Update on soldering sterling jump rings

[Luann Udell]

After hound you folks with questions and issues for years, thought you'd appreciate this....

I'm almost ready to get a real torch!

How did that happen?  I'm taking lessons with a torch-experienced person, and found out part of my difficulty soldering is not the power of the micro-torch--it's that the flame is too big!

I thought you simply got more fire-power with a tank torch.  Now I see you can switch out tips and control the size of the flame with the tip controls. 

My micro-torch flame is just a bit too big, even turned down to its lowest setting.  It tends to heat up the entire jump ring, even the large ones I've been making.  So when something goes wrong, it goes wrong fast!

The torch she uses is the acetylene & air torch by Smith. 

I just wanted to thank Polly, MetalMan et al. for all the advice and information.  I'll stick with my micro-torch while I'm learning, but I'm much more comfortable with the idea of moving to a real torch someday soon.

[Polly]

I have soldered with both, and I like the convenience, portability and price of the micro torches, but if you're going to be doing a lot of soldering, you'll definitely be happier with the control you have with a good acetylene torch.
I still jump at the "pop" when I start the bigger torches, but after that, I love them.

[Russ Nobbs]

A little cleaner than acetylene are any of the torches running on propane: propane and air or propane an oxygen. Propane does not produce the soot that acetylene does but acetylene is a little hotter. If you happen to have natural gas pipes near your shop the propane torches can run on natural gas, too. Natural gas and propane are basically the same fuel.

Many torches come in either acetylene or propane models.

I don't mean to compound your choices, Luann, but the soot is a real issue in many work spaces.

[Luann Udell]

Do you mean soot in the workplace (on other surfaces) or soot on the worked metal? 

If the latter, I'm okay with that--my aesthetic is rough anyway.  I'll never be working with platinum or even gold, either.

If the former, you do know I have a rabbit living in here, right?

We don't have natural gas available in NH (lots in Michigan!) but I'll check out propane, too.

[Russ Nobbs]

Soot in the workplace.
When you first light an oxy/acetylene torch, with only the acetylene on, it has a sooty flame.
Once you add oxygen you get complete combustion and the soot goes away.

I've never used an acetylene/air torch. Maybe it's not a problem.

Back to your first post, with the Smith little torch and the smallest tip I could get a very small flame that worked well for soldering jumprings.

[Metalman]

Nice batch of discussion here.
I have both the Smith Little Torch and the Smith SilverSmith torch
The Little Torch is an very small scale Oxy-Acetylene torch with a small but very hot flame [and exchangeable tips, etc. this one is Great for jumprings and other sorts of fine work
The SilverSmith is an air -acetylene torch with  larger tips and good for construction of silver work from small to belt buckles or small scale raisings.  I have always found this to be a better torch than the propane -bottle torches although there is a torch called a Prestolite that attaches to large propane containers and works well,  I think this is mostly driven by the greater pressure possible from the larger propane or acetylene containers.
While you can get a bit of soot off of theLittle Torch - I have never noticed it around my SilverSmith torch - I may be a bit oblivious to that sort of thing due to the commercial / industrial studios i have frequented

[Russ Nobbs]

Thanks, Kurt, I'm guessing the air-acetylene torch doesn't make soot like the oxy-acetylene torch

[Luann Udell]

Aaaaand I just heard back from another friend who says I just don't need the acetylene/air torch for what I'm doing.  She explained what I'm doing wrong (again!) and says I CAN get great results from the micro-torch.  (sigh)

So back to the practice part with more information under my belt.  Will report back.