The 8 Best Torches For Plumbers
Updated by · How we research
For sweating copper, from faucet repairs to joist bays, we compared eight torches by fuel, ignition, hose reach and warranty. The Bernzomatic TS8000 leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
The yellow cylinders sold for plumbing torches now hold MAP-Pro, which is mostly propylene. The original MAPP gas stopped being made in North America around 2008. A torch head screws onto one of those or a propane cylinder and heats copper pipe until solder flows into the joint. Plumbers, HVAC techs and homeowners use them.
From the manual
- Open the flame knob fully before pulling the trigger; lighting or running on a low flame can damage the igniter and burn tube. p. 3
- Keep the cylinder within 60 degrees of upright. The regulator cuts the risk of pulsing or yellow flames, but past that angle it can flare. p. 3
- Take the cylinder off whenever you put the torch away, then pull the trigger to bleed the gas left in the head. pp. 3-4
- Gas or flame from the small hole in the body means internal damage, and the torch should not be used again. Bromic data sheet, p. 4
Why the Bernzomatic TS8000 is our top pick
The deciding difference is the warranty: our pick is covered for as long as the original buyer owns it,1,2 while our runner-up, the Master Appliance PT-2000Si, gets its maker's one-year limited warranty.5 Otherwise the two heads are close on paper. Both burn propane or yellow-cylinder MAP gas, and both have a flame-size knob, a lock button for long joints and a regulator for tipped work.1,3,4
The one-year terms carry two more catches. They exclude burners and tips, and buying the torch on Amazon from any seller but Master itself voids the warranty.5 Bernzomatic's coverage excludes only misuse, accidents, poor upkeep, normal wear, and repairs or changes by anyone but its maker.1
We also found more documentation for our pick. Its data sheet lists an ANSI/UL 147 approval and explains how to reset the spark wire about 1/8 inch from the burn tube when the igniter stops sparking.3 Its manual is plain about limits, too: tipped past 60 degrees from upright, the torch can flare.1 The runner-up's sell sheet names no safety listing or tilt angle, and we found no full instruction manual for it.4
| Bernzomatic TS8000 | Master Appliance PT-2000Si | |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | Limited lifetime | One year |
| Not covered | Misuse, wear, outside repairs | Misuse, burners, tips |
| Bought from an Amazon reseller | Not addressed | Warranty void |
| Fuel | Propane or MAP-Pro | Propane or MAPP gas |
| Safety listing named | ANSI/UL 147 | None on sell sheet |
Sources
- Bernzomatic TS8000 1Trigger-start torches manual (PDF), pp. 3, 4 2DuraCast 8000 product page and warranty 3Technical data sheet from Bromic, its Australian distributor (PDF), pp. 1, 1, 4
- Master Appliance PT-2000Si 4Sell sheet (PDF) 5Warranty page
From the manual
- The TS4000 has no flame adjustment knob, so its flame can't be turned down for small fittings. p. 2
- In cold weather the flame shrinks; warm the cylinder to room temperature before you start. p. 3
- The lifetime warranty is for the original buyer and is void if anyone but Bernzomatic repairs or modifies the torch. p. 4
From the manual
- Clip the holster on the side of your working hand; the manual says that lets you pull the cylinder free fast in an emergency. p. 1
- If the cylinder sits somewhere other than your belt, don't stretch the hose so far that it pulls the cylinder. p. 1
- The hose doesn't lift the tilt rule: tipping the cylinder past 60 degrees from upright can still make the torch flare. p. 1
From the manual
- Propane only: the manual says any other fuel may damage the torch, so a MAP-Pro cylinder is out. p. 1
- Use it upright. Tilting it far or moving it fast lets liquid propane reach the valve, and the flame can flare or go out. p. 1
- If it doesn't light right away, close the valve and wait five minutes before trying again. p. 1
- As a safety feature, the burner tube can bend or snap if the torch is dropped, and then the torch must be replaced. p. 1
Editor's Notes
November 4, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We read Bernzomatic's manuals for the TS8000, TS4000, Reach Torch and WT2301, plus Master Appliance's sell sheet and warranty, and added notes from them and a section on why the TS8000 leads. We corrected the TS4000 entry, which credited it with a flame-size knob it doesn't have, and dropped an unconfirmed heat claim from the FAQ. The fuel advice now cites This Old House's Richard Trethewey, and the guide cites the torch manual directly on tilt limits.
