Torch for Jewelry
 

I'm a beginner in metal-worked jewelry. Up to now I've been using cold
joints. I'd like to try some soldered/brazed pieces. Everyone I talk
to says I should get one of the versions of the 'Tiny Torch'. I am on
a limited budget. I have a Victor J-28. It's a light duty brazing /
welding torch about 6" long. The main difference I see between the two
is the orifice size of the tips. The smallest 000 tip on the Victor
is .022 where the smallest tip (#1) on the TT is .006. The 000 tip is
equivalent to the #4 TT tip (.020). I'm not trying to repair points on
a gemstone mount. I'm building relatively heavy metal jewelry akin to
what's on the cover of this months Jewelry Artist mag. Will the Victor
work for my needs or do I need to bite the $130 dollar bullet for the
TT? - Thanks

Randy

Torch for Jewelry
 

wrote in message
...
I'm a beginner in metal-worked jewelry. Up to now I've been using cold
joints. I'd like to try some soldered/brazed pieces. Everyone I talk
to says I should get one of the versions of the 'Tiny Torch'. I am on
a limited budget. I have a Victor J-28. It's a light duty brazing /
welding torch about 6" long. The main difference I see between the two
is the orifice size of the tips. The smallest 000 tip on the Victor
is .022 where the smallest tip (#1) on the TT is .006. The 000 tip is
equivalent to the #4 TT tip (.020). I'm not trying to repair points on
a gemstone mount. I'm building relatively heavy metal jewelry akin to
what's on the cover of this months Jewelry Artist mag. Will the Victor
work for my needs or do I need to bite the $130 dollar bullet for the
TT? - Thanks

Randy

The Victor will work quite well. You will be ahead of the game to switch
from Acetylene to Propane for your fuel gas though. Both for economical and
chemical reasons. Acetylene is a "dirty" fuel in Jewelry applications.
Acetylene forms metal carbides when the reducing flame is used with Silver
and Gold due to the excess Carbon in the flame, these are not formed when
Propane is used. If you do switch to Propane you might have to buy a new set
of hoses made for Propane use though. Also, be aware that when using Propane
for cutting and "tulip" tip heating of larger masses of metal to melting
temperature the tips have a slight recess to let the Propane burn properly
in those applications. The standard welding/brazing tips are OK for either
gas.

--
Don Thompson

Stolen from Dan: "Just thinking, besides, I watched 2 dogs mating once,
and that makes me an expert. "

There is nothing more frightening than active ignorance.
~Goethe

It is a worthy thing to fight for one's freedom;
it is another sight finer to fight for another man's.
~Mark Twain

Torch for Jewelry
 

Torch for Jewelry
 

On Dec 11 2007, 8:07=A0pm, mbstevens
wrote:
wrote:
I'm a beginner in metal-worked jewelry. Up to now I've been using cold
joints. I'd like to try some soldered/brazed pieces. Everyone I talk
to says I should get one of the versions of the 'Tiny Torch'. I am on
a limited budget. I have a Victor J-28. It's a light duty brazing /
welding torch about 6" long.

Are you using Oxy/acetylene, oxy/propane, or just acetylene?

The main difference I see between the two
is the orifice size of the tips. The smallest 000 tip on the Victor
is .022 where the smallest tip (#1) on the TT is .006. The 000 tip is
equivalent to the #4 TT tip (.020).

_If_ you're using oxy/acetylene a smaller tip will probably be of use.

I would get a pure acetylene torch (like a Prestolite)
before getting a Little-Torch. =A0I use my oxy/acetylene little torch
for fusing mostly, using the Prestolite for hard soldering/brazing.

I'm not trying to repair points on
a gemstone mount. I'm building relatively heavy metal jewelry akin to
what's on the cover of this months Jewelry Artist mag. Will the Victor
work for my needs or do I need to bite the $130 dollar bullet

A pure acetylene torch is less than half that. =A0They work very well
for larger pieces. =A0You won't even have to order it; they will have
one at your welding shop.



for the
TT? - Thanks

Randy- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Nothing was made mention of what metals or size of your intended work.
Something you can do is to take a extra tip and tap the end of it to
accept additional tips which would screw on. I have a Meco Midget
torch which has additional tips available. The tip is threaded to use
1/4 SAE threads. I have made tips for my meco midget torch using 1/4
SAE nuts silver soldered to hypodermic needles ( I used all metal
stainless steel needles just like veteranians use on large animals. )

If you have the money to spend I would recomend the Meco Midget as the
most flexable jewelry scale torch available. Save your big torch for
use in melting for casting.
ROBB.