What torch tips?

[Skip Montanaro]

I purchased my torch setup from a fellow who I believe bought it new and used it to build one frame. The assortment of torch tips is rather limited. Here's my handle (Uniweld Model 71) and the two tips I have, one marked "3-TEN", the other "TEN-2". To my naive eyes they look pretty much identical. What other tips should I get? (I was reminded to post now because of Thomas's quest for a lightweight hose, which would also be useful (a recurring theme since the demise of the Tin Man)...

I recently repaired a bike stand one of whose welds had broken. I believe I had the TEN-2 tip in the torch. It seemed like it took a fair bit of effort to get it up to temp. I suppose that's not entirely surprising, as I was dealing with bar stock in both parts.

Thx,

Skip, Evanston IL

[Jim Gourgoutis]

Fwiw I believe those tips are intended for oxy-propane. I have the same torch handle, and I use mainly the TEN-2 with my oxy-propane setup. 

Thanks!

-Jim G

On Jul 23, 2025, at 8:07 AM, Skip Montanaro <skip.mo...@gmail.com> wrote:



--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Framebuilders" group.
 
Searchable archives for this group can be found at http://groups.google.com/group/framebuilders (recent content) and http://search.bikelist.org (older content).
 
To post to this group, send email to frameb...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
framebuilder...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/framebuilders?hl=en

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Framebuilders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to framebuilder...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/framebuilders/CANc-5UxXAZD28BhXTqSgyRdq9mLCb6SUNiMMrUXpCHxKs0n%3Djg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Skip Montanaro]

Fwiw I believe those tips are intended for oxy-propane. I have the same torch handle, and I use mainly the TEN-2 with my oxy-propane setup. 

Thanks, yes, I'm using oxy-propane.

Skip

[Doug Fattic]

Skip, you need to make sure that your mixer elbow is a UN-J designed for Oxypropane.  On page 73 of your magnificent framebuilding class manual is a chart showing the different tip sizes and possible purposes.  There is a bigger chart in the appendix. Those tips you have, have a different size orifice and the 3-TEN tip is what I use for general use like brazing lugs.  The 2-TEN tip produces a smaller flame and is used accordingly.  I like to use a 1-TEN tip for fillet brazing and putting on braze-on bits.  I don't think Victor makes the 1-TEN tip any more but you can get a clone from Gentec.  G-tec used to make clones too but don't anymore. 

The problem with TEN tips is that they are more prone to getting blown out by flame pressure.  This is why we use multi-port tips that don't blow out as easily.  Of course the recent loss of TM and Paige Tools has made using Meco or Paige tips with their 1/4' X 28tpi threading to fit a UN-J 5/16" X 27 tpi a none solvable problem.  At the present time there is no alternative answer. 

Smith Kevlar hoses are super great.  Their problem is that they are expensive and not as robust as the light hoses from TM.  A drop of melted flux can burn through them.  Since you have no other choice except heavy rubber hoses, get those.  Keep them out of the way of melting flux.  I taught an older student once from the UK.  He was a not particulariy gifted with hand coordination.  His philosophy of money being raised in poor post war England prevented hm from paying for light hoses. The heavy rubber hoses he used prevented him from ever being good at brazing. Don't be like him.    

Doug Fattic

Niles, Michigan

[Mark Bulgier]

Doug Fattic wrote:

[snip] I like to use a 1-TEN tip for fillet brazing and putting on braze-on bits.  I don't think Victor makes the 1-TEN tip any more but you can get a clone from Gentec.  G-tec used to make clones too but don't anymore. 

The problem with TEN tips is that they are more prone to getting blown out by flame pressure.  This is why we use multi-port tips that don't blow out as easily.  Of course the recent loss of TM and Paige Tools has made using Meco or Paige tips with their 1/4' X 28tpi threading to fit a UN-J 5/16" X 27 tpi a none solvable problem.  At the present time there is no alternative answer. 

So, what's the problem with these G-Tec tips?

From here: https://www.gas-tec.com/torchtips

That's not rhetorical, I really know nothing about them.  They say they're for natural gas, but they should work the same for oxy/propane, right?  Is it a threading problem, like they don't fit any torches we use? 

The website doesn't seem to give any more info, or maybe I'm just on the wrong page.  Seems like they want you to call them on the phone.

I'm not going to research it further because I have all the Paige tips I'll ever need (and a few I probably won't...)

I'll be glad to learn more though, if someone here knows, or is willing to do the work to track down more info.

[Doug Fattic]

I got some of these G-tec multiport tips to check them in case they might work well for my students .  These tips have Victor threads so there would not be any need for an adapter like we have to use with Meco or Paige tips.  Most of their sizes are too big for general framebuilding use.  They are kinda like a rosebud but with a sharp center flame.  I like to use them when brazing a fork crown.  There is enough flame volume to heat up the crown with the sharp center flame to clean the shorelines.  You can see in the photo that their side holes are pretty large creating a bit broader flame pattern than I prefer. I would bet that Mark would like them better than me because he is a big flame kind of brazer.  I can generalize that these larger G-tec tips are the size that starts where the smaller Meco tips leave off.  Generally my students need a smaller flame giving them more time to read and react to what is happening at the joint.  I'll mention this again that G-tec no longer sells their copies of the Victor TEN series because their supplier no longer makes them. I like to use them anytime I am trying to braze something quickly.  It isn't very often when I'm not working with a student that requires me to slow down so they can better see what they should be doing. 

Doug Fattic

[Skip Montanaro]

> On page 73 of your magnificent framebuilding class manual is a chart showing the different tip sizes and possible purposes.

Thanks, that occurred to me yesterday, but haven't made it back to my
basement lair to review the possibilities.

As for skinny hoses, I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet, buy
some Kevlar™️ hoses, and be careful.

Skip

[Matt Wilkinson]

A cheap fix is to use a bungee cord to take the weight of the hoses.  This is what we did in the Brompton factory.  We used to hook it onto the gas cylinder collar.  Also, fit the hoses very carefully to the torch connectors so there is no twist, and the torch sits neutrally in your hand. The tip can be adjusted to fine-tune the balance point.

Matt Wilkinson

UK

--
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Framebuilders" group.

Searchable archives for this group can be found at http://groups.google.com/group/framebuilders (recent content) and http://search.bikelist.org (older content).

To post to this group, send email to frameb...@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
framebuilder...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/framebuilders?hl=en

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Framebuilders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to framebuilder...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/framebuilders/CANc-5Uy9evRHiVnem%3DKwaeg9Wi%2BGcCveiHMUeRry%3DYEu23sDkQ%40mail.gmail.com.