Current "Hotness" in Small Butane Torches?

[kythri]

What's the current hotness in small butane torches?

I bought one 3-4 years ago at HF for cheap, and it's done what I've needed until just recently, where the clicker-igniter stopped sparking, so it won't light without outside assistance.

I don't need, or really want, some exotic $200 torch, just something decent and reliable. If HF still sold the same model, I'd probably just go get another one of those, but the current one they sell is slightly different, so I'm opening up my options.

Thoughts?

 

[plinker]

https://www.tooltopia.com/mastercool-mt51.aspx

I've got a couple of these, work nice & fairly inexpensive. The bad part is if you drop them the sparker thing inside breaks and no longer functions, so you have to use a striker to light it.

 

[anndel]

If the HF model worked for you go back to HF and check online of go to the store.

 

[rlitman]

What are you doing with it? My go-to butane stuff is all Portasol.

I use my Portasol Superpro 125 torch all the time. My favorite tip is the heat gun. 125W of heat concentrated into a 1/4" circle that won't set heat shrink on fire like a bare flame.

 

[kythri]

https://www.tooltopia.com/mastercool-mt51.aspx

Not bad...

If the HF model worked for you go back to HF and check online of go to the store.

It's on the list of potentials.

What are you doing with it? My go-to butane stuff is all Portasol.

Heh, lighting cigars and burning things?

Haven't really used it for anything "important", mostly just a toy, to be perfectly honest.

Looking at the Portasol brand, however, and this one looks like it might be nifty:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003H6NNFS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Thanks, all!

 

[metaleltr]

I use one by power probe almost daily. Plenty hot enough to heat small bolts for removal in most cases.

 

[-OSIS-]

So far I’ve had good luck with the snap on branded unit. I think it’s the TORCH300. My only complaint is it shuts off a little slow.

 

[deluser-u]

The BonJour Professional Cooking Torch from bed bath and beyond is pretty good for only $29.99

https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/bonjour-reg-professional-cooking-torch/1013057451

It is a larger torch than the one from HF or tooltopia. The flame at max setting is pretty close to a full size propane torch.

 

[mbshop]

I have the hf one and it has been great. Just saw a larger one of similar design at wal mart. It is in the 20 + buck cost. That may be more of what you need if the hf one is to small. They are in the plumbing area ? It is where they stock the blue propane cans. If you need bigger then you get into the plumber burner stuff.

 

[GTO]

What are you doing with it? My go-to butane stuff is all Portasol.

I use my Portasol Superpro 125 torch all the time. My favorite tip is the heat gun. 125W of heat concentrated into a 1/4" circle that won't set heat shrink on fire like a bare flame.

This ......I love mine too.

 

[rlitman]

You can’t go wrong with Portasol. As far as I know, the same Oglesby and Butler factory makes a LOT of the rebranded torches.

Yep. The Blue Point YAKS1 for example.

 

[M_George]

Check out the Bernzomatic torches. Mine has been holding up well for several years now. You can also use Map-pro gas with which burns about 130 degrees hotter.

 

[akalian]

I've got one of these. It's held up well over many years of use.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C1S6KVZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Finky198]

+1 on the blazer torches I have a big shot and I have been very happy with it...

 

[fasteddie]

Another Blazer fan here. Well made and nice to look at too. I have the blue one.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/710qrH6XhLL._SL1273_.jpg

 

[theoldwizard1]

My go-to butane stuff is all Portasol.

Not just you, most of the tool truck gas powered soldering irons are re-branded Portasol !

 

[Wamsutta]

You guys talking about butane torches, or butane soldering irons? Which one?

 

[rlitman]

You guys talking about butane torches, or butane soldering irons? Which one?roducts/Images/Large/500086.jpg[/img]

If you take the tip off that pencil, there is a small torch underneath.

 

[Wamsutta]

If you take the tip off that pencil, there is a small torch underneath.

So do you call it a soldering iron, or a torch?

 

[rlitman]

Current "Hotness" in Small Butane Torches?

So do you call it a soldering iron, or a torch?

Good question. I used to solder a lot with mine, but ever since I got my Hakko knockoff, I’ve been using that more, and the Portasol is used mostly as a heat gun to shrink tubing in tight spots, hot knife and torch.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Check out the Bernzomatic torches. Mine has been holding up well for several years now. You can also use Map-pro gas with which burns about 130 degrees hotter.

My propane Bernzomatic has held up for about 4 decades and change. My yellow bottle one (Mappgas) since about 1991, so that's... over aa quarter century? Got a separate one for the kitchen 10 years back to light things like wood stoves, barbecues, etc... and it still runs like it did new. Hard to beat the original.