound disposable bottles (small, safe, easy to
handle) and they are lower cost than MAPP. Note that acetylene does
not come in a small disposable bottle

Regards
Milt
In Calgary, where it is -34C today, with the wind chill.

28

I have been away for a while and am late to this discussion. I
currently use a Meco on propane and O2 with Paige tips. It is a great
torch for most of what I do, especially with the Paige tips. I also
use a Little Torch (not yet with Paige tips) for those times when I
need a smaller hot flame (earring post and small tabs to set cabs
etc.). Both the Meco and Little Torch share the same cylinders via a
set of Y connections. I also have an EZ Torch for quick in and out
jobs and annealing. The EZ isn’t hot enough to do some of the
soldering that I do. You can see pictures of my torch setups on my
website robmeixner.com. My hope is to move to NG from the street and
O2 using concentrators for both. This will depend on how well my
Christmas sales go.Comments on this plan would be appreciated.
Torches seem to be one of the “hottest” topics on this forum. As a
result, there should also be a lot of good archived on
this subject. Time to get back into my shop. Rob

Rob Meixner

29 
This is true. I have two, one with oxy/ace and one with oxy/LP.
I'm not 100% on that idea that acetylene is any hotter burning than
LP though.
30

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone, for all the comments - it’s
been very helpful! I cherish the education I get from you all.

Cheers!
Becky

Note From Ganoksin Staff:
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