gentec small torch vs smith little torch

[Firekist]

just wondering if anyone out here's used both of these, and if they can give a review.
the gentec is cheaper, has a longer hose, and the basic kit comes with the #7 tip.
with such a small simple torch.. the only thing i can think that would be able to be much different is the knobs/valves..

anyway, i'd like a review if anyone's got one.

z---seth

[kiss_my_glass]

yay for the #7 tip! The Bigles told me about when he was here. I got it just a couple of weeks ago and now I can't live without it. I'd be curious to see a review of this gentec torch as well. I did think the little torch was kind of expensive for what it is, but I do love the thing.

[$$$$$$$]

# 7 tip is for ballers!!! if you don't have one your a total joke..

[Mr. Whale dick]

just get the smith

[Firekist]

i'm gonna hold off for a while.. then maybe get the gentec if noone's spoken up.. just to compare it to the smith. the gentec isn't much cheaper when you find the right stores online, but it's at least 25$ less... and if you don't search online well, there's an 80$ difference.

holdin out
z----seth

[Dom]

I got the smith for like 110 shipped. Best price I could find on ebay.

BTW: It comes with the #7 tip included, along with 4 other tips.

How much is the gentec?

[Micah Evans]

the gentec is around 80 bucks, it comes with 5 tips as well but they all work! the 3 and 4 tip on the little torch are a bit small and are hard to keep lit. the Gentec is also more durable, all cast metal, the little torch has a plastic body.

this is a great site for both

http://www.contenti.com/products/soldering/torches.html (http://www.contenti.com/products/soldering/torches.html)

[Firekist]

thanks for the input micah! i didn't think the smith's body was plastic, but it's good to hear the review on the gentec.

now to wait for a deal.. damn right i'm cheap.

z--seth

[mer]

did they change the smith? mine has a metal body.

[jusbag]

I just ordered the Gentec off ebay, $99 shipped.

[Blacksheep]

im also going to go for the gentec a little cheaper for the same thing
im not cheap just poor hahahah
plastic sucks!

edit:holey crap i got a ninja badge?
more accurately a glass grasshopper lol

[mer]

i think the smith still has a metal body;
http://store.cyberweld.com/smlitoou.html

[Micah Evans]

mine has a plastic body, i think the new designs are plastic....which sucks

and regardless of body style, a side by side boro review i think the gentec comes out on top for our aplications. the tips seem to be a little bigger which gives you a little more variety on flame size.

[Micah Evans]

here is a picture of the little torch i received. the black body is plastic and comes unscrewed from the torch head rather easily. I am pretty sure these are the new designs and maybe other websites haven't updated their pictures quite yet.

[mer]

harsh, i'd send it back if it was advertised as the metal body. after i saw this i went and scratched mine to be sure lol.

[Micah Evans]

hahaha, yeah i thought it was metal for a while then i melted a little of it. plastic or not its still a bad ass little torch.

check this out, i made a beach ball with my little torch and some 2mm. i think this is just about 24 inches across

[mer]

wow! now make an atom on your delta.

[sevendeuce]

So who wins?

[Nomad]

I have a smith and mine is metal and not plastic. I got mine on ebay.com for $75. I only really use the #6 tip. It is nice to have a smaller cooler flame once in a wile. Not sure what your using it for though.

[aREa541]

Zombie thread, but I will ring in here.

The Smith has an aluminum body, Gentec's have chrome plated brass.

[vetropod]

GTT Yellow Jacket for the win!!! I can get the flame dialed down so far that I can't even see it, unless it's over something black. Plus no changing tips or whatever, dial right up to a nice big flame. Gotta love the triple mix...

[Nomad]

I hear the GTT yellow jacket is tight. It should be for the $420 it costs. But I am impressed.

[nodice]

That spiral hose looks sweet, but for the price...

[ALIEN!]

Anyone used a Hardin torch?

[LooseSeal Baller]

yes. I bought the Hardin micro torch.

the difference is in the valves. At least in the one I bought, the valves were really touchy ( like if you bump the knobs your flame would change ), and the hoses are junk.

