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Nancy LT Hamilton

Last updated:  10/12/24, 7/31/22, 4/25/22, 10/11/21, 10/10/21, 8/11/21, July 1, 2021, 9/23/17

Things to know about this page

The following information is based on my experiences and research and is for entertainment purposes only.  Your reliance on any of this information is at your own risk!

Safety

I have many pages on different torches scattered throughout my website.  In some instances where the torch is unique or doesn’t often come up in discussion, I have added more detailed information here on this page.  Each type of torch has either information or links to information on that particular type of torch. 

Please read Charles Lewton-Brain’s Ganoksin thread on Gas Handling Guidelines.

Check your local, state, and county regulations regarding the usage of gas cylinders in your home or studio, and also check with your insurance company before investing in any system!

Affiliate Links

Note:  There are affiliate links on this and (probably) most of the pages on my website.  If you haven’t noticed, this site is AD and POPUP FREE!  The affiliate links help to support this site, allowing me to avoid having a zillion of those annoying marketing tools littering the pages.   I receive a very small referral fee if you purchase through my affiliate links.  I am not privy to your personal information – not even your name.  Amazon and PepeTools assign me a code that says:  Nancy generated this sale – that’s it.  So, thank you for supporting this site by purchasing through my links.  I hope it helps you on your jewelry-making journey!  Nancy  (Many times, I link to other sites without receiving remuneration from them.  I feel this information is essential and want to share it with you.  Most vendors do not offer any assistance to content creators – a pretty crappy system, in my opinion!)

What is a Torch?

A torch is a tool for controlling gas and air/oxygen to heat or solder metal. Each gas has a torch specifically designed to work with that gas. Torches can occasionally work with different gases, but you better be sure you’ve got the right torch for the right gas—especially with acetylene!

Torches have interchangeable tips (usually) that can be utilized for different applications and heat.  Small tips produce smaller flames and less heat; larger tips produce larger flames. 

Note:  There is a huge difference in the amount of heat generated by what the gas is mixed with.  Air/gas is a torch that mixes air with the gas in the torch handle.  Oxygen/gas is the stuff that comes from a bottle, tank, canister, or generator.  We humans tend to interchange the meaning of air and oxygen, but in soldering (and a million other things), they ARE NOT THE SAME THING.  This is very important to remember when learning about and using torches.

Gases Used in Jewelry Making

• Acetylene
• Butane
• Gasoline Fumes (used in Africa and other countries – very dangerous).
• Hydrogen
• Mapp Gas Pro
• Natural Gas
• Oxygen
• Propane

* Important Note:  Each gas is subject to particular needs and precautions. You should be safe if you acknowledge all the dangers and safety concerns and follow all precautions. Don’t use bottled gas if you are inebriated, high, or whatever else you want to call it.  Seek advice from experts before you set up a soldering system. Check with your local fire department and/or city or county regulations about storing bottled gasses. If you have a home studio in your garage, outbuilding, or home, ensure that your insurance company will cover any losses due to acetylene, propane, or other bottled gas on your property.  If you rent or live in a shared space like a condominium, check with your homeowner’s association, landlords, or other organization, group, or individual before setting up your soldering system.  

What’s the difference between a gas/air mixture and a gas/oxygen mixture?

Below are a few considerations when deciding whether to use a gas/air or a gas/oxygen soldering setup.

