[Jewelry making - Article 00473] - Re: [Orchid] Do small butane soldering torches work?

[Trevor F]

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>     It is painful to notice a repeat of various things I have seen in
>     print the last few days, pistol grip plumber's torches, pencil
>     torches, and the like. You are in for disappointment if you get one
>     of those. ... Do not delude yourself about it, or others. 

Hello Jake,

    No offense Jake but I think you're overstating the case by a goodly
    amount. Those cheapo torches DO work, with considerable limitations
    of course, and I totally disagree that one is "deluding" oneself if
    they think that the cheapo torches are an option. I know because
    that's all I used for years, on a variety of metals, on everything
    from teensy pinky rings to 50+ gram silver bracelets and large brass
    belt buckles. Heck, I made our wide-band wedding rings (mine 14K
    gold, her's sterling) using a hand-held propane plumbers torch. 

    No you can't cast (well or much) with those torches, no you can't do
    mini precision work, no you can't do a lot of things. But is that the
    point? I don't think so. I think the point is that they'll get you
    _started_ making jewellery and rather nicely too. 

    I respectfully point out that a lot of amazing jewellery was made
    long before acetylene or LP gas or regulators or rubber hoses or any
    of that stuff was around. I daresay that if those early jewellery
    makers had sat around waiting for the joys of our modern gear then we
    probably would not be having this discussion. 

    For someone in that "getting started at a minimal cost" position
    those torches are a great way to begin. Of course it's going to be
    something they'll upgrade --to great benefit to be sure-- as soon as
    they can but by then they'll know a lot more about what they want and
    how much it's worth to them to get it. 

Cheers, 
Trevor F.

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