Reddit reviews Culinary Blow Torch, Tintec Chef Cooking Torch Lighter, Butane Refillable, Flame Adjustable (MAX 2500°F) with Safety Lock for Cooking, BBQ, Baking, Brulee, Creme, DIY Soldering & more (Aluminum alloy)
We found 2 Reddit comments about Culinary Blow Torch, Tintec Chef Cooking Torch Lighter, Butane Refillable, Flame Adjustable (MAX 2500°F) with Safety Lock for Cooking, BBQ, Baking, Brulee, Creme, DIY Soldering & more (Aluminum alloy). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
[Butane not included]★PROFESSIONAL FOR COOKING: Adopt super lightweight Aluminum Alloy shell covered with ABS plastic handle and high-temperature resistant muzzle, ensuring long lifespan; Coming with a Silicone Basting, heat resistance up to 446⁰F / 230⁰C and can be used in the kitchen, the grill and on non-stick pans.★SAFE DESIGN: Security lock prevents accidental ignition and a wide set base helps to prevent the culinary butane torch from tipping. NOTE: Keep out of reach of children.★EASY&PORTABLE: Refill the culinary torch with butane and simply press on ignition button. This butane torch is small and lightweight, easy to hold.★VERSATILE: Caramelizing food, sugar atop creme brulee, glazing a baked ham, searing a steak, roasting bell peppers, melting cheese and toasting bread crumbs. Useful for lighting your fireplace, candles or cigars, dabs, for hobby, soldering DIY jewelry, get rid of surface bubbles in your art resin, welding, for multiple camping applications,,etc.★REMOVABLE METAL BASE: Compatible with kinds of butane can nozzle, you can remove the metal base by screwing two screws to fit different butane can torch. Package come with a Screwdriver for you to use.
Coasters are definitely a good place to start for a beginner!
You'll want the resin itself - I use ArtResin which is nice because it's 1:1 (one part resin to one part hardener), non-toxic, and has a nice long curing time - you have about 45 minutes to work with it, so you have a bit of time to play with colorants and such. Here's a smaller amount - it should get you a few coasters, depending on how thick of a layer he uses. https://www.amazon.com/ArtResin-Epoxy-Resin-Respirator-Needed/dp/B01BX6893Y/ref=sr_1_3?crid=19EAF82YR2XDD&keywords=artresin+clear+non-toxic+epoxy+resin&qid=1554142344&s=gateway&sprefix=artresin%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-3
You'll need some molds - search on Amazon for 'silicone coaster molds'. Baking molds are fine! Look for ones that have a shiny bottom, as that's how the resin will come out. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=silicone+coaster+mold&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
He'll want a way to measure and mix - here are some plastic cups with measurements on it that I use: https://www.amazon.com/Disposable-Graduated-Clear-Plastic-Mixing/dp/B06Y3ZXS7P/ref=sr_1_6?crid=VG6YC7K9WUVL&keywords=mixing+cups+for+epoxy&qid=1554142453&s=gateway&sprefix=mixing+cup%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-6
Some thin wooden sticks for mixing: https://www.amazon.com/Loew-Cornell-Simply-Craft-Picks-1021200/dp/B0041D7O92/ref=sr_1_49?crid=3UC9ISF75I68N&keywords=popsicle+sticks+thin&qid=1554142569&s=gateway&sprefix=popsicle+%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-49
You may want to grab some latex gloves and/or breathing masks (can't be too careful).
Last, whatever he'd want to use to decorate, like colors or objects to cast inside! Alcohol inks are great and can do those cool petri dish effects but can run a bit pricey for a lot of them (but if that's what he wants to do, make sure you get white along with whatever other colors he'd want to use). Powdered pigments are a bit cheaper, but I haven't used them myself before so someone else will need to speak to that.
Edit: for getting bubbles out, he COULD use a straw, but a small kitchen torch will do the job MUCH better so that isn't a bad addition: https://www.amazon.com/Culinary-Tintec-Refillable-Adjustable-Soldering/dp/B07BRT4ZNV/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=kitchen+torch&qid=1554143056&s=gateway&sr=8-3
I had to look up a vapcap, seems pretty cool. The lighter depends on price point, from $15 to $35+. It seems like the type of lighter you are after are cigar lighters, because they cover a large surface area and put out a lot of heat. Vector is a good brand that offers low to mid range. The Vector Delta -https://www.lightersdirect.com/Delta.2771/Vector+Delta+Black+Matte+Cigar+Lighter.24138.html?osCsid=8edf80ab416f0e3a1bedc7051d3f8642 is a good option, see through tank, refillable and has dual flames that point inwards. Vector make decent quality lighters IMO.
If you want the look of a zippo but the functionality of a butane lighter, the z-plus double insert -https://www.famous-smoke.com/z-plus-double-torch-insert/item-58961 can be considered, all you need to do is just replace the zippo insert with this one.
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Ive also heard of people using kitchen brand handheld torches like this one- https://www.amazon.com/Culinary-Tintec-Refillable-Adjustable-Soldering/dp/B07BRT4ZNV/ref=sr_1_26?keywords=butane+lighter&qid=1563114846&s=gateway&sr=8-26 , although i would not know from personal experience.
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hope this helps