[Jewelry making - Article 00166] - Re: [Orchid] Little Torch vs. Meco Midget

[Nanz Aalund]

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

    This is a fascinating thread and very helpful. 

    I have been relegated by fire codes, home owner assoc., and
    insurance adjusters to maintaining a Smith Little torch (w/disposable
    propane & oxygen) in my home studio for about 15 years. I never
    thought about it much since I always had access to the natural gas
    (Hoke and Meco), acetylene (Presto-lite or SilverSmith), and even
    hydrogen torch options available at work, or at the colleges where I
    was teaching. 

    As an apprentice I was trained on and still own a Hoke hand piece. I
    always considered it to be the best, and most versatile torch I ever
    used with Natural gas and compressed oxygen. I am sorry to hear that
    the Hoke is no longer made to the same quality standards as mine was. 


    I have found the Smith Little torch w/propane and oxygen to be very
    similar to my old Hoke although slightly limited for the volume of
    metal it is able to heat. I primarily use a neutral to slightly
    reducing flame for objects up to 3 inches square in sterling that is
    up to 16 gauge (1.3mm) thick with the Smith and a 7 tip. I have had
    no problem getting the entire mass up to soldering temperature before
    my flux is exhausted. 

    It seems it is the fuel choices combined with particular torch hand
    pieces that is really being debated in this thread. 

    I agree with Alan, that the Little torch with acetylene and
    compressed oxygen produces too hot of a flame and is not a good 
option
    as far as torch hand piece and gas combinations go. 

Nanz Aalund
Associate Editor / Art Jewelry magazine
21027 Crossroads Circle / Waukesha WI 53187-1612
262.796.8776 ext.228
____________________________________________________________________
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
____________________________________________________________________