RAVS Butane Torch Lighter, DUAL Flame Mode Kitchen Torch, Refillable Cooking Torch Gun, Creme Brulee Torch Lighter, Blow Torch for Cooking, Welding, Mini Torch Soldering Torch, Butane is Not Included

MICRO TORCHES REVIEWI was unable to decide on which of the many butane micro torches I should buy from Amazon, and I couldn’t trust the ad claims or flame pictures, so I ended up buying 4 to test then against each other. I have lots of larger torches of various sizes, but I wanted one with the smallest, most focused flame. The pictures in the ads of the flames was not, where pictured at all, was not useful to me or accurate. Price was not a factor for me in this.1. Blazer ES1000CR Spitfirehttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EDU5NYMade in Japan. This one has very cumbersome controls. Lighting it is a very awkward process requiring two hands and rolling an interlock forward whole pushing down on a button. Lighting it also requires 3 other controls to be in the right positions. The controls also feel rather flimsy. The flame is OK There is very little variation in the flame between minimum and maximum. It does have a button for continuous operation, but again, it feels rather flimsy. It was also the second most expensive at $53. Really the most expensive when you consider all the extras the $56 Dremel comes with.2. Bernz-O-Matic ST2200Thttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B000PS9TQIMade in Taiwan. The listing for this product falsely states, in two places, “The product is manufactured in United States”. I did not appreciate the false/out-of-date information. The controls are much less cumbersome than the Blazer. It has a child lockout for the igniter, presumably brought to us courtesy of CPSC. If you don’t have kids and want to get rid of this, it looks like it would be very easy to just snap off a piece of plastic and be done with it.The torch is easy to use. There is not much difference between the minimum and maximum flames. The flame is a bit larger than the Blazer. I wanted the smallest flame, so this was a negative for me. The instructions are printed on the side of the main tube, which is handy. It also includes a soldering iron tip. $323. Dremel 2200-01https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MJW07Z0Made in Taiwan. Includes a decent thin metal box containing lots of accessories. If you don’t already have soldering equipment, this might be the best choice for you. It comes with a detachable stand; all the others come with a fixed base stand. The flame comes out at an upward angle, which all the others have a flame coming out at 90 degrees. This may be a plus or minus for you. This one, like the Bernz-O-Matic, comes with a plastic child lockout that looks like it could be broken off and discarded if you don’t want that feature. This one got second place in the biggest difference between minimum and maximum flames. The maximum flame was the largest of all tested, so if you’re looking for max flame, this is the one for you. At $56, the most expensive, but it comes with a lot more accessories than the others.Both the Dremel and the Bernz-O-Matic could easily be started using one hand, even with the child interlock. The Bernz-O-Matic was probably a bit easier to light with one hand. Both of them featured instant-off flame when you releaser the button, with a lock to engage for continuous flame.4. RAVS RBT018https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5RKWNMS?th=1Made in China. With the first three, you press the igniter button to turn on the gas and light it. The flame stays on only as long as you continue holding down the button (unless you engage the continuous lock). As soon as you release the button (or the continuous lock) the gas is cut off and the flame goes out. Probably more “consumer-safe” for people who don’t really know what they’re doing with a torch.This one is a bit different from the first three, in that it operates more like a typical propane torch. There is a rotary knob that you turn CCW to turn the gas on or CW to turn it off. So you turn the gas on, then press the igniter button to light the gas. You adjust the flame from min to max by using the rotary knob. The flame stays on until you turn the rotary knob fully CW to shut off the gas. So perhaps a bit less “safe” for those who don’t really know how to operate a torch safely.This one also felt a bit heavier and more substantial that the others. Apparently it uses more metal and less plastic. It also had, BY FAR, the most adjustable flame, from less than half what the others could produce (like down to about ¼” flame for some really fine work) to considerably more than their maximum flame. This one was also the cheapest at only $22.It’s also made in China. Normally, I will go to great lengths and spend considerably more to buy USA-made products, with probably Japan second and Taiwan third. However, for MY specific requirements, this Chinese RAVS was the clear choice for me.

Easy to useI have had a creme brûlée torch, about this size, for a number of years now. Although it works, I’ve never been comfortable with it. In order to promote safety (were the lawyers or designers at fault here?) you actually have to use two hands to use it. There is a spring activated safety thingy that you have to pull down and hold with one thumb nail while triggering the button to operate the torch. Even when you get it going you still have to hold that safety button down while using it. It’s awkward, and I have threatened to get rid of it as long as I’ve had it.Recently I acquired a drink smoking kit which you can see reviewed by me, elsewhere on Amazon. It’s fun. But it was NOT fun trying to ignite the wood chips in the kit, at a steep angle, while trying to keep the flame going. I finally got disgusted enough to search for a torch that would be more convenient to use.Enter this RAVS butane torch lighter. RAVS takes a different approach to safety. They have a plastic snap-on piece that prevents the trigger from being pushed when you don’t intend it to fire. But, for use, you just pull the safety device off, put it to the side, open the gas valve, push the button, and have at it. The flame is adjustable for size and intensity, and the unit fits your hand well.One thing you should know, though. The gas valve has to be rotated closed with some force, when you’re done. Otherwise it will continue to leak butane. It took me a couple of minutes to discover why I heard a hissing sound before even lighting the torch. In fairness, reading the directions more carefully helped(!)I will use this torch, both for culinary purposes, and for eliminating bubbles from epoxy pours in some things I make recreationally, in my workshop.The torch is sturdy, fits my hand perfectly, is easy to use, safe, and I like it a lot. Highly recommended.

Ive bought a couple cheap torches before and they all had horrible defects that are extremely dangerous. They shouldnt even be allowed to be sold but this one actually works perfectly. The igniter isnt plastic and im not scared of the knob falling off and me not being able to turn it off. Ive put this thing through quite a bit so far and its great. Fills up perfectly no leaks or anything like that. You should buy this if your looking for one online. I also see it has different models though make sure its the copper/bronze looking one.