Hi Andrew,

A Bemzomatic TS8000 is good for silver soldering and brazing small parts. It has a valve to adjust the flame size and a trigger which opens the gas supply valve and ignites the flame. Great one hand operation. Got mine from the local hardware shop.

Propane and Map gas canisters are available in different sizes. Map pas produces a hotter flame but costs a bit more. For brazing bigger parts I use an oxy/propane torch.

Paul.

I would look at the British made Bullfinch, I have had these for over 40 years and used very regularly almost daily and only one small problem. On one torch the pizzo ignition stopped working, returned to Bullfinch and it was repaired at a very modest cost. Would highly recommend them.

Edited By JohnF on 18/02/2015 22:20:58

Hi Grahame,

My oxy/propane torch is a CIG Porta Colt and is about 25 years old but still works. problem is the price for oxygen bottles. I only use 1 D-size bottle per year and the cost of rental for the bottle costs me more than the gas which I use.

Paul.

I've bought a variety of torches over the years, for all of them the control knob stripped off its shaft before I'd used a canister of gas. Then I got a Bernzomatic, it is excellent and never had another problem. It mainly gets used to light our anthracite stove but there when I need to solder something.

Andrew, what sort of size are your fabrications? I fabricate a lot of my models and the type of torch that screws onto a bottle even if a decent mapp gas would not get them anywhere near hot enough for silver soldering. I use a bullfinch torch that runs of a Calor propane cylinder and even then it can take a while to get the larger fabrications hot enough.

J

I've used various 'portable' gas torches to silver solder, including the small disposable can (B&Q) types. For small items I use a (baked bean) can stuffed with ceramic blanket to focus the flame and hold the heat – takes less time and uses less gas. I also have a 1/4" steel plate that I place on the gas ring (when someone else is watching TV) to pre-heat multiple parts – again the gas torch is used to complete the work but this approach uses less (bottled) gas. For soft soldering parts together – I sometimes don't even need the extra heat btw – I just use the plate.

I have trained on O/A and very much enjoyed using it – it's a very useful tool but I decided I could not afford the cylinder hire for the amount I would likely use it (and I didn't really like the idea of having O/A cylinders around either).

So I purchased a Bullfinch 404 which will 'Bronze' (brass) braze steel as well as silver solder. SIF bronze is much cheaper than silver solder – so worth using where possible – it's probably stronger too in many applications.

Some may recall that I asked whether it was possible to adapt my "Patio" gas propane cylinder to use with the 5/8" POL fitting on the Bullfinch. Well the solution was much simpler. I still had the old Calor butane cylinder for the BBQ that I owned before the new (propane) one. I was enquiring about 'adaptors' at my local Calor stockist when the Manager said he would happily exchange my butane cylinder for a propane one. So I swopped a 7kg butane for a 6kg propane and just paid for the refill (£22). This will last a good deal longer than the smaller gas bottles and is not too heavy to move.

I will probably still use my smaller torches for quick jobs but the Bullfinch 404 will get used for SIF brazing of smaller parts and some silver soldering. I'm still practising with it so cannot say too much but it seems good I think it is the best alternative to O/A for my particular needs but I will have to take be cautious in its use for some work as it can be quite fierce and I'm pretty sure I could melt smaller brass components with it if not careful. So my smaller propane & butane torches will still get used when I need something a bit "softer" in the way of heat.

Regards,

IanT

Sievert make a great range of gas torches. Just be careful where you buy them, they can be expensive.

These folks were the best price I found at the time but do a google.

http://www.gasproducts.co.uk/acatalog/Sievert_Neck_Tubes___Burners_1.html

Look at ADAMS Gas, they supply rent free bottles on the basis of a refundable deposit of £55, you can get it back any time. £85+vat. Worth looking at under "HOBBY GASES"

Edited By KWIL on 19/02/2015 11:08:41

over thirty years ago I and a friend made our regular visit to the Saturday morning Auction in Colchester where I found a box of junk, proper rubbish with a Sievert torch a gas regulator and a few nozzles stuck at the bottom, which I got for less than £10 which I've used regularly since and added several nozzles from a fine flame to blowlamp size, it gets used to soft solder petrol tanks together and generally heating metal.

Martin P

A collection of old petrol blow lamps on display at a recent antique engine fair.

Paul.

Roy, try a caravan supply shop or go to your local Calor Gas supplier or try a welding supplier in your area.

Those Sievert soldering irons were about as common as grass, every plumber had at least one.

My conversion to LPG came about when I was using my grandfather's petrol blowlamp (Primus I think), it blew back through the gland on the control knob, and as I was standing near the door, I dropped it, and kicked it across the yard, the shock put the flame out, but I have not used it since.

Ian S C