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#1
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torch for working (PLG or propane)?
Hi,
I'm starting out and need to buy a torch for general metal work (I'm considering a primus Propane torch with swappable tips) Ideally I'd like to be able to use the torch for soldering and work in basic jewellery as well as my own engineering tasks like annealing and tempering. I've seen the discussion here concerning oxy/acet, and mouth blown etc, but wondering if a simple propane only torch (uses ambient air drawn in the the oxygen flow) is even worth considering for the purposes of soldering, annealing and maybe some casting. (my work would be in 9ct gold primarily) I would be changing the tips to suit the work (ultra pin point for soldering, medium for annealing and casting) and using a 9lb refillable bottle for my fuel source. thoughts? thanks, Des Brisbane Oz |
#2
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All I ever use is a Bernzamatic propane thorch for silver work, which is all
I do now. It does take some care and expertise though. I'm not knocking the use of other torches. It's a matter of economics. "Des Bromilow" wrote in message ... Hi, I'm starting out and need to buy a torch for general metal work (I'm considering a primus Propane torch with swappable tips) Ideally I'd like to be able to use the torch for soldering and work in basic jewellery as well as my own engineering tasks like annealing and tempering. I've seen the discussion here concerning oxy/acet, and mouth blown etc, but wondering if a simple propane only torch (uses ambient air drawn in the the oxygen flow) is even worth considering for the purposes of soldering, annealing and maybe some casting. (my work would be in 9ct gold primarily) I would be changing the tips to suit the work (ultra pin point for soldering, medium for annealing and casting) and using a 9lb refillable bottle for my fuel source. thoughts? thanks, Des Brisbane Oz |
#3
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Perhaps I should qualify the tpe of work I intend doing with the setup....
SOldering 9ct gold wire into rings (jump ring size) for making a chain. Thanks, Des "Des Bromilow" wrote in message ... Hi, I'm starting out and need to buy a torch for general metal work (I'm considering a primus Propane torch with swappable tips) Ideally I'd like to be able to use the torch for soldering and work in basic jewellery as well as my own engineering tasks like annealing and tempering. I've seen the discussion here concerning oxy/acet, and mouth blown etc, but wondering if a simple propane only torch (uses ambient air drawn in the the oxygen flow) is even worth considering for the purposes of soldering, annealing and maybe some casting. (my work would be in 9ct gold primarily) I would be changing the tips to suit the work (ultra pin point for soldering, medium for annealing and casting) and using a 9lb refillable bottle for my fuel source. thoughts? thanks, Des Brisbane Oz |
#4
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Hello Des;
For smallish projects, such as light chains and slender rings, I've found the refillable Benzomatic butane torches to be quite satisfactory. They're easy to find, refillable from normal lighter canisters and very convenient to use (no hoses, very light, etc). What they are not is very versatile. I found I had to keep my projects quite small and uncomplicated in order to have the Benzo still able to do the job. In my own work in sterling and 14k yellow gold I quickly found the Benzo inadequate so I added an equally inexpensive propane plumber's torch (disposable canister type). With these two you've got a choice between a moderately hot but small flame or a moderately hot big fat bushy flame ... and nothing in between, or more or less. That said they did allow me to make close to a hundred pieces --chains, rings, pendants, bracelets, earrings-- including broad-banded, bi-metal wedding rings for my wife and I. But as things turned out with the Benzo, so too with the plumber's torch. I found that the more I wanted to diversify my work the more I found these two torches rather limiting: you can't really cast, you often can't do complicated designs (unless you don't mind cooking your entire piece each and every time which means you're constantly battling serious fire-scale problems) and you have no ability to do fine work on larger pieces. You specifically mentioned annealing and casting. I've found the propane plumber's torch fairly useful for annealing because of that big bushy flame that's useful for "painting" the heat into wire coils, plate, rod, etc. Everything has to be covered in a good firescale protector though. And setting up a three-sided space with firebricks will help put the heat on the metal instead of loosing most of it to heating air. Casting on the other hand has been a bust for me. I've found that there just isn't enough heat coming out of the plumber's torch to handle even as much as an ounce of silver. I've heard that others have had success here but I just found it frustrating. FWIW I'm now in the process of graduating to a oxy-acetylene/Little Torch rig and I'm very much looking forward to higher heats, smaller flames and the ability to do modest casting work. I think the Benzo and the plumber's torch will still have their uses. Cheers, Trevor F |
#6
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On 18-Feb-2004, "Alex Bobotek wrote: 2. It is difficult to control heat output from the torches directly attached to disposable propane cylinders. The angle of the torch affects pressures and fuel flow. The ones with hoses between the cylinder and torch head have worked better for me. I just got a new one with a regulator in the handle, you can turn it upside down with no surging! Sweet. Les |
#7
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I spoke with the local jewellery wholesaler and they recommended the primus
torch with a ultrapinpoint for soldering in 9ct gold. I'll be purchasing in the next couple of months and testing in both silver and gold. The jeweller who was providing the information indicated that I'd be better learning to solder in silver, and then moving to gold. His reasoning was the disparity in costs, but more importantly that silver is less forgiving, and therefore harder. Basically if I can solder silver, I'll have few problems in gold. - IS THIS CORRECT? Also, how many people here do their own designs, as opposed to copying others designs? I have always had a mental block to "creating" things, .. does anyone have any ideas for developing creativity? Thanks, Des "Des Bromilow" wrote in message ... Hi, I'm starting out and need to buy a torch for general metal work (I'm considering a primus Propane torch with swappable tips) Ideally I'd like to be able to use the torch for soldering and work in basic jewellery as well as my own engineering tasks like annealing and tempering. I've seen the discussion here concerning oxy/acet, and mouth blown etc, but wondering if a simple propane only torch (uses ambient air drawn in the the oxygen flow) is even worth considering for the purposes of soldering, annealing and maybe some casting. (my work would be in 9ct gold primarily) I would be changing the tips to suit the work (ultra pin point for soldering, medium for annealing and casting) and using a 9lb refillable bottle for my fuel source. thoughts? thanks, Des Brisbane Oz |
#8
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Des Bromilow wrote:
... The jeweller who was providing the information indicated that I'd be better learning to solder in silver, and then moving to gold. His reasoning was the disparity in costs, but more importantly that silver is less forgiving, and therefore harder. Basically if I can solder silver, I'll have few problems in gold. - IS THIS CORRECT? Yup. Silver conducts heat _far_ better than gold. When you can control the heat in silver, working gold will be a cakewalk. -- If you try to 'reply' to me without fixing the dot, your reply will go into a 'special' mailbox reserved for spam. See below. -- Carl West http://carl.west.home.comcast.net change the 'DOT' to '.' to email me If I had six hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend the first four sharpening the axe. - Abraham Lincoln |
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