24 replies to this topic

[Pablo]

I've been using the Radio Shack minitorch to scratchbuild for decades and been real happy with it

 

 

I love the fact I can hold it in my right hand and adjust the flame with same hand. The downside is, after a certain amount of use, it starts to act up. Flames out, sputters, etc. I've tried disassembly, cleaning, etc. and eventually came to the conclusion it was useless to try and fix them once they start going bad.

 

Over the years, I've developed a habit of simply discarding them once they get funky. The day has come for me to upgrade. I want something I can adjust and hold in one hand, never gets clogged or fails, and works as well or better than the Radio Shack cheapie. As soon as my "stimulus" bucks arrive, I'll be shopping online 

 

Minitorch lovers, I know you are out there, please advise. Thank you,

 

Pablo

[Shruska55]

Pablo,

 

Lowes had a pre-packaged special from Bernzomatic on these two items which included a can of butane for $39.95 in February. It makes disassembly a breeze and is great for straightening old bits of brass.

 

 

Mini Torch 1 Handheld

 

Mini Torch 2 Table Stand

 

 

ScottH

[Jairus]

I have one of those Radio Shack torches.  Never liked it, but keep it as a back up.
I prefer the grey one much more.  Called a "Blue-Point" YA532.
My son in law gave it to me and I buy the fluid (Butane) at the local True Value.
Comes with a bunch of tips and fittings including a shrink wrap furnace.
I've used it to re-solder lead wires during a race!

[Ramcatlarry]

I also have a red Radio Shack torch.  I found another like it made by LENK  (LSP-60) - looks like a  yellow clone with a 1 inch longer tank.  I keep one on the bench and one in the track tool box for repairs.  When mine sputter, I add more fuel.  Have not had one quit yet.

[JHMerriman]

I've got a PowerProbe torch and it works very well. You can adjust and hold it with just one hand, and I've never had an issue with it. It's a bit pricey though. I believe I purchased it off a Cornwell tool truck many years ago, but I'm sure it can be found online.

[swodem]

Mine is a Portasol brand, only sputters when its almost out of gas

 

https://nz.element14...SHOPPING-493715

[Half Fast]

about 16 bucks os at Amazon

 

Cheers

[Pablo]

Thanks guys! 

[Pablo]

Anybody tried one of these? It's a well-known brand and looks like I can hold and adjust it with one hand. Team Burrito, are you out there? 

 

 

 

[Ramcatlarry]

Kind of looks like one I have seen that uses a throwaway butane lighter in the handle.....too many parts.  I think the LENK company made the Radio Shack models.   The ones with the base feature work well, but are better suited to the bench than the racebox.  I do not rely on the spark starter with any of them.  A butane lighter works better and can be used in the toolbox to clean-up the plastic gear noises.

 

https://www.wlenk.co...ess-Butane.html    Looks like Lenk reengineered it so you cannot see the fluid level in the tank......WTF!

[Jay Guard]

Here's what I use, a really quality item from Bernz-O-Matic.  The hand piece is nice and small and produces a tiny flame, perfect for chassis work.  You do have to hook it up to a small camping propane bottle but the hose is light and doesn't hamper working with the torch.  The feel of using this is very similar to a soldering iron.  The only real downside is that there is no click type starter so you have to use a classic torch lighting tool.

 

[Phil Smith]

I was going to say "Jay for the win!" but the lack of an igniter is a negative.

 

I like yours, Paul. How long do the cheap pen style torches last? Long enough to make buying them cost effective?

[Pablo]

I just use a Bic lighter to ignite my Radio Shacks. They last me for maybe a year, then start to get funky. I have yet to successfully disassemble one and bring it back to perfect. Believe me I've tried. I just get tired of replacing them. That BernzOmatic looks nice but I want something smaller that uses Butane.

 

WHOA Bunky hold the phone........ I was about to buy a new one and on a whim I went to YouTube and searched "minitorch won't work" and found several vids titled "How to burp your torch". Never heard of such a thing. Lookie here, this lady maybe just saved me a ton of money! It works!

 

 

    Problem solved. 

[Pablo]

Sure wish I had all those discarded torches back 

 

Onward ….

[swodem]

Makes sense, probably water from condensation as the gas inside expands?


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[NSwanberg]

I was speculating about the burb myself. I think it more likely to be contaminate gases that liquefy at a higher pressure than the butane does and eventually prevent you from adding butane to the tank. The burb seems easy enough to do just wear safety goggles and don't be near any open flames or sparks and arcs such as a motor breaking in on a power supply.

 

One never wants to be the stationary steam engineer that comes to work without any eyebrows.

[Pablo]

After I learned the burping secret, I thought I was good to go.

Now I go to use my R/S torch today and it's not staying lit. I burb it again. No go. I re-fill it. No go. I burb it again. No go. 

I disassemble it. Cannot find any problems. Re-assemble. Now it has a nice yellow flame - nice for a cigar lighter, but it's not giving a good blue-orange flame - more like a big candle.

 

So I ordered a Lenk. We shall see …….

 

[Pablo]

I forgot to say "thanks again" to all the good advice, I appreciate all your input.

In the end I had to make one choice. Total cost including shipping was $37.95.

 

All I can do is hope I made I good choice. If not, all can do is cry (this is for Jairus, I think he will like it):

 

 

Nothing like The Blues to build slot cars 

[Tim Neja]

I'm still using my Harbor Freight mini torch --it's still going after 10 years and maybe 50 chassis!  I think it was $7.95 on sale!!    

[Pablo]

My Lenk arrived. It's huge, looks like it could be used for house plumbing    We shall see. When I use it I'll report …...

 

[Pablo]

I tested my new Wall Lenk Model LPT-200-1 Professional Torch today and I'm very happy with it. It has a foolproof child guard, easy to fill, easy to operate, lockable and adjustable flame with the same hand that holds it. More than enough heat for a slot car chassis.

 

This was just a rough test and photos to verify it will work for me, and I'm satisfied. I placed a couple pieces of solder alongside a 3/32 wire and chunk of .063 brass chunk, slathered it in acid, and on low heat it did the trick nicely 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jairus]

Indeed!
Saw Sawyer Brown in a small bar in Silverton OR about 1979.  Standing room only.
But all blues are great, even English bands like Savoy Brown.

[team burrito]

this is the one i prefer, but you can use any creme brulee torch from any cooking store. i like it with the lock-on switch; no need to keep your finger on the trigger. you just have to make sure to click it off when you're done.

https://www.homedepo...9UJww&gclsrc=ds

[mickey thumbs]

My Lenk LSP-60 arrived this week and I just tested it today. Practice pieces of brass strips one on top of the other like for guide tongues. Looks promising. Feels like a fat magic marker in my hand. I think I’ll have better control than I would with a pistol-grip model.

[mickey thumbs]

 

The new minitorch resting on my new drill press. Oh, happy days! 

Couldn’t settle on my next project after these three 1/32 builds since the Covid confinement.

So I spent the monthly slot car budget on workbench upgrades. Very happy with both purchases.

 

Help request from the 1/32 guys- anyone know of a step by step guide to building a brass flexi-board chassis? Chris Walker’s pics of completed ones are excellent, but I still get lost following the various connections.

Thanks, Mike