I am looking for a Meco Midget Torch. I’ve been looking everywhere I could find, and the only one I’ve so far found is a used one on ebay. I would prefer a new one, but if I have to settle for used then I will.
Michael
Unless you have already tried and they are out of stock, here are three places to get started looking…Rob
TM Technology
Stuller
Otto Frei
Paige Tools
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Thanks Rob. I had found TM; I’m having some difficulties in registering but ultimately I hope that won’t be a problem. I had also found Paige, and their assortment of tips is one of the things that has–for now at least–inclined me toward the Midget. Otto Frei is out of stock. I see Stuller has them in stock.
When you look at TM Technolgy, also look at their light weight hose set and tip extenders. I have both and am glad that I do. You should have no trouble finding a non-adjustable propane regulator for 1 lb. cylinders. Reconditioned O2 concentrators are hard to find. I am lucky to live 15 miles away from a small company that sells and reconditions them for large medical supply places. You can find all the fittings that you will need at a local welding shop. I use surgical hose to connect my concentrator to the first fitting on my setup. You can see pictures of it on my website at: https://www.robmeixner.com/shop-shots
Good luck…Rob
I just re-read your last comment. I don’t know what size work you plan on doing, but I also run a very old Little Torch in parallel with my Meco. I use it a lot more now that I have Paige tips on it. A Little Torch is a lot less expensive than a Meco and easier to find. I use the Meco to solder large bracelets and for casting and the Little Torch for smaller pieces, especially earrings and pendants…Rob
Shazam, Rob! That is an absolute killer of a shop. I love your designs as they are practical and elegant. I especially like your bracelet at DSC05998. I think I have finally settled on a torch outfit, and I can’t thank you enough for leading me toward it and filling in the details.
Keep in touch and let us know what you settle on. 5998 is a wide brass roll print using a plate from Kevin Potter…Rob
Are you sure they’re out of stock at Otto Frei? Their website says they’re in stock. Have you called them? It’s usually better to call and speak with a live person, when there’s issues.
Another alternative is to get the torch body and the tips separately.
I will say my gripe with the Mecco Midget is that traditionally it uses thick, stiff, gas welding hoses. I’ve found the torch to be uncomfortable to use. It looks like more flexible hoses are now available to use with the Mecco Midget. That could be a huge improvement!
Jeff
It was for me. When I first bought my Meco I was using heavy walled stiff welding hoses, big regulators and tanks of gas. The torch looked silly on the end of all of that heavy apparatus. I bought the type T light weight hose from TM Technologies and that completely changed the experience. I got even better when I went to an O2 concentrator and 1 lb. camp stove cylinders. As a comment, the Little Torch comes with a light weight hose. My Little Torch is probably 40 years old and has never been reconditioned…Rob
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There was a thread yesterday about bench pins. There’s a huge range of individual opinions of what works for folks with bench pins. The same is true for torches. The Little Torch and the EZ torch are my favorites, but I know a number of folks who hate the Little Torch and love the Mecco Midget. But knowing that there is a more flexible hose for the Mecco Midget might encourage me to give it a try again. We have one floating around somewhere stored in a box at work.
Thanks Rob!!
Jeff
My work ran toward heavy, such as bracelets, buckles, and bolos. Of course I did make lighter pieces, but I only ever used one torch, namely my trusty old Prestolite. I watched some of my non-Indian friends and associates use a small, intense oxy/acetylene flame, and while I most assuredly saw its benefits, I never felt the need enough to obtain one. Now, of course, due to my circumstances, namely putting together a studio in an apartment, oxy/propane with an oxygen concentrator, seems to be my only workable option. After looking around lately, going back to my Prestolite, or its modern Goss incarnation, seems that it would be like using a gasoline blowtorch.
Michael
Hi Jeff:
As God is my witness, when I last checked the Otto Frei website a few days ago, they did not have the Meco torch. Now they do. Thanks a lot for the updated information.
Michael
I light up my Presto-Lite once in a while just to remember what it was like. I keep it in a shed attached to a B tank…Rob
That’s funny, Rob. I tend to be quite conservative, in that if something works, I am slow to change it. Accordingly, if I still had my tools, which unfortunately were lost, then, knowing me, I would happily return to my trusty Prestolite. However, having been actively researching what torch would be suitable in my new accommodations, I must say that I am excited at the prospect of learning to solder all over again in a most unfamiliar fashion. Having never used an oxy/anything torch before, I don’t quite know what to expect other than a few failures, but that’s how we learn.
They are very different. The Presto-Lite has a big hot bushy flame that, in the right hands, can do a lot of good work. I did always find it hard to solder little jump rings on to small earrings with it. Then again, I almost never changed the tip as I was just too lazy to do it. The same is true for the Meco. If I need a smaller, finer flame, I switch to the Little Torch. If you are going with Paige tips, remember that, with an adapter, you can use them on a Little Torch as well as Meco as long as you are using propane. They don’t make acetylene tips. I even have an adapter for my old Hoke torch. Before you buy from Paige, you might give Rodger a call there and explain to him what you are doing. He might be able to give you some good advice. I always say that there is rarely only one way to do what we do. This is true for torches. Dad started with a gasoline blowtorch as that was all he had. He eventually went to a Presto-Lite and then a Little Torch. I have his old Little Torch and use it every day. He tried a water torch and quickly decided that he had wasted his money. He could never keep it going. Good luck…Rob
Whether on account of laziness, cussedness, or simply not knowing any better, I never changed tips on my Presto-Lite. I always used a big, noisy flame. I used it for everything from melting a few ounces of silver for casting, to soldering on earposts. Mind you, I’m not for a second extolling my virtues as a silversmith. I simply didn’t think anything of it as it was just how I learned to work. At the moment I am looking forward to seeing how much of what I once knew will transfer directly to what I am about to do.
Okay great! I just got home. I texted Wyatt Frei at Otto Frei this afternoon to ask about the Mecco. Wyatt just texted back that they have two in stock. Do you want me to ask Wyatt to hold one for you or are you set? I’m pretty sure Wyatt will hold one for 24 hours for you if I ask him.
Jeff
I know that I said that I love the Little Torch and the EZ Torch, and that’s what I use in my home studio these days. At the school that I teach at though and most of the jewelry schools in the USA that I’ve been to, use the Air/Acetylene Smith or Prestolite torch. I think it’s a great torch to learn on and is excellent for general silversmithing. I actually own a Prestolite and a Smith, but I don’t have any acetylene at home anymore so I never use them.
Hi Jeff:
Aw man. Thank you so much, but I’m not set to get it at the moment. I really do appreciate your effort. Right now, compulsively methodical as I am, I’m dealing with things that attach to my shiny new Durstan Superior workbench such as lighting, a flexshaft hanger, and so on. Again, thank you for the favor.
Michael
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Okay, cool! Have fun with the new bench!!
Just to add more choices to your probably already way too many options. Wyatt said that Mecco got hit by supply chain issues, so that’s why there’s not too many floating around, which you discovered. That’s also helped them become expensive.
Wyatt said that Otto Frei’s number one torch right now is the Swiss Torch.
I’ve tested the Swiss Torch, but have never used one extensively, so I can’t give a long term recommendation. It does seem to be a high quality torch that can solder fine objects to melt metal for casting.
Otto Frei is pretty liberal with that 30 day return policy that I’ve mentioned most jewelry tool companies have these days if you want to try a torch to verify that it works for you.
Jeff
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