Note: Nancy L. T. Hamilton and any affiliates are NOT responsible for any injury, damage or health issues resulting from or even remotely related to these posts! You understand that you and only you are responsible for your decisions and actions! Take care and USE COMMON SENSE when working with any material or following any procedure that is even slightly a health risk!!!!!!!!!
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Contents
Things to know about this page
I have many pages on different torches, scattered throughout my website. In instances, where the torch is unique or doesn’t come up in discussion very often, 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. See the Related Video and Web Page links section, above, too.
What is a Torch?
A torch is simply (or not) a tool for controlling gas and air, to heat or solder metal. There are many different types of torches that employ, equally as many, gasses. Torches have interchangeable tips (usually) that can be utilized for different applications and heat. Small tips produce, obviously, smaller flames and less heat, larger tips, produce larger flames. The type of torch you use depends on the type of gas you will be using.
Note: There is a huge difference in the amount of heat generated by what the gas is mixed with. Air, one element that is mixed with gas, is the ambient air surrounding you and your torch. Oxygen, is the stuff that comes in a bottle, tank or generator. We humans have a tendency 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
The gases generally used for jewelry soldering are:
- Acetylene
- Butane
- Gasoline Fumes (used in Africa and other countries – very dangerous).
- Hydrogen
- Mapp Gas
- Natural Gas
- Propane
Types of Torches Used for Jewelry Making
Updated: 9/23.17
Acetylene Air
Much about the acetylene/air system has already been covered in numerous post on this site. See: Related Videos and Web Pages, above, for my links.
Specific information for this type of torch setup can be seen in my YouTube Video: How to Set Up A Torch for instructions on setting up an acetylene/air tank, regulators and hoses. See how you check for links and the do’s and don’ts of this type of system.
More information can be found on the acetylene/air torch on the following pages:
- Q&A Torch/Gas Questions. A lot of information on this type of torch.
- Acetylene, Propane, Mapp and Oxygen Gasses.
Acetylene Oxygen
The acetylene/oxygen mix creates a very hot flame. Compare temperatures between the gas/air mix with the gas/02 mix for acetylene: Gas/02 = 6,296°F/3480°C. Gas/air – 4532°F/2500°C. Big difference. If you need a very hot flame, this is the setup for you.
Generally though, jewelers opt for a propane/02 system if they are going to introduce the oxygen component.
Acetylene is a much hotter gas than propane so, it makes a good choice when mixing with air alone. But, when you introduce oxygen, the choice switches to the, much cleaner burning gas, propane.
Propane and oxygen burn at 4578.8°F/2526°C. But, when acetylene is mixed with air, it burns at 4532°F/2500°C, while propane burns 960° cooler. (propane/02 = 3572°F/1967°C). This, 960°F/533°C, while seeming to be not such a big deal, actually is! The difference is substantial when soldering. The 1717.2°F difference between acetylene/02 and propane/02 doesn’t really matter because, anything hotter than the 4578.8°F/2526°C of propane/02 is excessive heat. 99.9% of soldering jobs don’t need more heat than the propane/02 mix provides. There may be instances, like when soldering large vessels, where the acetylene/02 mix is required. Personally, I’ve yet to find a need for a torch that hot.
Propane/Mapp Air
Nothing here yet!
Propane/Mapp Oxygen
See: Q&A: Torch/Gas for specific information on my recommended propane/02 systems, Here!
Water Torches
Water Torch. Yep, runs on water. It splits H20 molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is what comes out of the torch and burns. It can reach very high temperatures but, the flame size is limited to reduce flashback. These types of torches are called HHO systems and I think, work off of Electrolysis. Please don’t ask me to explain this!!!
(The Lil Water Torch). There is also the Lil Water Torch which includes torch tips, flashback arrestor, etc.. Here’s a video on the torch by the creator, JDC Products. Although, I have heard some negative comments regarding the company not shipping? There was also a problem with a refund. So, beware and speak with the company before purchasing.
(Hydroflux Welder) Otto Frei ($1,500) carries the HydroFlux Welder as does Gesswein ($1,250) and Rio Grande ($1,275.00) and other suppliers. This torch is great for repair work but, is not hot enough for casting or large scale work though. Read more about this torch at Otto Frei. Here’s a link to the MSDS for the electrolyte solution used. Rio has information on use and maintenance of this product under the “more info” tab at their link.
I emailed JDC Products with some questions. Follows, are their answers to them (my questions are in italics with a bullet):
- what is the composition of the electrolyte? Do you have an MSDS on this product? Where would one purchase this electrolyte?
- Do you have to add it often? How long does it last?
- What does the electrolyte do? Something about splitting the H2O or is that the electrical current.
- So, I need to buy a computer power supply thingy that has some sort of converter? I read it should be at least 250 watts. What is the wattage range then? What is too many watts? Can the amps be adjusted?
I would recommend you use or purchase a 12-14 volt 250-500 watt variable power supply. The voltage adjust dial will also adjust the amps. The higher the voltage and current the more gas you will produce, which translates to a larger more intense flame. We can also include a high quality variable power supply with the unit for an additional $250. The supply has built in safety mechanisms and meters. Once you receive the kit the only thing you need to do is add the distilled water and that’s it. The power supply plugs into any standard ac outlet and also has a 1 year manufacturers warranty. If you order a system and would like me to include a power supply let me know and I will build you an additional invoice for the $250 and include it with your torch unit.
- Could I send too much voltage into the machine and is there a way to tell? What would happen if it was exceeded (10 – 14 volts, I think you said)? I am not an electrical genius. Actually, I’d be considered mentally challenged in this area – I can put in a chandelier and understand that there is a pos., neg. and ground and that’s it! I don’t understand amps, watts, and volts – obviously, I need to do some homework! I just need to know how not to blow up the machine and not kill myself.