• One factor to consider is the cost.  With a gas/oxygen setup, you will have two tanks to refill, two sets of regulators, and two different hoses.  Also, a gas/oxygen setup usually requires flash arrestors and check valves (backflow preventer or reverse flow valve). When using two cases, these devices prevent the two gases from mixing and moving into the hose, so they are installed at the back of the torch handle before the hose.
  • Having two of everything will cost you more.  A gas/air mixture will require only one of each and will cost considerably less.  You don’t have to worry about using flashback arrestors or check valves.  Using just oxygen or just gas, you do not have to worry about flashbacks.  A check valve will only allow the gas to flow in one direction.
• A gas/air setup produces a less controllable flame.  With a gas/oxygen setup, you have control over whether you are using an oxidizing flame (very little gas, good for soldering platinum), a neutral flame (50/50 mix of O2 and gas, good for general soldering), or a reducing flame (very little oxygen, producing less oxidation).  A gas/air mixture automatically adjusts the gas-to-air ratio, offering you very little control over your flame type.
• Another consideration is space – do you have the room for two tanks?  The tanks must be secured to a sturdy wall or heavy-duty furniture.  Do you have sufficient space for this?  Oxygen tanks are usually much larger (taller) than gas cylinders.  You burn through more oxygen than gas.  With acetylene, the ratio of oxygen to gas is 1.2 of oxygen to 1 of gas.  Propane has higher oxygen requirements and burns at a ratio of 4.3 of oxygen to 1 of gas.  So, if you are using propane, you will need a larger oxygen tank.
• Safety.  This is a big one.  Is it legal or allowable for you to have a gas/oxygen system or a gas/air setup in your home, studio, barn, garage, shed – whatever?  As I’ve said a million times and will say so again, check with your local laws, fire department, city or county, and state requirements.  Don’t forget to check with landlords, home associations, and other relevant entities.
  • If you cannot have a soldering set up in your studio, consider visiting a makerspace like Chimera Art Space or a local school, studio, or workshop for your soldering needs.  Many offer low-priced membership. See my extensive list of places to learn and work on my Jewelry Instruction and Information page.

  What’s happening inside your dual gas torch handle?

What is the safest torch and/or soldering setup?

 

• If you are looking for the safest soldering setup, IMHO, try a small butane and/or an Iwatani—a large, canister-based butane system. 
• Using an oxygen generator and a one-pound propane tank (see my video below).
• Yet another option is to add a natural gas line (you’ll probably also need a concentrator as the pressure in a home line is very low) or even a propane line to your studio. Most homes already have natural gas or propane set up for stoves, dryers, water heaters, etc.  If your home is already set up with propane or natural gas, this may be your safest option. Once again, do your homework and get approval (I like everything in writing too!).
• Hydrogen torches, although pricey are pretty danged safe too.  Zero omissions.  No oxidation or moisture.  See this video at Rio Grande:  Touring the Benefits of the Hydrogen Torch.

These options MAY pass muster with your insurance company/fire department/homeowners association/landlord/any other agency, department, etc.  Always ensure you have all required permissions and follow all laws, regulations, fire codes, and safety requirements for your chosen system.

See my new video on using an oxygen concentrator.

The Gases and Torches

Acetylene/Air

See related videos and web pages at the bottom of this post for my links.

My YouTube Video, How to Set Up a Torch, provides specific information on setting up an acetylene/air tank, regulators, and hoses. (See the embedded video below.)

Acetylene/Air is just what it sounds like.  Ambient air is pulled into the torch and mixed with the gas. The Silver Smith Torch and Goss are just two of many different torches designed for the acetylene/air system.  Special regulators and hoses are also associated with using acetylene gas.  You CAN NOT use acetylene gas with propane/Mapp Pro/Butane/Natural gas regulators, torches, flashback arrestors, hoses, or anything not specially designed for acetylene. 

Acetylene is a volatile gas that requires a special tank to contain it. For more information, please see my page on Acetylene here. That page also has a ton of information on other gases.

  Here’s a video I did for our jewelry studio at Chimera Arts—information on starting and shutting down your acetylene tanks.

My other video is on the Acetylene torch setup.

Acetylene tanks have PRDs (pressure release devices) that release pressure by venting.  Under normal fire circumstances, it shouldn’t explode during a fire.  But releasing jets of flammable gas into a fire scene is not something you want to occur.  Nor do you want any living being nearby.  Think carefully about your insurance, your safety, the safety of others, and your life when choosing a torch system.  See this page from PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) – Safety Effectiveness of PRDS.  It shows what can happen, why there are pressure-release devices, and other information on propane and acetylene.

