so, i just bought a tipping torch.  up until now ive been using a splicing torch (EGL 81-N/A 'fishtail' tips) for tipping off, which has been working, but i'm using lead glass electrodes.  seeing as those wont be around forever, i decided it would be a good idea to get a tipping torch.  it sounds like the lead-free tubulations arent as forgiving and more prone to residual internal stress after tipoff, so i figured it would be better to have a smaller, more concentrated flame to lessen that if possible.

that got me thinking—who all out there has both a tipping torch and a splicing torch setup at their benches?  do you use both often enough to justify having two or do you prefer just using one?

seeing as there are about as many bending styles & setups as there are benders out there, i am interested in how each one of you does it.

Well, as you've guessed, you can potentially get twice as many opinions as there are benders.  But for me, YES, I do have both types.  Partly this is due to the desire to have one closer to the pump bench for tipping, and another closer to the bending bench for splices.  Sometimes the conditions dictate moving one to the other's spot depending upon the glass size and what I am trying to do.  In my tiny portable shop that I do demos and classes with, the need is usually lessened and I can do nearly everything I need to with just the 500T.  I do often use my 500T tipping torch for splices on small diameter tubing and it works fine for that.  The go-to for tipping is definitely the 500T (none better in my opinion) ....for splices, I like the 228 size for small-ish stuff and the 81A for the bigger......I also have a few oddball hand torches (I am a collector/restorer/historian of vintage neon shop tools) and among them they run the gamut from small, to a giant that uses a 1/2" gas line to feed it.....I can only imagine what diameter glass Paul Bunyon was working with...but for what I usually do, the 500T and the 228 are the ones I use most often.

On a somewhat related note, if your torch has lost its handle, seriously consider making a proper replacement or even having a woodturner friend custom make one that is contoured how you want....the right fitting handle can make all the difference in how things go when you use a tool.  (I simply supplied a rough sketch with dimensions to a friend and explained what I needed and he was able to turn them out for me and then I just did the fine fitment on the torches.  They work great!  One of the better investments I've made.)

For years I did all my tipping off with my regular hand torch, I would just turn the flame down a little bit before I did a tip-off. A couple of years ago I acquired a tipping torch from a neon shop that I bought out and decided to try it out. I didn't like it at first but I think I just needed to get used to it. Now I definitely prefer it for tip-offs. I don't have a separate hook-up for each one, however, so I just switch the torches out as needed...just pop off the hand torch and put the tip-off torch in its place. I do have to adjust my gas and air settings every time but only takes a second so not a big deal for me. Usually, when I'm processing units, I let them accumulate on the burn-in table, then switch my torches and tip-off all the mercury traps at the same time. When I'm removing units from the manifold after pumping I just use my regular hand torch.

I splice in my crossfire almost 100% of the time. So I only have a tipping torch. I did do a repair on a ruby sign recently where I wished I had my hand torch setup. Its just sitting in a file cabinet.