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Little Torch for large silver work?

Jewelry Discussion
#1

Hi Everyone, I have a Little Torch set up with disposable propane and
oxygen tanks. I have tips 4, 6 and a melting tip. I’m having
trouble using it on larger silver pieces like cuff bracelets with
bezels. It’s getting very frustrating and I’m about ready to throw
it out the window. My jewelry instructor told me that I would have
a difficult time using it with larger pieces, but I already owned
it, and wanted to make it work. Has anyone else had this problem?
Should I get a different torch on regular refillable propane and
oxygen tanks? Or do I just need to convert my current torch to
refillable tanks? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Wyanne

#2

Should I get a different torch on regular refillable propane and
oxygen tanks? Or do I just need to convert my current torch to
refillable tanks?

I’d suggest that you get a Smith (air/acetylene) Handy Heat torch or
a Prestolite air/acetyline torch with the larger tips. Your other
option, if you want to stick with propane is a regular plumbers
torch head (attached directly to the propane tank), clumsy, but it
works.

#3

Wyanne, Your jewelry instructor was correct,no matter how much you
would wish it otherwise, the Smith is not adequate for big silver
pieces. You could make do with one of those propane torches with
disposable tank that hardware stores carry, but you would not regret
buying a Preso Lite or similar acetyline/air torch. Jerry in Kodiak

#4

How big are we talking about? How big are the things you want to
solder? A friend came over to borrow my torch to solder a sterling
baby spoon together – I have the same torch set up, Little Torch
with disposable tanks – and she just turned up the flame so that it
was really, really long and hot, worked fine.

Bigger tanks won’t change the situation, it’s the tips that control
how big the flame will be. The manufacturers and sellers say you
can’t covert to different regulators, recent posts here say it’s
okay to do.

If you do buy a new torch, don’t throw this one out the window, it’s
still useful.

Elaine Luther
Chicago area, Illinois, USA
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
Studio 925; established 1992
@E_Luther