Vortex air torch.

Alc. · Oct 3, 2014

Does anyone have any experience with soldering with the Vortex air torch?

griff136 · Oct 3, 2014

Al C the Vortex air torch ( on Musicmedic.com website) will not produce enough heat for soldering. For small hobby solder jobs on instruments I use a Micro torch: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/3208...3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108

Alc. · Oct 4, 2014

O.K., I understand, griff 136. Is it not then worth having in the arsenal for pad/changing/seating? I was just a little leery of injecting highly combustible butane into a little, held-close-to-the-face-brain-eyeballs piece of metal that I would ignite in hopes of it not exploding. If you get my meaning?

kevgermany · Oct 4, 2014

I've got a torch very similar to the one Griff recommended. Works well for pads and soldering.

Puts the heat just where you want it, and can be adjusted from gentle heat to blowtorch level. Shouldn't be any unburnt butane getting in the sax. Won't remove the lacquer if you use it properly. If you use it on a silver, unlacquered sax, make sure the air is off, otherwise the silver oxidises quickly. Very good for melting plastic pearls, so shield with aluminium foil and be careful.

A bonus is that you can use it to rustle up a quick crème brûlée.
Only drawback is the plastic foot is useless, soon breaks, doesn't grip properly. So I made a stand for it, I'll post some pics in a few minutes.

kevgermany · Oct 4, 2014

Just noticed my spell checker switched crème to crèche. I wouldn't recommend crèche brûlée. Torch isn't big enough.

kevgermany · Oct 4, 2014

It's simply some bits of brass brazed together and set in a wooden plate. Plenty of space there to rest your pads, pad slicks/prickers, glue. And the horizontal part works as a handle as well. The prongs are a tight fit around the burner, stops it from turning. Legs are a tight push fit in the base.You could use epoxy if you drill the holes a bit too big.

When you want a quick, safe place to stand the torch:

And when you want to use it and pass the sax over it

old git · Oct 4, 2014

kevgermany said:
It's simply some bits of brass brazed together and set in a wooden plate. Plenty of space there to rest your pads, pad slicks/prickers, glue. And the horizontal part works as a handle as well. The prongs are a tight fit around the burner, stops it from turning. Legs are a tight push fit in the base.You could use epoxy if you drill the holes a bit too big.

When you want a quick, safe place to stand the torch:

View attachment 2830

And when you want to use it and pass the sax over it

View attachment 2831

My hero!

Can it be used as a hair dryer.

Not that there's enough left to dry. :verysad

jbtsax · Oct 4, 2014

For all of my pad work and soldering (except silver soldering) I use the Blazer ES-1000. If you go this route, it works best to use Blazer's own brand of butane. It can be used standing up or lying on its back to have the flame go up for melting shellac.

Alc. · Oct 4, 2014

Griff136, Kev, jbtsax; as usual, any saxophone questions can be answered here at the Cafe'. Thanks for the input. And I needed a torch anyway to keep my coffee hot.