TurboTorch Worth It?

[paulsomlo]

I need something that will solder and braze; will a TurboTorch braze and are they worth the money?

 

[Ing3018]

I have one. Works great for soldering copper and other tasks needing heat. Use it with both propane and propylene gases.
For brazing, I don't think mine gets hot enough to braze steel or to do the kind of brazing on copper that the HVAC guys do, but that might just be the brazing rods I have.

 

[The Cobbler]

depends on what you're wanting to braze. the tip size matters, too. probably a bit on the cool side for brazing anything of substance
I have a "Non turbo torch" plumbers torch and have silver soldered 3/4" copper with it just fine. for plumbing solder you will be able to solder probably anything you want

 

[Kurt4440]

Many years ago, I would braze using a Turbo Torch and Mapp gas. I don't know how your results would be without real Mapp gas.

MAPP (5300*F) burns much hotter than MAP-Pro (3730*F) or propane (3600*F).

 

[mwalsh9152]

Ive used the Oxy-Mapp gas torch for years for battery repair. They will solder very well. Ive never tried to braze with it though.

 

[rlitman]

Many years ago, I would braze using a Turbo Torch and Mapp gas. I don't know how your results would be without real Mapp gas.

MAPP (5300*F) burns much hotter than MAP-Pro (3730*F) or propane (3600*F).

Real TurboTorch swirl torches are made for acetylene too, and those work at least as well a the MAPP versions.

 

[pizza]

which turbotorch, specifically?

i have a bernzomatic ts8000 (~$60) and like it. works well inverted, has some swirl action, gets fairly hot.
i wonder how whichever turbotorch you're talking about compares.

 

[MattGarage]

Brazing anything more than a tip of something with very low heat sink capacity will be only frustrating with a single fuel.

Really want an oxy-fuel. You can braze with a turbotorch with acetylene but that defeats the purpose of the simplicity you may be looking for.

I'd prefer a "little torch" with propane and oxygen to almost any alternative for garage use.

 

[paulsomlo]

Brazing anything more than a tip of something with very low heat sink capacity will be only frustrating with a single fuel.

Really want an oxy-fuel. You can braze with a turbotorch with acetylene but that defeats the purpose of the simplicity you may be looking for.

I'd prefer a "little torch" with propane and oxygen to almost any alternative for garage use.

Is that the Smith Little Torch?

 

[rlitman]

Is that the Smith Little Torch?

I have a Smith Little Torch and wouldn't recommend it for anything bigger than jewelry.

My Victor 100FC with a 00 tip has the same heat output (because it's drilled to the same size) on O/A as a Smith Little Torch with a #5 tip, but it places your hands more comfortably away from the heat. If you're using the size #4 tip on the Smith (#3 and below is so small it has a ruby orifice) or smaller, then sure, that's the torch for you. However, good luck even lighting the #1 tip. But if you're brazing something as thick as 6AWG copper wire, only the #5 Smith Little tip is large enough, and your fingers are going to get toasted pretty fast.

 

[WAID]

Many years ago, I would braze using a Turbo Torch and Mapp gas. I don't know how your results would be without real Mapp gas.

MAPP (5300*F) burns much hotter than MAP-Pro (3730*F) or propane (3600*F).

That is the oxygen flame temp for MAPP though(which for propane is closer to 5000F). MAPP air flame temp is 3,670F which is a lot closer to the temp of propane. There are other factors that go into how much heat the gasses transfer to the work piece though and that may be more important than peak flame temperature.

 

[paulsomlo]

It sounds like I may be better off with oxy-propane for brazing.

 

[Project 2501]

Acetylene B tank and for brazing use an A32 3/4" swirl tip. switch the tip out for an A3 to soft solder

 

[housewolf]

Something like this. You can solder or braze up to 2” (with a large enough tip). They are what we use brazing ref & medical gas piping. Anything over 2” we’ll likely grab an oxy/acc rig. The smaller hand held turbo torches that screw on a portable bottle are “okay” up to 1” if you’re not doing a lot of it.

 

[paulsomlo]

Acetylene B tank and for brazing use an A32 3/4" swirl tip. switch the tip out for an A3 to soft solder

Something like this. You can solder or braze up to 2” (with a large enough tip). They are what we use brazing ref & medical gas piping. Anything over 2” we’ll likely grab an oxy/acc rig. The smaller hand held turbo torches that screw on a portable bottle are “okay” up to 1” if you’re not doing a lot of it.

Got it - thank you both.

 

[paulsomlo]

Revisiting this: Right now, I'm using something like this: https://www.bernzomatic.com/Products/Hand-Torches/Instant-On-Off/Reach-Torch-BZ8250HT, except the older version, not swirl and has the tip that screws on. If I go to something like this: https://www.zoro.com/turbotorch-torch-kit-swirl-flame-0386-0838/i/G2850416/, will the increase in speed while soldering pipe be worth the $230 bucks after 20% off?

Or would I be better off just putting that money into a Smith airline torch, hose, regulators, propane and oxygen bottles?

 

[The Cobbler]

what are you brazing?
I would look for a plumbers torch & B acetylene tank for silver soldering

 

[paulsomlo]

what are you brazing?
I would look for a plumbers torch & B acetylene tank for silver soldering

Don't know yet - but at some point, I may want to "glue" two pieces of metal together.