Previously I have been using the orca torch and for melting up to an ounce of silver it works great. However my needs have shifted and for melting I need a larger torch. Preferably a gas/air torch. I have been eyeing the sievert torch, is this appropriate? What torch would you guys reccomend. I would like to pay less than $1000 but if that isn’t possible I understand. Interested in hearing your input.
Argentum Moon
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Don’t apologize, I should have been more specific. I want a torch able to alloy gold and so I feel it should be able to melt copper. Thank you for your input.
Does acetylene contaminate gold or silver? I read that it can contaminate “platinum and some gold alloys” does this apply to all yellow or rose gold alloys or only to certain white golds and of course platinum. I think the prestolite would be a perfect choice but I don’t want to contaminate my gold or silver. Thank you for all the input.
I LOVE reading about folks starting out and buying tools and equipment. I can vicariously re-live my youth and enjoy the excitement of the tool “hunt, kill, and dragging back to the cave” ritual and I don’t have to spend a dime.
A prestolite will work just fine. My sweetie Tim uses a Meco Midget and can melt up to an ounce of platinum with it. I use a very old brass torch.Probably from before I was born.
We use city natural gas and bottled oxygen.
I hate the smell of acetylene. You can’t control the shape and temperature of a flame as well as you can with nat. Gas and oxy.
Like a good hammer or any tool it’s also about how it fits your hand.
Oh yeah. Don’t try to torch melt copper. Trust me on this.
-Jo
If you are melting copper or large amounts of any metal you might look in this direction. I am not suggesting this particular plan but pointing out that there are inexpensive options to some problems to be found. Rob and I talked about this briefly and we agreed that the crucible was the important part and the source of the heat not so much.
Thank you very much! I don’t really plan on melting copper, I am just frustrated with my current torch and feel a torch that can melt copper can melt anything I will ever be needing to melt. Thank you again
I had not thought of this before, but the mp of pure silver is 1763F and that of copper is 1984F. If I were to alloy my own sterling from copper and silver, would I just take the solids up past 1984*F to get it all melted? Or would this cause problems by overheating the silver? royjohn
I haven’t done a ton of melts, but I think you can probably get away with fairly small ones with the larger sized included torch tips. But if you’re wanting to do a lot of melting, or larger weights, you’ll want to get the melting tip that they make for the Little Torch. With that I know you can get at least 80g of silver done… but others will have more experience than I.
Note From Ganoksin Staff:
Looking for a jeweler’s torch for your jewelry projects? We recommend: