Getting Started Soldering - Butane Fuel
Now that we have covered butane torches - I thought we should talk about Butane itself - as not all fuel is created equal.
Butane is a hydrocarbon and a highly flammable, colorless, odorless, easily liquefied gas. It is typically used as fuel for cigarette lighters and portable stoves and in our case, our little butane torches for jewelry soldering.
When choosing the right butane for your torch I highly recommend a triple (more more) refined butane. The cleaner the fuel, the cleaner the flame (that’s better for you and the environment). It also increases the longevity of your torch. My favorite brand is King which is a 5 x refined butane fuel.
Some other things to consider :
When refilling your torch: Do so outside. Never fill a warm/hot torch. Always fill your torch with the tip facing away from you and gas gauge pushed all the way down. Leave your torch for 5 - 10 minuted after you have filled it so the gas can settle and any excess gas can be dispelled.
Storage: Always keep your torch stored upright. Keep it stored away from other flammable fuels like the butane refill or denatured alcohol.
Let me know what you think in the comments or if you have any experience with this fuel I’d love to know about it. You can also read my other blogs here
