Small blow-torch recommendation Featured

I have an ancient Camping Gaz one which I used to use for plumbing.

Are they still a thing?

Cheers

Dave R

CPC has several different ones, but none of them appear to have a solder tip, which is what I would like. The terrible one from Amazon had one, but it couldn't heat it up! They are still a 'thing' in that they are available, but it's finding the one that does what is required, without being able to see and touch it, that is the problem. I see that Toolstation offer a 'Rothenberger Micro Soldering Iron and Torch Kit Piezo Ignition', which sounds perfect (so did the Amazon one), but at nearly £50, I might as well buy a whole new replacement part for £72, and not have to play around with soldering.

It may be too expensive for this application, but I have one of these:

Have you thought of alternatives to soldering - like super-glue or riveting?

Riveting is impossible, due to what I am trying to connect together. I had thought about superglue, but it sits in an atmosphere of petrol, and I am very uncertain how it would survive. petrol is pretty good at dissolving things. But thanks for the ideas.

It looks suitable, and Dremel is a good make. But yes, it is expensive. Now, if I was going to take up pyrography, it would be perfect. I do think that it is probably good value. But it's a bit like buying a Ferrari for collecting the shopping. Worth thinking about, thanks.

Petrol might not be the best environment for a blowtorch :-)

Also worth considering a 100W+ electric iron - they can be had for cheap and pack a decent amount of heat. It really comes down to whether it's more of a brazing-style job that needs the flame as a way to conduct heat to the job, or whether conduction from an iron is sufficient.

I'd probably say that if you are going to use a soldering bit then use an electric iron, as the tips on gas irons don't actually carry a huge amount of heat. But if you are going to be using the flame directly then gas can make sense if the metal to be soldered is chunky.

Theo

I use it for shrinkwrap, too.

That is interesting, thanks. That knowledge is why I am asking here for help. I'll take a look at powerful electric irons.

The item being worked on has not yet been near the petrol!

One ordered, Draper, for £17.99. About the same as the failed butane torch.

The iron worked! Many thanks for the suggestion.