Unpopular opinion: I used to think you needed a huge torch for solid work

I mean, for years I was convinced you needed a big, heavy duty torch to do any serious sculpting or solid work. I started on a Nortel Minor about a decade ago, and I thought I had to upgrade to something huge to get better. Then maybe three years ago, I tried a friend's Carlisle CC setup, which isn't that much bigger, and it totally changed my mind. I realized it was more about flame chemistry and control than just raw size. Now I do almost all my solid work on a mid-range torch and my pieces are way more detailed. Has anyone else found that a smaller, more precise flame actually helped their work more than just going bigger?

3 comments

3 Comments

hannah_perry1mo ago

My old studio teacher in Chicago swore by a massive Bethlehem for heavy sculpting. You just can't get the same heat base for large gathers with a small flame, no matter the control. Sometimes brute force is the right tool.

faith_thomas1mo agoTop Commenter

Exactly. I chased that same idea for a while, always eyeing the bigger torches. I had this old tank of a thing that felt like holding a rocket launcher. Switched to a smaller hand torch for detail work and it was a game changer. The control is everything. You can pin down a tiny spot without cooking the whole piece. Bigger just meant hotter and faster, which isn't always what you need.

diana_murphy1mo agoMost Upvoted

Man, that reminds me of my first time trying to solder a tiny circuit board.