As I have mentioned elsewhere, I was a silversmith for twenty some-odd years, left off for thirty or so years, retired, and am now returning to making jewelry. I always used a Prestolite air/acetylene torch, but using one in my budding apartment studio would violate provisions of the fire code, my insurance, and my lease, so that’s out. A water torch has seemed like a near-perfect solution, but in the course of learning all I can about it, I see that it is used only for small pieces. I have mobility issues which make renting studio space of any sort impractical, and I have to say that the prospect of being limited to small pieces takes much of the wind out of my sails.
Much of what I’ve found so far dates from as far back as twenty years, so in the fading hope that advancements of some sort have taken place which broaden the work these torches can perform, I am seeking recommendations–if there are any–for a solution to my problem. I will appreciate any advice I can get.
Look at the possibility of using small 1 lb. camp stove cylinders or a large butane torch. People cook inside with these, so it could be argued that you could use them to make jewelry. My dad had a water torch years ago that he just could never get to work. There have been posts on this board about them from time to time. You might also look into a natural gas booster https://www.gas-tec.com. This is what I am told jewelers have to use in NYC…Good luck…Rob
Thanks for the response. My plan has actually been to try the Blazer GB2001 butane torch before plunking down the bucks for a water torch. I’ve read more about it being up to soldering larger pieces than I have about the water torch–though how large I don’t know–using fire bricks to reflect and concentrate its heat. Unfortunately the natural gas booster won’t work as my apartment is all electric.
I have a Blazer GT2000 and it is a great little torch. I use it often to anneal smaller pieces and have soldered a number of earrings with it. It doesn’t have enough heat to solder my large 10 - 8 gauge wire bracelets, so it does have size limitations…Rob
People made things out of silver for thousands of years before gas-powered torches were invented. Perhaps you could explore what’s possible with a small electric kiln. Granulation, for instance, works better with a kiln than a torch, as does precious metal clay.
That’s an interesting idea. As far as I know, silversmiths prior to the advent of the gasoline blowtorch soldered using charcoal. I’ve never used a kiln for anything besides a burnout oven I used for centrifugal casting before I abandoned it in favor of tufa stone casting, which a kiln would allow me to do. I still have quite a few ideas kicking around my head from thirty years ago. When I think of granulation I think of the impossibly fine granulation I saw on some jewelry in the King Tut exhibit years ago; I have never thought about doing any myself, but I can see how it could open up a wealth of design possibilities. I’ve know less than nothing about precious metal clay as it came along well-after I had stopped making jewelry. Now I will have to look into it.
Thank you for the information. I live in California, where the sale of disposable propane bottles will be unlawful as of 2028, though that’s not much of a big deal now in 2023. I’m pretty sure that propane would nullify our renters’ insurance, and I would prefer not to draw any attention to myself by inquiring of property management what the policy is about making jewelry in my apartment.
As I mentioned earlier, my initial intention is to pick up a butane torch before I make any definite decision. The Bernzomatic Firepoint Creator looks good, but again, I’m still sort of wrestling a couple demons in regard to propane. Also, and it’s not a deal-breaker, but I hold my torch in my left hand and would much prefer it had its control knob on the left. That’s one thing I like about the Blazer GB2001 butane torch, which unfortunately appears to be the only kind of torch I know of so far that I would not feel obliged to hide from management. Still looking.
Thanks Julie. I had read the applicable section of the California Fire Code–apparently on an unreliable website–and came away with the impression that it had passed into law. Given the current green agenda of government, I accepted it and didn’t read further. And I’m a lawyer, admittedly retired, but a lawyer nonetheless.
also…interesting…re the original proposed bill…i read (but neglected to save!) an article that described the taller, skinnier disposable 14 oz propane tanks, as falling outside the definition of “disposable propane cylinder”…in that the height to width ratio is outside of the definition…not sure if this is true…if i can find the article i will post it here…
Hahaha. The version I saw–and it’s on me that I didn’t catch it–started with 42395.1 (a) as you posted above. I have to look into this to find out the reason for the exception and if it might have any effect on whether I can get away with using a propane torch in my apartment. Thanks for posting it.
Sorry for the double post, but the first post was incomplete. After doing some reading, the proposed ban was intended to address the apparently widespread litter of disposable propane tanks in camping areas, and was expressly limited to sale and offering for sale. Possession was not affected. Since I have been unable to find any mention of water torches being useful for anything other than small pieces, it appears that a propane torch has become my only workable solution.
So I now am looking for the right torch, as the only torch I have ever used, like every other Indian silversmith I have ever known, was a Prestolite torch with a pretty large flame. Like all the others, I hold it in my left hand after changing the flame adjustment knob to the left, while in my right hand I hold wire solder. The placement of the knob is therefore important to me. I haven’t found it yet, but I have only begun looking.
Bernzomatic makes some interesting torches, but I have no experience with them. Look also at an EZ Torch. It is a propane and air torch with a big flame like the Presto-Lite. I used a presto-Lite for 35 years. The EZ Torch isn’t as hot as the acetylene Presto-Lite and I have never been able to make heavy bracelets with it, but it is a great torch for annealing large pieces and soldering smaller pieces like filigree. As several of us have suggested, look at a Meco or Little Torch on 1 lb. camp stove propane cylinders (shorter fatter ones) and an O2 concentrator. Finally, you may be able to figure out a way to use an electric kiln. Jewelry made in a hot fire for thousands of years. Good luck and keep us posted…Rob
Thanks so much for letting me know about this possible propane camping tank ban in California. I lived my whole life in CA until I moved to the East Coast when I was 50 about 15 years ago. My plan has always been to move back when I retire from my current job. I’ve got a oxy/propane Little Torch and a Orca/EZ torch. Both torches are fueled by those little camping propane tanks. I sure would hate to have to rethink my torch set up again!
I appreciate your input. I’m following all the suggestions I have gotten. This whole thing started when my wife said she would really like to have a piece of my jewelry. She knew I no longer have any tools, and I said that I would love to and that I supposed I could make one on my workbench where I refinish Japanese knives if I had the tools, but that it would be expensive to get even a bare minimum of equipment. She said no, that would be unacceptable, and, after we did some looking, she insisted that I start by getting a Durston Superior Jewelers Workbench (it arrived Friday and is wonderful.) So I drew her a design of a pendant, which would be a bit heavy. She loved it, and I started looking for a Prestolite acetylene torch.
I quickly came to my senses and realized that that would not do in an apartment, hence my questions here. My point in telling all of this is simply to say that as far as I’m concerned, I am obliged to make my accustomed heavy jewelry. The initial small project has now started looking more and more like a production studio, which suits me perfectly, so as far as I’m concerned, I have no choice but to get a torch that is up to the job. So my search continues, and I’ll be happy to keep you posted.
You are most welcome. I had only seen the Little Torch in an oxy/acetylene configuration. I didn’t know that it was also available in propane. Thanks a lot for the info. Do you use an oxy tank or an oxy concentrator, which I have yet to learn anything about. I think I’m on the right track now.