In the last two years, I’ve switched to an oxygen generator, which I use with a 1# propane canister (the green ones used for camping).  It works great, it’s inexpensive, and it’s safe.  But it is noisy!

Acetylene/Oxygen

The acetylene/oxygen mix creates a very hot flame. There is almost a 1000°C (1764°F) difference between acetylene and air and acetylene and oxygen.   If you need a very hot flame, this is the setup for you (6296°F!).  

When comparing acetylene and propane, acetylene/air (4532°F) is about the same temperature as propane/oxygen (4578.8°F). Many choose acetylene/air because it burns hot, AND you only need one regulator, hose, and tank. 

Note: Acetylene is a dirtier gas than propane or butane. Although I have used it, it is not recommended for glasswork or torch enameling. The gas often dirties the enamel’s backside, but the front looks great. There are other applications where the extra soot from acetylene is unwelcome, but for general soldering, it’s great.

Butane/Air

This is a very inexpensive, relatively safe setup for soldering.  The smaller creme brulee torches are great for small items like earring posts, settings, fine soldering needs, balling up wire, etc. But, a larger torch, like the Iwatani (below), might be necessary for large jobs.  There’s no reason not to have two torches on hand!  (Well, lack of funds is a pretty good reason).

You must store butane inside.  The safe temperature range for storage is between 32°F and 125°F.  If left in the sun or frozen, the canisters can explode.  Don’t store butane in your vehicle.

 

  I’ve found that the heat generated by a larger butane/air system is sufficient for most soldering jobs (3578°F).  You can anneal metal, solder, ball up wire, sweat solder, join ring shanks, etc.  If you practice, you might be able to use it for all of your soldering needs.  Because of the large flame, some dislike using the larger torch for small soldering jobs, such as making settings or other delicate work.  As I said earlier, I have two sizes on hand!

While shopping, make sure that the torch you purchase is not a butane soldering iron/heat gun.  That type uses the flame to heat metal tips and is only for soft soldering, not the hard (silver soldering) that jewelers do.  Although, some setups allow you to switch between tips.  Just be sure that there is a setting that uses just the flame. 

The smaller butane torches require that you refill them with a pressured butane refiller.  I refill mine constantly, one reason I like the larger canister type for most soldering needs (see below).

The larger torch uses a canister.  You can purchase these at Asian markets and restaurant supply stores, among other sources, in California and elsewhere (they cannot be shipped in CA).  Other states can order online.  Amazon carries them.  I usually get a case as the store I purchase them from is often out. 

The torch head twists and locks onto the special canister head.  Be careful, though; it likes to unlock itself often.  I check that the canister is locked to the torch head often.   

Here’s a video from Blazer on how to fill their torch with butane.

• Here’s a good article on Butane tanks from Globo Surf.
• Another article on butane discusses how to use and store butane and safety.  This article is from Hardi Man from Illinois.

Mapp Pro

Okay, here are the things I learned about Mapp gas today! So much. I guess you can’t weld/solder steel with Mapp gas, as it has too much hydrogen and creates weak welds. Who knew? But you also can’t buy regular Mapp Gas anymore. (See below.)

Mapp gas is no longer sold. It’s now called Mapp Gas Pro. Mapp Gas Pro can be used to solder steel as it is now composed of propylene (and a tiny bit of propane), which doesn’t contain the same amounts of hydrogen that Mapp Gas (the old stuff) did. 

Mapp gas can be used alone or in combination with oxygen.

It comes in one-pound tanks. 

The Linde Group sells Mapp Gas, and the name is trademarked. 

Mapp gas burns hotter than propane. For comparison, Mapp Pro has an air/flame temperature of 3730°F (2054°C) and propane at 3596°F (1980°C).  

Mapp Pro is made of propylene (Propene, methyl ethylene, methylene) with up to .05% of propane. 

The old Mapp Gas was composed of methylacetylene-propadiene, propane, iso-butane and butane.

Mapp Pro gas is heavier than air, so it sinks like propane. 

