Greetings!

I'm looking to buy a torch, and the one that I seem to like is the smith's little torch, but I've never used it before. I read so many reviews, heard so many opinions that I have a headache and I can't decide should I buy it or not. So my question would be for those who tired this torch. I'm planning to make rings,pendants, bracelets... using metal working techniques (annealing, soldering joints, putting it all together). I won't be melting larger pieces of metal, won't use it for glasswork, etc. It is just for general metalwork and the biggest heating would be annealing a piece of metal for a cuff and I would use it for reticulation, also for cuffs. If the torch can finish this work I'm ok with it. Also i have to mention that I'm going to use oxy/propane set and thinking of buying oxygen concentrator- safety reasons. Any tips on that would be useful as well, eg. how large concentrator shoul be (l/min.) Acetylene is not acceptable, because of the smoke that produces. One more question, should I buy the set with 5 tips or with one only (size of the tip is 5)?

Thank you for all answers. I really appreciate any help.

Sounds great. I have a friend that uses one and he loves the thing. He uses bottled oxygen not a concentrator and has the bottles in his shop. I have used a Presto-Lite torch for thirty some years and like it. I have my acetylene bottle clamped to my work bench. I tend to use just a couple of tips. My friend hasn't changed tips for years. He is just so used to the one for most tasks now. I have a separate O/A set up for melting silver for casting.

kristal, you said "Acetylene is not acceptable, because of the smoke that produces."  I use acy/air in my work, and have never noticed smoke.  I also remember taking a course at Holland where 8 of us had acy going at the same time in a closed room, and we were never bothered with smoke.  Where did you get that idea?

 I have a Smith Little torch (actually two...want to buy one??), I guess it depends on the size of cuffs you want to make and, I'm not convinced about that torch being up to the job of reticulating a large piece of silver, that is if you said silver...

 Before making the purchase - look at some of the other jeweler torches 'out there'.  I have a Smith Little torch and I did take it off my tanks in favorite of a used Hoke torch, I just couldn't get the flame/heat I wanted out of the Smith Little torch when working with silver, now for gold - that's another story. I use my Hoke with the five standard tips and I bought an adapter kit from Otto Frei for all my small work - works great.  If/when I replace my Hoke I'll look at the Meco Midget Torch.

Perhaps search the Orchid archives for more opinions / advice on jeweler's torches - ganoksin.com

Thanks for replies!

I haven't mentioned that I'm in a building, and it's not only that I'm not allowed to bring high pressure cylinders and tanks, but also I'm concerned about safety for people around me. So, I have two options only: disposable oxy/pro(mapp) or propane and concentrator. Either way it is going to cost me a lot. If I had a basement I wouldn't think this much.

Bob, I've never used acetylene, I just read about it and heard from other people who used it. Anyway I can't use it.

Yes, it is going to be used for silver, that's why I need the torch which can produce enough heat and that is why I'm concered about little torch.

Loopy, I think I read at Gesswein that Meco Midget is not produced anymore. They sell tips only, but I saw it is still available at Otto Frei.

Still don't know what to do. I read all reviews several times. I wish somene can tell me: buy this torch set, it is safe, good quality  and it can finish the job. I wouldn't be at square one over and over.

Thank you again

If your not allowed high pressure cylinders and tanks then you can't have a torch of any kind. I just don't know of a torch that uses low pressure tanks. Propane comes high pressure as does acetylene. These are not low pressure by any stretch of the imagination. So are you going to bring them in a preambulator dressed as a baby? A large propane tank in a basement is not good as propane is heavier then air and if you had a leak then you a left with a basement half full of propane gas and that can spell explosion. MAPP gas is still in a high pressure cylinder even though it is small. Just what is meant by high pressure in your rent agreement?

Of course the gas is under the pressure that is why it's in a cylinder. But you can't compare small and large cylinder, because there is a parametar: volume. And not every gas reactes the same. That's why I'm getting oxygen concentrator. It's about lowering the risk. I understand bad things can happen anyway. If people can make bbq on their balconies, I can have a torch. Many other things are dangerous but we still use them.  I made my desicion. I will take Loopy's advice, and even though Gesswein says the Meco Midget torch is discontinued by manufacturer, I'm getting it. So it is going to work with oxygen concentrator and propane. The oxygen flow of the concentrator is ok for it, more than enough and it can be reduced, too.

Thank you for reply, Bentiron, I appreciate your experience

And thank you Loopy for being honest

I think that you will be happy with the torch. I was just trying to get you to think about safety. Also not to be too devious with landlords and insurance companies. They can be nasty brutes when things do go wrong. Go luck and happiness with you jewelry endeavors.