[Jewelry making - Article 00011] - Re: [Orchid] Gentec vs Smith Torch

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>     I currently am using an air acetylene prest-o-lite torch but would
>     like to add a propane/oxygen torch to my toolbox. Can any of you
>     offer insight into any differences between the Smith Little Torch
>     and the Gentec Small Torch? Are the differences only the color and
>     the cost or is there something more substantial that I am missing? 

    Scott, the gentec torch is pretty much a copy of the smith. But at
    least in my experience, the manufacturing quality of the gentec is
    not as consistant. Many of them will be just fine, while others may
    not be as precisely made. 

    Differences may be subtle if you don't have the other brand to
    compare with, but things like the smooth operation and precision of
    the valves may vary more with the Gentec. 

    I've found much the same with a number of other copies of well known
    torches. The U.S. made Hoke torches, for example, are usually well
    made good torches, and have a long history of being used by many
    commercial jewelers. But you can also get an almost identical looking
    Chinese made copy that frankly, is often a piece of junk. Nothing
    quite so annoying as a torch with sloppy bad valves that don't hold a
    setting, or leak, or otherwise don't work well.... I don't think the
    Gentec are quite as bad as those chinese made Hoke copies have
    sometimes been, but for my money, I'd go with the Smith, if only
    because having used many of them over the last thirty five years, 
I've
    never had one that wasn't a good tool, at least not until I pretty
    much wore it out (which you CAN do with those delicate needle
    valves). 

Peter Rowe
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