Which in my case really sucked, cause thats why i bought the hardin, It was only 29 bucks off amazon, and I figured if the hardin torch sucked, I'd just hook the hoses up to my Smith Little torch and go from their, I figured either way I was coming out on top.

I salvaged the hoses and put them on the smith, and it works just fine, but the hoses are cheap and shitty probably last a year or less if I had to guess.

So yeah be weary of what you get from amazon

[Firekist]

we got a group discount on a few gentecs .. seems like a year ago.. and they've been great. i like their feel more than the smith, and the way their body is made.. everything seems to be about equal though.

6 tip, 7 tip, 5 hole blastshield are my goto's, along with a 12" hornet type tip for into the kiln.. i guess i got over being so cheap =)

now.. buy a swivel to fund my tip buying!

[kbinkster]

Thanks for mentioning the Yellow Jacket!

GTT Yellow Jacket for the win!!! I can get the flame dialed down so far that I can't even see it, unless it's over something black. Plus no changing tips or whatever, dial right up to a nice big flame. Gotta love the triple mix...

I took some video from the GTT shop, yesterday. Willy and Wally showed me the Yellow Jacket. For anyone interested in an alternative to the Gentec or Smith...
No changing tips, very stable flame, variety of flame chemistry available (not a premix - a triple mix surface mix), and I believe you can request straight hoses if you don't want the coiled ones:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHVeJ2qsivg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHVeJ2qsivg

[themoch]

Gentech with an 8in shelbo arm and 12 hole tip... does great things

[PyroChixRock]

I was going to invest in the shelbo tips for the smith soon, but after seeing that yellow jacket video I've changed my mind. :) I'd much rather have the torch with the completely adjustable flame then bother with tips. I can tell by Wes's pic that it gets small enough to do what I need a hand torch for.

Hey Kim tell GTT thanks for making yet another awesome torch for us! Woot!

[nodice]

I like the seven hole, and never really change it. Only problem is they're harder to light than other torches because of the small holes. I've had people who are used to hornets have serious problems trying to light my hand torch.

[LooseSeal Baller]

Thanks for mentioning the Yellow Jacket!


I took some video from the GTT shop, yesterday. Willy and Wally showed me the Yellow Jacket. For anyone interested in an alternative to the Gentec or Smith...
No changing tips, very stable flame, variety of flame chemistry available (not a premix - a triple mix surface mix), and I believe you can request straight hoses if you don't want the coiled ones:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHVeJ2qsivg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHVeJ2qsivg

I'm sure willy&wally have already thought about this but that would make an excellent center fire on a bench torch, maybe use less oxy than the lynx.

Don't get me wrong, I love the lynx!

[LooseSeal Baller]

I just envision a GTT, three stage Mirage, maybe with this as the centerfire, or maybe a 3 jet triple mix for the center...idk just dreaming :chilling:

[Tsnider]

my smith is aluminum. i saw the gentec LTD had a few years back and the quality was way better IMO

oh and throw those #1-6 to the shit can. hornet tip all day

[FoggyMountain]

Just went from a Carisle hand torch to the smith last week. I love the hoses because they are light and have virtually no spring back tension and light weight versatility of the torch itself. I have used the smith before and thought the factory tips were really lacking the fire power that i was used to with my Carlisle #3 tip. So i got the 5 hole blast shield tip and i am much happier with the firepower but feel I am lacking the fine needle point flame. I have heard good things about the shelbo tips but not sure where to get one.

[Skipjack]

The nearest place to you I know of to get Shelbo tips is ARTCO Inc. Mountain Glass also has Shelbo tips.

[FoggyMountain]

Heck ya! Thanks skip jack. I live just 15 minutes away from ARTCO and i didn't even know it! Going to drive there and pick up my tips when i get the cash.

[James Sowell]

here is some video of the smiths torch with shelbo 13 hole tip at 25 psi. my complaint the hoses on the smiths are cheap. i actually made a small 3 inch hand pipe with just this tip including pulling a point on 25 mm heavy wall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvDm7O9m9Y0