In case of emergency. (From the SDS on Mapp Pro Worthington Industries).  “Do not extinguish fires unless gas flow can be stopped safely; explosive re-ignition may occur. Promptly isolate the scene by removing all persons from the vicinity of the incident. No action shall be taken involving any personal risk or without suitable training. For fires involving this material, do not enter any enclosed or confined fire space without proper protective equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus.”  Read more here.  This is only a partial bit of info.

 

You can use a torch with a hose. Bernzomatic sells one called The Reach Torch that can be used with Mapp Gas Pro or Propane.

Propane

information and warnings on storage 

Drew Hadley, from the New Approach School for Jewelers, during a recent stone setting class that I took, spoke of the dangers of using those white, barbeque-type propane cylinders (20 pounds or 20#) in your studio, home, or a garage attached to your home. He said that they have a bad history of leaking.  I’ve read a few stories that verify this.  Propane is heavier than air, and it sinks.  The gas can build up, and any spark, from turning on a light to your water heater, can set it off.  Acetylene rises and mixes with the air, so it doesn’t seem to concentrate as much as propane.  However, all gases will be concentrated in enclosed spaces like cars or lockers.  

I did a bunch of research on this topic and can’t find any hard and fast rules besides not storing the bigger tanks in your home or structures attached to your home.  Supposedly, there are propane/gas storage rules, but I’ve yet to find specifics. That doesn’t mean that they don’t exist!  Do your research!  I would wager that zero insurance companies would cover fires and/or explosions caused by propane tanks in the home.  I just read this Ganoksin thread that you might find interesting. It’s called Insurance with Flammable Gas in Home Studio.  See below for more storage information.

Leaking tanks? 

Some make it sound like the tanks will leak/explode.  Others have said that it is the exception, not the rule.  Generally, high heat, such as that found in a house fire or a forest fire, can (but not always) cause the pressure inside these tanks to reach pressure levels that can lead to explosions called BLEVEs. What can happen is that a tank containing liquid fuel can begin to boil and expand in the container.  The tanks may explode because they cannot vent fast enough, or the release valve can fail.  Suffice it to say that if tanks have exploded in the past and have exploded enough times that it has been given a name, then I believe it can happen again!  This type of explosion is called a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion).

Wildfire risks. 

If you live in an area prone to wildfires (like me!) or volcanos (like I used to before the volcano ate my house), you should not store any size tanks of gas in your home or attached garage. (Except for butane, which should be stored in the house in a cool, dry place – according to what I have read – check with your local/county/state regulations, insurance company, and fire department first!). These BLEVEs (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosions) can kill firefighters and first responders, not to mention you, your family, and your neighbors. 

Safety information about refilling camping-sized propane cylinders

You cannot refill 1# propane tanks or smaller propane tanks. The walls are too thin for the pressures present while filling. It is, in fact, illegal to refill DOT 39 (camping, 1# canisters).   If you get caught traveling with refilled canisters (DOT 39), you are liable for a $500,000 fine and up to 5 years in prison – if you are lucky.  If you are unlucky, you could be dead or severely burned, as in the Everett, Washington fire and explosion (see the video below).  

Please see this video from the US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for the dangers inherent in refilling.

 

The following is repeated for emphasis:

Traveling with refilled one-pound propane cylinders—not designed for refilling—can result in a $500,000 fine plus five years of prison time. Ensure your cylinders are DOT, legally refillable, and lawfully transportable. Flame King states that theirs are. 

Refillable 1-pound tanks

Flame King has a refillable one-pound propane cylinder, but I’ve gotten mixed messages as Flame King has posted a notice that this product has been recalled.  I emailed them today (4/25/22) and hope to clear this up soon. Update: 7/30/22: I contacted Flame King, and they said: “The recall was a few years ago, so anything currently being sold will be well out of that make period. “   You can get them on Amazon and Flame King’s site.  Also, Flame King has a Refill Training page with seven videos.

Exchange your tanks.

If you want to reduce waste, you can try Little Camper’s exchange program.   Little Camper has an exchange program where one-pound propane canisters are exchanged for new ones.  See their website for more information.  Reducing the number of cylinders in our landfills.

