Jewelers hand torch

[boxfan willy]

Anybody heard of this diddy???
http://www.contenti.com/products/soldering/110-406.html

I was looking for a gen tec and ran across this Hoke. It's almost $50 less than the gen tec. Wondering if this is a "you get what you pay for"

Thanks

http://www.contenti.com/products/soldering/110-430.html

They have a clean gas saver as well.

[boxfan willy]

Got it the Hoke today. Pretty damn hot. The gas saver and torch with four tips for $100, brand new. Solid metal construction, no plastic parts. Pretty comfortable to tune the flame.

I will give a review after I clock some hours.

[Doc Holliday]

Thanks boxfan, new toy for me too!

[JSR Studio]

what tips does it come with?

[Rosentech]

Are the tip sizes comparable to the Gen Tec and Smith?

Is the gas saver nice and sturdy?

[boxfan willy]

The tips are comparable to the Smith. 1,2,3 and 5. all single orifice. The gas saver was a pleasant surprise. Real sturdy, so far. "Don't quote me boys, cause I ain't said shit". Let me run it through a beating and I will let you know, but so far, as very good value.

[Dom]

Looks like a nice torch, the only thing Im not diggin is the valves. Are they easy and comfortable to use?

[Greymatter Glass]

I got one from bear at AGI, it's pretty nice. holds a flame better than the Smith Little Torch, but I'm not a big fan of their knobs...Smith little torch has much nicer knobs. Still, for the price the hoke is a better deal.

[p.j.]

what pressure do these run at?

[somberbear]

hokes are hit and miss on the machining too... i have had 3 or 4 pass threw my shop and some times you get really really nicely done ones and some times not so much.... but over all there great , and run nice on hydrogen too

[mer]

what pressure do these run at?
i run my smith on the same 45 and 6 i run the rest of the torches on, seems to work fine.

[Islandglass Man]

If you really want to run a hoke jewel have a machinist replace the brass venture with SS and make the oxygen port larger. Then get some piloted SS tips and adapt it to the neck. I have also made my own necks out of SS heavy wall to run hydrogen. If your finger are to fat to move the valves easy file off the ends a little.

Bear

[Greymatter Glass]

File off the ends of my fat fingers? Damn Bear.... you're gangsta!

[Unkl Ian]

Where are these made ?

[CripSkillz]

China where ya think..

[Islandglass Man]

The last time I talked to the supplier of the hoke jewel they where made in the US. The company that I dealt with in Grobay File co.they are located in NJ.

About 15 years ago I tried to persuade Grobay to modify the torch and make it more versatile for lampworkers. At that time there was not much interest in hand torches they did not see the need to change it. Also the guy who was casting the handle was about 80 years old and didn't want to change the process . I have not talked to anyone at that company since.

Back in the 50's the hoke torch was produced in two sizes the handle was the same except for the threads at the neck. The larger torch had the threads on the out side the small jewel threads where on the inside. I have a few of the large torches and modified to work hydrogen and it is a real cooker. I modified the way the neck was attached so I could change the neck (length, angle, multiple tips) not very hard to do once you learn to braze with silver solder.

Any way that's the story

Bear

[boxfan willy]

That is a cool story Bear. How many damn torches you got stashed away?
This one was made in China. The threading on the tips could be better and the knobs are a little clumsy. I'll be replacing those. It does feel like it is still cast.

[Islandglass Man]

I guess I have inherited a lot of passed on lampworkers tool over the years. I am getting ride of some tools and stuff (I seem to lots of stuff) at AGI again

F*&$king Chinese

Well the guy was 80 doing the castings.

The hoke is still better then that tiny weeny smith you have to get way to close to the work with that one and it has no power. No reason to have a premix if you don't have concentrated power.

Anyone going to Tucson??


Bear

[Greymatter Glass]

Tucson you say? I say I'm at table TA-24a in the art tent.

Bring some stuff, I'll buy things from you.

[Islandglass Man]

Hey I getting old I spelled the manufacturer wrong it's GROBET co. google it

No Dug I am not going to fly with stuff but I'll buy you a beer!!

Bear

[davidwillisglass]

my $.02. sorry i didn't jump in before your purchase boxfan.

there are very tools i own that i love as much as my smith little torch. i even gold foiled the knurled bit of the handle i love it so much. worth every penny, and no complaints after years of heavy use. as far as power, this is not a torch designed for power, but for finesse and micro, for more power i go to a small tip on a national.