If she is going to be working with silver, I recommend the PrestoLite system. It comes with tips but the flame that each tip makes is adjustable. It uses acetylene which I prefer because it is lighter than air and does not puddle in the basement if she will be working at home as I do. I think it is far more adaptable than the Little Torch which someone is sure to recommend. I think that one which uses oxygen with either propane or acetylene, is more suited to gold work.

marilyn

I agree with Marilyn. Prestolite seems to be the torch most people doing jewelry start off with. If she has an oxy-acetylene welding setup she may be able to use a Y-fitting on the acetylene regulator and avoid the expense of another tank and regulator.

Well, I'm going to disagree with the others this time. I don't particularly like the Prestolite torch for jewelry work as I find it too awkward in my hand due to the shape of the handle and placement of the valve. Also, I don't like a torch that doesn't allow me to adjust the mixture for lean or rich.

I know that a lot of people like the Smith Little Torch for jewelry work, but I find it also limiting because it is so small. I don't find it to be large enough for melting decent amounts of metal for casting, nor is it well suited for annealing pieces of any size at all. For small pinpoint work on gold, it is the tops, however.

My preference for an all-around torch for metalsmithing, from silversmithing to casting to light welding to gold work, is the small oxy/acetylene torch sold by Airco years ago for radiator work. Victor has made a similar unit over the years, too. This torch is midway between the Little Torch and a standard O/A welding torch, with tips available from 000 to #5 and even a small rosebud, plus a cutting attachment.

ONe torch that is available today that is a good size and well made is the Meco "Midget" torch. It has the valves at the base of the nozzle stem where they aren't in the way and don't get knocked out of adjustment the way that valves at the base of your hand can often do.

The Smith Versa Torch is the closest thing to my old Airco that is available today, I think. This torch is sold primarily for the heating and air conditioning trade, like my old Airco was sold primarily for the radiator repair trade years ago.

Rich