Comparison of oxygen used to propane used

 I read on Miller Welds (the Smith Little Torch’s home) that the oxygen-to-gas ratio was 25/1.  They also stated that the ratio for propane was one propane to 5 oxygen; elsewhere on their site, they noted that the ratio was 1 (O2) to 9 (gas).  Oh well.  

Milt at MF MetalArts shared his video on the ratio of disposable propane tanks to disposable oxygen tanks.  From his testing, he determined that you would use 15 – 30 canisters of O2 for every one-pound propane tank!  (The variance depends on whether you use an oxidizing flame or not).

Disposing of disposable tanks

I found this about bottled gas as hazardous waste in California at the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s site. 

“Households should take their used cylinders to Household Hazardous Waste collection facilities. Compressed gas cylinders that are not empty are not to be disposed of in the trash. Contact the household hazardous waste facility, recycling or disposal facility to determine the requirements for their criteria to accept the cylinders.”

There is a tool for draining gas cylinders to be recycled.  I purchased the tool but haven’t tried it yet. More information is below.

Propane/Oxygen or propane/air

See my video above on using an oxygen concentrator for soldering.

Remember to keep oxygen away from grease or oil. 

This system is very similar to acetylene/O2 or acetylene/air in many ways, but it is also quite different. Gas handling, PSIGS, and types of equipment may vary. With oxygen/O2, you’ll need two regulators:  1 for the propane and the other for oxygen.  If you are using propane alone, you only need a propane regulator. I like having a regulator because I can adjust the PSIG to match my tip size.  The Smith Little Torch has a chart showing tip sizes and their relationships to gas and O2 pressure.  This chart is only applicable to the Smith Little Torch.

Rio Grande’s video on setting up a propane/oxygen torch. 

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If you are going with an oxygen tank, purchase a tank larger than your gas tank. Acetylene uses O2 at a rate of 1 part gas to 25 parts oxygen. If you are using disposable cylinders, you will use 15 to 30 disposable oxygen cylinders for every disposable propane cylinder – depending on whether you use an oxidizing flame. (See MF Metal Arts video above). See Smith’s PDF for more information. 

All your gas and oxygen lines should have flashback arrestors installed, preferably at the torch handle or between the regulator and the hose. Make sure to match the arrestors to your type of soldering system.

 You can get a portable oxygen concentrator from places like Rio Grande and Stuller to get unlimited oxygen without the hassle and costs of regulators. See my video above. However, a flashback arrestor with an oxygen concentrator will not have enough pressure to support a flame. You can use a flashback arrestor with the one-pound propane canister, though.

Propane should never be stored in a home, basement, or attached garage.  See Propane 101 for information on propane storage. Check your local, state, and federal laws.

One way to detect propane leaks is with a propane leak detector.  Be sure the detector is installed near the floor, as propane is heavier than air and, therefore, it sinks. These are often used on boats and with RVs.

Here’s mine at work! When I use compressed air to clean my keyboard, it turns on and begins screeching at me.  It hates compressed air!!!  Propane leak detector

Draining small propane cylinders

I found this video on removing the gas from a 1-pound propane cylinder so that it can (hopefully) be taken to a recycling center.  I have not tried this.  If I followed this advice, I’d open and remove that valve thingy outside and away from any potential flame source.  I’m unsure if you can do it with small oxygen cylinders.  Here’s something similar to the tool the video creator uses to remove the “thingy.” (Schrader Stem Core Removal Tool).  I have not tried this.  I don’t know if it’s safe. 

Hydrogen 

Water Torch.  Yep, it runs on water. It splits H20 molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen comes out of the torch and burns.  It can reach very high temperatures, but the flame size is limited to reduce flashbacks. These types of torches are called HHO systems and, I think, work off of Electrolysis.  For more information, look at the individual torches.  Please don’t ask me to explain this!!! (I haven’t tried this one yet!)

I have used most of the gases and torches on this page, but never a water torch.