- What are the “washer dry cells” for, what do they do? Do you need to replace them?
- Is there maintenance required? What does that entail? Replacing the cotton, water and electrolyte I would guess
Yes, about every 3-6 months its recommended you flush the system with clean distilled or tap water to remove any sediment or corrosion developed from the system during use. The safety and filtration bubbler will need to be replaced with clean water and cotton filters as well.
- Do your other torch tips allow for a larger flame?
- Any ways to lower the torch temp? Like an adjuster knob on the torch handle?
Mouth Blow Pipe – aka: French Torches
Torch image from G&A Warburtons in New Zealand.
The mouth blowpipe employs the breath of the person working the torch and a non-pressurized gas like from an oil lamp or alcohol lamps. Historically, mouth pipes were the first torches used in metalworking and employed a hollow reed. They are similar to bellows soldering where the air is forced into the gas, making it hotter. Bellows soldering is still used today, as is the French torch.
Mark Burgess has a YouTube video on this torch.
Here’s some information at Ganoksin by Collette.
For Further Research
- Nini Graci: Hot Enough for You – What Kind of Torch Do You Need?, at Ganoksin from Lapidary Journal.
- Oppi Untracht: Jewelry: Concepts and Technologies, Pages 410-412, The Mouth Blow Pipe.
- The Studio: Rio Grande’s Blog. Rio Grande’s Soldering Video Series: How to Choose the Right Soldering Torch for Jewelry Making.
- “Butane Hand Torch Troubleshooting“. Learn what to do when things go wrong with your Butane Torch.
Related Videos
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- How to Set Up a Torch – have a torch, need to set it up? Here’s how.
- Soldering 101, part one and Soldering 101, part two
- All About Solder – You need to understand what you are working with!
- Flat Square Edges on Metal – Important techniques for creating square edges like on ring shanks, tubing, settings, etc. – pretty much any two pieces that you want to solder together!
- Getting Ready to Solder – Important steps before you solder.
- Identify Wire Solder – Mark your solder before confusion reigns!
- Jewelry Studio Safety – Extremely important information that every jeweler should know! Don’t risk your life or your health! Know the dangers of metal dust? If not, don’t sand anything – yet!
- Creating Consistently Sized Spheres – how do you make perfectly round spheres? You might need to know!
- How to Anneal Silver Sheet – an important skill to have otherwise, you can damage your metal and work twice as hard!
- Annealing Wire – Want broken wire? How about the melted wire? Need your wire soft and bendable? These tips will help you to avoid these problems and work with ease!
- DIY Fume Extractor for the Studio or Shop – One of the BIG ONES for studio safety. Learn to make your own!
- How to Make a Bezel and Set a Cabochon Part One – Want to solder thin material too thick? Want to set a stone or two? Learn how to create and solder bezels.
- How to Make a Bezel and Set a Cabochon Part Two – Ditto from above.
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Soldering Jewelry: How to solder settings, bails, and wire. – We solder dissimilar shapes and sizes of metal together, all the time. Want to stop melting your settings or bails? Can you solder wire without melting it?
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Soldering Jewelry – Sweat, Flush, or Applique Soldering – How to solder two pieces of metal on top of each other. Learn tricks for a successful joining of dissimilar sizes and how to apply solder.
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My YouTube Soldering Playlist – A list of all my soldering videos on YouTube.
Related Web Pages
- About Solder – Learn all about the material you use.
- Acetylene, Torch, Tanks, Safety – A huge page with so much more than info on Acetylene! Learn all about torches, soldering and how to protect yourself!
- Charts – Soldering related charts. Includes things like: annealing temps, compressed gas valve sizes, what temperature does your gas burn at, what are the melting points of your metal. Also, there are wire gauge charts, a millimeter to fractions and inches charts, drill bits to wire gauge charts. Lots of information!
- Cleaning Metal – nice to know if you plan on soldering anything!
- On Pickle, Acid, Crock Pots, and Baking Soda – How to remove the schmutz left from soldering, how to make your own pickle, how to use pickle and how to neutralize pickle. Tons of info!
- Oxidation, Flux, and Fire scale – Why does oxidation occur? Why do you keep getting fire scale, how do you get rid of it? Learn the whys of what is happening when you solder and the solutions.
- The 4 Steps for Successful Soldering – The 4 steps will help you to achieve soldering success!
- Identifying Wire Solder – How to mark your solder so that you always know what type it is.
- Jewelry Tools – Harbor Freight – Cheap tools for the studio!
- Miter Cutting Vise and Jig: Having a hard time squaring up the ends of your ring shanks? Check out this tool!
- Q&A: Firescale/Firestain – See what others have had problems with and find the solutions!
- Q&A: Annealing – How long to hold your annealing temps. Kiln annealing.
- Q&A: Wire Questions. Balling up wire, tapering wire, work hardening wire, straightening wire and more!
- Recipes: They aren’t just for cookin’ anymore!
- Pickle Recipe – make your own pickle
- Prip’s Flux Recipe – make your own flux
- Removing Broken Drill Bits From Your Metal -snapped your drill bit and can’t get it out? Here’s how to remove broken drill bits.
- Removing Copper Flashing i.e.: How to remove the copper coating you might get from pickling. Also, how to remove copper from brass or bronze that comes to the metal’s surface after soldering.
- Wire and Sheet Metal
- What Torch to Buy: Trying to figure out what you need to make fire in your studio? Check out this information before you buy!
- Soldering Questions – One of the most asked after the subject matter. Many of my web pages have been inspired by soldering issues and questions.
- Torch/Gas Questions – Portable vs. regular torches, problems with the torch, butane torches, water torches, setting up a torch safely, buying torches.