If you’re going to be soldering jewelry, there are two types of torches you will want to consider.
- Oxygen-Propane Torch
- Hand Held Butane Torch
While most professionals will have an oxygen-propane torch which mixes the gases to be burned, they will also have hand-held butane torches on hand for use on smaller more delicate items.
If you will be doing DIY welding of jewelry, you will want to consider which of these torches will best suit your needs.
Precise Flame Jewelry Soldering
Soldering earrings, rings, and pendants
If you are more of a hobbyist and need to weld small jewelry items or solder smaller areas, a precise flame is important. With earrings, rings, and pendants, you will find a smaller more precise flame or pin point flame will do the trick.
For DIY jewelry work, an oxygen-propane torch could be an unnecessary investment, depending on how professional you want to get. In most cases, you should be able to get by with a handheld butane torch.
Larger Jewelry Welding and Soldering Projects
More heat needed for bracelets, buckles, and lockets
For larger items like bracelets and belt buckles, you will most likely prefer a larger torch that can transfer heat to your item faster.
Also, the nozzle configuration and fuel burned will affect the temperature of the flame which is another important consideration.
In this case check our upcoming review of propane-oxygen torches.
Jewelry Soldering & Crafts Butane Torches
Butane Soldering Torches
We looked at a variety of torches and give our recommendations for what we feel would be most appropriate for general DIY use.
For DIY, it seems the portable butane soldering torches are more popular than oxygen-butane due to their versatility.
Aside from the making of jewelry, butane soldering torches can be comfortably used for electronics and craft projects.
I selected what I feel are the top four butane torches I looked at, but also selected one oxygen-propane torch as well for comparison.
Jewelry Torches - Final Scores
1. Iroda PT-220 PRO-TORCH Cordless Refillable Butane Torch
My first choice was this quite professional looking butane torch made in Taiwan.
The first thing that caught my attention was the flame control. I was impressed that you could adjust the flame down to a very fine pinpoint flame, but could also crank up the power to get a hefty blow-torch flame. This little torch could readily handle a wide range of projects.
This torch is quite unique in that the housing and flame adjustment are very compact and well encased. This makes the flame windproof so the torch can be used for outdoor work and cooking.
I can see they put a lot into the design of this torch, as it has a child safety ignition feature which they have gotten CPSC certification for.
I wouldn’t hesitate to consider this a professional class torch. (And when I finish my soldering, I think I will set the flame to blow torch and make myself a crème brûlée.)
Other features include:
- Safety lock system and electric piezo ignition.
- Water Resistant Piezo Electronic Ignition System
- Internal brass body and ceramic parts to ensure long life.
- Hands-free Lever-Safety Button
- Large fuel capacity that can keep this torch running for 170 minutes.
- Reaches a maximum temperature of 2372 degrees Fahrenheit (1300 C.)
- Broad Range of Flame Control
- 170 Minutes Use with Each Filling
- Solid Construction
- Butane not included
2. DREMEL VersaFlame (2200-4)
This is another nifty little hand-held butane torch; quite versatile and handy for DIY and hobby projects. It also has a variable temperature and flame control for use in both torch and flame mode.
It has an integrated ignition button which starts quite smoothly. The piezo ignition seems to be standard with all the torches we looked at, so an independent ignition tool is not required.
The VersaFlame torch has a large fuel tank capacity, (42 ml – 22g.) so with standard butane gas can run for up to 75 minutes. The flame will reach 2200°F
This torch kit comes as a kit with other accessories including a hot air housing and a flame disperser so the torch can be used for heat shrinking as well. Also included in the kit is a storage case, solder, tins and wrenches.
Dremel has been a fairly reliable company, based in the UK, with decent quality products and mostly positive reviews. I don’t think you could go wrong with the Dremel Versa Flame 2200 – 4, but I would compare their price points before buying, so we put it at number two on our list.
- Piezo Ignition
- Variable Temperature and Flame Control
- Comes as a Kit With Heat Shrink Deflector
- Butane Not Included
- Higher Price
3. Bernz-O-Matic ST2200T Micro Flame Butane Torch
This torch has a smaller flame than the other torches we looked at, but its precise flame works well for small projects. You won’t get the blast that you may want for soldering larger items, but you may prefer the tight and sharp flame for delicate work. It can be used as a hot air blower if you want to use it for heat-shrinking of tubing, but it doesn’t really put out the large volume of heat you would want for bigger projects.
It does have a safety button feature, but some found the mechanism a bit inconvenient. Quite a few reviews also mentioned that they have had problems with the igniter. One review suggested using an external lighter to light the flame, but that seems like it would be a real pain.
