[Jewelry making - Article 00673] - [Orchid] The Truth about Water Torches?

[Trevor F]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


    Many questions, few answers.  I hope the group will indulge my
    rambling query: 

    So, water torches. They're getting mentioned more frequently in the
    trade publications and one certainly sees more advertisements for
    them but what's the _real_ story? There seems to be precious little
    in-depth, hands-on information to be found. 

    Can a jewelry maker get enough mileage out of one to make it a
    viable torch option? Obviously you can't use them to cast or work
    "large" pieces but are they really only good for soldering jumprings
    and claw tips? Is a man's 18kyg wedding band, for example, too big a
    job? How about the same in sterling? How about butt soldering the
    ends of a heavy gauge twisted wire sterling bracelet? Wouldn't the
    "fast heat, less dispersion" issue come in? Where does that cease to
    be relevant, assuming we're talking about fabrication work? 

    What about the larger litre-per-hour units with larger tips, do they
    not extend the range of pieces one can work on, perhaps even allowing
    small melt and reticulation jobs? 

    And brands --Hydromat, Hydrozon, "Aqua Torch", Elma HotFlame--
    what's the difference? Aside from different liter-per-hour
    capabilities and electrolytes used are they all basically the same?
    Are some less noisy than others? Less prone to require servicing?
    Safer? Which ones? Is it too early to know this yet? Are we still on
    the "bleeding edge" with this technology? 

    It appears that some use more benign electrolyte chemicals than
    others. Is that the major distinguishing factors between the brands? 

    Some offer an auxiliary "Platinum" torch.  Is this really an issue? 
    In other words, isn't the flame temperature somewhat adjustable by
    changing the "booster" one introduces mid-stream?  How much can the
    "booster" effect the flame temperature? 

    If one had, say, US$2000-3000 to spend which brand would be "the
    best" choice for a single jeweler doing a wide range of fabrication
    work, mostly in sterling and high karat gold, in an apartment studio
    where noise and safety where key considerations?  What would said
    jeweler love about his/her new water torch?  hate about it? 

    Inquiring minds want to know!  Prospective customers want to know!
    Frustrated "I hate this propane blowtorch" artisans want to know! 

    Any contributions to the topic are welcome and appreciated. 

Regards,
Trevor F.


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________