Propane Torch Recommendations

[SightlessSeer]

I'm looking for a propane torch for my garage shop. At the moment I have to ability to heat treat/anneal, and I keep thinking of situations where it would be useful. Does anybody have any suggestions as to where to buy a torch, what they should cost, what to look for, etc. (please bear in mind that I'm in Canada not the US)? I'm thinking that one that runs off of a barbeque type tank would be most convenient (and cheapest), but other than that I don't really know what I'm looking for or where to get it from. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[tq60]

They have many options for torches.

Also are hoses that attach to BBQ tank and have a bottle fitting to allow for table top use of the small portable grills that use bottles.

There ate adaptors for filling the bottles from your tank.

Amazon has most of this, shop a well stocked hardware store for the torch.

I like the push button electronic start ones.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[Razzle]

Highly recommend a Sievert Pro 86 torch. Pricey but very versatile. You can get different head sizes for all types of tasks. Bending soldering silver soldering. You need a high pressure regulator too. Think turkey fryer regulator. That would give you the most capability for the future.

 

[GeneT45]

You can buy adapter hoses that will connect a tank (with HP reg) to anything designed for a propane bottle. I've pretty much gone exclusively to MAPP-Pro (which is to say, fake MAPP gas). Does everything I did with a propane torch, but better. I use a BernzOMatic with a piezo starter / trigger.

GsT

 

[f350ca]

For heat treating and silver soldering small items I use a hand held torch with a furnace made up of refractory bricks. But for larger parts one of these will put out a lot of btu's.
https://www.peaveymart.com/tools-hardware/welding-soldering/soldering/big-max-propane-torch/201562

The one I have is an OLD cast iron head one. I've used it to heat excavator booms and gears for shrink fits. I've never tried heat treating with it but pretty sure it burns hot enough.

Greg

 

[ChazzC]

Here is what I use for flame heating:

Smith Little Torch (Chinese copies available for as little as $20; you'll see them on the Amazon Smith page – I wouldn't rust them, but they make be OK) on the left (using O2 & MAP(P), can also run Propane) and Orca Torch with Propane. While you can use a BernzOmatic (or similar) torch mounted directly to a small Propane/MAP(P) tank, you'll get better control with a torch head on a hose.

For large parts, something like the Sievert recommended by @Razzle is needed. Quinn (Blondiehacks) has a good video showing a failed attempt using a Rosebud tip on an Acetylene torch and then using the Sievert (plus some good info on setting up a Heath):

 

[Chips O'Toole]

I have a couple of the better plumber's torches, but oxy-propane is 10 times better. I got a huge O2 tank and made an oxy-propane cart from a handtruck. A lot more than I needed, really, but it heats metal like crazy. Something that takes 10 minutes to heat with a plumber's torch turns red right away.

 

[CJ5Dave]

I run an oxy/acetylene torch setup on propane and oxygen. Saves a bunch of money, It is colder than acetylene but the steel dont care.
They say you cant braze with it but you can. I also have a forge made with propane heat, nozzles made out of mig welder tips (.035) a shop vac backwards for a blower, and 2 freon tanks welded together for the body and ceramic wool for insulation.

 

[SightlessSeer]

Thank you all so much for your advice! I ended up ordering a Sievert pro 88 kit off of ebay. I probably would have gone with the pro 86, but they're harder to find except for a seller out of the UK and I was worried that the fittings would be BSP and/or the high pressure regulator wouldn't fit North American BBQ tanks. I think the pro 88 will be perfect for what I need.

It should show up here in a couple weeks. I might post an update here once I've played with it a bit.