BernzOmatic Basic Use UL2317 Brass Pencil Flame Propane Torch Head (UL2317 Torch)

I experienced the same issue other reviewers noted: the pinhole where gas comes through is too small, won't let gas through, and thus won't ignite. I thought that was the issue. Turns out if you don't hold your igniter right at the tip of torch head, it won't ignite. If you hold the igniter RIGHT AT THE EXHAUST of the torch head, it'll ignite (see attached picture). Once I figured that out, the torch works beautifully with a small pencil-tipped flame. Just make sure you're igniting it in the right spot.

This review is of BernzOmatic Model UL2317 Brass Pencil Flame Torch Head. Works perfectly. Lights easily, stays lit, allows tilt angle of at least 135° even though the instructions and packaging note that it’s for “upright” use. See video. In the video I used a 16 oz propane container, about 1/3 full and at 50°F. It is entirely plausible that your performance while tilted may vary if your canister has a different fullness or is at a different temperature. I do remember my previous torch (I’m sure it was a BernzOmatic, might have been this exact model) under certain conditions surging when tilted, by which I mean a large increase in flame. I don’t remember it ever going out due to tilting. It’s been many years, but if I had to guess I’d say it was most pronounced when the temperature was colder and the canister less full. I learned a long time ago that lighting a torch with a match is easiest if you open the valve as little as possible, and if it’s really cold, heat the tip with the match for a bit before you open the valve. I did not preheat the tip for this test.

Excellent product and price

Hard to light built well but no lighting instructions were included in package

Short version - at the time of this review there are over 197 other reviews with the same issue. And, Amazon does not allow exchanges or returns on it. Detailed: I've been using this brand of torch heads since the late 1970's and I've never had a problem with them before, so of course I didn't believe the other reviews that said this one doesn't light. I figured they must just be doing something wrong. Welp, they're true. This simply won't ignite, even on the typical 1lb propane cylinders by the same brand and with several different igniters, all of which work perfectly with even my old corroded same brand torch head and my other brand heads. (Amazon wouldn't publish my review with the brand names in it). I don't know if this is just a defective batch being sold just here or if it's a counterfeit, but in either case - there's definitely an issue with these. And yeah, as I clicked add to cart and cruised to the checkout, I didn't notice that there are no returns on this. It falls under their safety clause. A $19 loss and hassle. I can't recommend.

so i saw all the negative posts about how there is no holes in the tube that the end cap screws on ... I previously bought another torch and i was disappointed with how large the flame was, i needed a nice blue pencil flame ... so this one was recommended ... well I received it and what do you know NO HOLE! i thought for a second I too got screwed ... then i remembered i had an old torch in the garage, what do you know it's the same model!! so i unscrewed it ... and it doesn't have a hole either! PURE magic!!!! so i screw the new one on to the bottle and ... out comes a beautiful flame .... Morale of the story ... don't return it and call it junk until you test it ... just because you can't see the hole or holes , doesn't mean somehow it's not there ... i wish I had a microscope to actually see how they achieved this .. but i can attest ... it works and it looks like there are no holes ... can't see them ... but it lights up and works... and that's all that matters! flame is beautiful pencil , and this will be a perfect match for my annealing machine !

You can use this for melting jewelry, soldering larger items, baking, searing and many more things! I don't use it much because you have to connect it to the Gas but it's a nice tool to have just in case I want to! Works really well and would buy from this company again!

Ordered two of these - one worked great, the other does not - no gas flows through the valve. Amazon says the item is not eligible to be returned, and all of my efforts to inquire about a replacement or refund direct me to the "return" page, which says that the item is not eligible to be returned.... It's frustrating to receive a defective item and not have an option to receive a replacement or refund. I won't be buying any more items like this through Amazon.