Now This is a Hot One!

BernzOmatic 2 Piece Brass Utility Torch Kit UL100

There’s something seductive about using a propane torch for soldering: the scent of hot metal, the sizzle of solder flux beneath the flame, the nearly invisible blue flame, and that faint tang of incompletely burnt light hydrocarbons tickling the cilia at the back of your nose. Yeah, sweating pipe – it’s my latest addiction: no namby-pamby soldering irons and little globs of solder on wires for me, gimme that graceful cone of blue fire any time.

OK, buy me that graceful cone of blue fire… my tool of choice is an everyday ordinary brass torch from the people who brought propane torches to the masses: BernzOmatic. My Dad had one of these puppies at least forty years ago (hmmm, wonder where that one disappeared to?), so it's made by a venerable company. I picked up one of their UL100 kits when I started sweating pipe myself this past spring, and here’s what I got:

one half-inch pencil flame torch head, lovingly crafted in solid brass (model UL2317) one 14.1-ounce cylinder of propane in an attractive shade of blue (TX9) Doesn’t seem like much, does it? but a UL100 kit opens up the a world of soldering, especially since the nice people at BernzOmatic include a primer on soldering in the package. Not only can you sweat pipe, but you can bend glass, or apply a little additional heat to break loose a joint that’s been locked solid by rust. Add a flame spreader and you can use the kit to thaw frozen pipes or as a heat source for removing paint or putty. The UL2317 torch head can be used only with propane (not MAPP gases). The tip is replaceable, and the optional accessory flame spreader (another six dollars) snaps on the tip. You’ll need a spreader when attempting to thaw copper pipes: don’t use a torch on poly pipe!

The torch head – an 18-dollar value – screws firmly onto the top of a standard disposable propane cylinder. The head is cast from solid brass, and includes a shutoff valve with a bakelite knob and a gasket to seal the head to the cylinder. Dad's had a brass wheel, but I guess they have to cut costs somewhere... The one-pound cylinder, which can also be used in other propane-powered devices (heaters, etc.) retails for approximately four dollars. The kit retails for about twenty dollars, so you save a coupla bucks (a penny saved is a penny earned). A cylinder lasts about two hours of burn time, and cylinders are disposable though some companies market a refill adaptor for home use.

For your first job you’ll also need flux, brushes, and solder – these come with some other torch kits, but not the UL100. You may also want to pick up a flame spreader and a backup propane cylinder.


Some things to know:

• believe it or not, BernzOmatic is a subsidiary of Rubbermaid
• always remove the torch head from the propane cylinder when it’s not in use, since there’s a slight danger of leakage
• this kit or spare cylinders isn't sold by many online companies unless shipped to a brick-and-mortar store, since shipping propane via UPS/FedEx/USPS requires special handling.

The Bottom Line: the BernzOmatic UL100 is a good entry-level torch that will meet the needs of almost any homeowner. It’s easy to use and durable, while still economical. It’s disadvantages are that it depends on disposable cylinders and can only be used with propane. Unless you’re a professional plumber or a glass bender, though, this will very likely be all the torch you’ll ever need.

Summary

PLUS: economical, versatile, practically indestructible
MINUS: uses disposable cylinders, no spreader
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: Every house should have a propane torch, and this one - the UL100 - is a great place to start.