As this torch is backed with a 3-year warranty, and is manufactured in United States by a name brand company, I think its reasonable price should make it a safe purchase option. As a solid torch with a few minor concerns, we ranked the Bernz-O-Matic ST2200T at number three.
- Precise Flame
- Sturdy construction
- Can be used as Hot Air Blower for Heat Shrinking
- Smaller Flame
- Butane Not Included
4. Mag-Torch MT780 Butane Gas Micro Torch Soldering Kit
Here is another torch that looks promising, being promoted as a “Three-in-One Micro Butane Torch” including a Precision Flame Tip, Hot Blow Tip & Solder Tip.
This light weight torch has a comfortable grip and comes with a table top stand. It has a child-resistant automatic ignition system with a flame adjustment to control the wind-resistant flame. It has a Continuous Flame Hold Switch which allows for hands-free operation and will run for approximately 90 minutes on each refill.
The torch is lighter, and does not seem as sturdy as some of the other torches.
Other than these basics, trying to get clear product information on the sites selling it is a bit confusing. Some sites claim it is a three-in-one kit, but only show the torch. So it seems this product may only be sold as the torch alone. I am also finding mixed product reviews so am a bit hesitant to buy.
It does come with a one-year warranty though, so should be a reliable tool. We are including it as our fourth pick.
- Adjustable Flame
- Air Control Lever for Flame
- 90 minutes Run Time
- One-year Warranty
- Butane Not Included
- Lighter Plastic Body
- Controls Not so Solid
5. Smith Little Torch for Jewelry Repair With 5 Torch Tips
To round out the evaluations, I felt it was worth giving honorable mention to this compact oxygen-propane torch kit. With an oxygen-propane torch, you will end up spending about three times the price of a butane handheld torch. But if you are going to be doing a lot of welding and want to invest in an entry-level oxygen-propane torch I would suggest going with the Smith Little Torch for Jewelry Repair.
This oxygen-propane torch can be adjusted to a fairly broad range of flame sizes. One thing to consider is that a propane torch will give higher flame temperatures than a butane torch; up to 4600°F compared to 2,600 °F with butane. This can make a big difference if you will be putting in many hours welding or soldering where speed is a concern.
If you can get used to maneuvering the torch with its gas tubing, you can take advantage of the higher flame temperatures and variable flame sizes that this propane torch offers. This light-weight Little Torch gives easy maneuverability in small work areas.
Another feature of the Little Torch is that it can be used with a variety of commercially available fuels including acetylene, hydrogen, propane, propylene, Mapp, or natural gas, but a separate pressure regulator would need to be purchased for each fuel used.
One thing I found a bit inconvenient was that without some sort of stand to hold the torch while welding, I could not do hands-free welding. Also, without a stand, I needed to be mindful where I would lay the torch down while not using it. However, the manufacturer does have a stand you can purchase separately.
All things considered, The Smith Little Torch Oxygen-Propane torch was the most versatile propane torch in its price range. As an option to consider we included it on our list at number five.
- Higher Soldering Temperatures
- Don’t Need to Refill Fuel as Often
- Can Use Different Fuels
- External Fuel and Oxygen Tanks Needed
- Hoses Make Welding More Awkward
- Cannot do Hands Free Soldering
- Higher Price
| CORDLESS SOLDERING IRON | TYPE OF FUEL | RUN TIME | MAX TEMPERATURE | BUY NOW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iroda PT-220 PRO-TORCH | Butane | 170 Minutes | 2372 ° F | link |
| DREMEL® VersaFlame 2200-4 | Butane | 75 Minutes | 2200 ° F | link |
| Bernz-O-Matic ST2200T | Butane | Not Stated | Not Stated | link |
| Mag-Torch MT780 Micro Torch | Butane | 90 Minutes | Not Stated | link |
| Smith Little Torch for Jewelry | Propane + Oxygen | Continuous from external tanks | 4600 ° F | link |
Conclusion
For all around DIY jewelry soldering, a butane torch is a reliable low-cost choice for most applications. These little hand-held torches put out a very hot flame, adequate for most soldering needs. Their small size makes them easy to maneuver, especially when working with delicate projects.
For overall versatility we recommend the Iroda PT-220 PRO-TORCH. It is a solid built torch with many of the little features that make working with jewelry very convenient. It has excellent flame control so can handle a broad range of applications. With the hands-free option and a running time of 170 minutes, this torch will be there for the job when you need it.
why isnt there an Aquaflame included in this trial as they are a major playing in jewellery soldering? it would have been nice to see the comparison.