So, I know there's a million threads on torches, I've read them all and still have questions, sorry.
Basically, my little Rothenberger has served me well for around 8 years, but it's starting to annoy me. Now that I'm using it more often, it's costing me a fortune in disposable oxygen cylinders, which run out suddenly with no warning. Also the flame now stops being usable when the mapp gas canister still feels half full. And the fact that it has no flashback arrestor is scary, to say the least.
So, what I really want is a Smiths Little Torch/oxycon combo, but as we've just bought a house (yay!) I can't afford one (booooo).
Instead, I'm thinking of getting an Orca. I've read all the threads on it and it sounds good and I can continue to use my little mapp bottles (of which I have a bunch of spares from the Rothenberger). My question is, after using an oxy/gas torch for so long will switching to a gas only one drive me crazy? Will I struggle to solder with it and will the solder take ages to flow compared to the oxy gas? I tried going back to my ancient Cooksons refillable butane torch yesterday and it was horrible, couldn't get any solder to melt with it. I'm not currently needing to solder large bangles or anything, though, and a silversmithing friend says he uses propane only for all his work as he finds the oxy/gas flame too bright and he can't see what he's doing properly.
Suttons have 10% off until the end of today, so I figure if I'm going to get the Orca now would be a good time. If I buy the EZ torch kit from Suttons, and the mapp gas adaptor, is that all I need? Or is there a separate flashback arrestor I need to buy?
Also, as I understand it the hose is quite short. What sort of thing would I buy to mount the portable mapp canister to the side of my bench? I've tried googling large jubilee clips but can't seem to find what I'm looking for.
Help please!!!
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