October 17, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
No head we found is better documented than the Bernzomatic TS8000, which now ranks first with a regulator, a flame lock and a lifetime warranty. Much of the 2020 list had aged out: the Ivation Heavy-Duty, Blue Flame 9XTL and Virax VX520501 are no longer available, and the Nikou Blow torch is gone from sale. We also dropped the EW Welding Torch, a small brass head better suited to jewelry work, and the Mr. Torch Bluefire Triple Flame, which had low stock and thin evidence.
The Master Appliance PT-2000Si, the TurboTorch STK-99 and the Appli Parts APHT-3SW stay. New are the Bernzomatic TS4000, the Bernzomatic Reach BZ8250HT for cramped joist bays, the cheap propane-only Bernzomatic WT2301 and the RTTOOA GJ-8000pro.
One correction. An older note here described MAPP gas as a mix of methylacetylene and propadiene. That was the original fuel, and it stopped being made in North America around 2008. The yellow cylinders sold now hold MAP-Pro, which is mostly propylene.
A word on evidence: we found no independent lab tests of plumbing torches. We read maker pages and datasheets for flame and pipe-size figures, plus a working plumber's roundup, owner feedback and recall checks, and each entry says when a claim comes only from the seller.
Earlier notes
May 12, 2020, by Chris Gillespie:
Modern blowtorches are highly-efficient pieces of equipment that are suitable for soldering and welding, as well as a variety of DIY tasks around the home. When used with MAPP gas, which is a mixture of methylacetylene and propadiene, a higher intensity flame is produced, meaning jobs can be completed more efficiently, and the spectrum is broadened to include brazing and large diameter welding. It goes without saying that tools of this nature have their dangers, therefore suitable safety equipment should be worn and a fire extinguisher should be kept close to hand.
Those who are looking for a general-purpose torch for use around the home, or completing light DIY tasks probably don't need an incredibly high-temperature flame, therefore the Nikou Blow torch or the EW Welding Torch would be sufficient. The Blue Flame 9XTL is a versatile model that comes with three interchangeable tips, one of which is designed for sous vide cooking or searing meat. On the other hand, the options with the hottest flame are the Mr. Torch Bluefire Triple Flame, the Bernzomatic TS8000, and the Master Appliance PT-2000Si, which all function with MAPP gas and would suit a professional plumber or an Industrial welder.
If you need something that is good for confined spaces, or awkward to reach areas, then the Virax VX520501, the ESAB TurboTorch, and the Appli Parts Hand Torch are designed to be used with an extension hose. The Ivation Heavy-Duty has a flexible neck and a narrow nozzle, and can also be used with a hose for a greater level of maneuverability.
Propane Or MAP-Pro, And Which Cylinder Is Which
Most homeowners work on 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch lines, where any trigger head here is enough.
Every torch on this list runs on a disposable hand-torch cylinder with the standard screw thread, and none includes fuel. The choice is between propane and MAP-Pro. Bernzomatic's figures put flame temperatures in air at 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit for propane and 3,730 for MAP-Pro. That gap sounds small, but MAP-Pro heats a joint faster. This Old House's blowtorch guide (2016, updated 2026) pairs propane with half-inch copper and MAP gas with 3/4-inch and larger, and the show's plumbing and heating expert, Richard Trethewey, warns that on smaller fittings the hotter gas "can actually be too hot" (This Old House).
In Bernzomatic's color scheme, blue cylinders hold propane and yellow ones hold MAP-Pro, but read the label, since other brands use other colors. The old MAPP gas, a blend of methylacetylene and propadiene, is no longer made in North America; today's yellow cylinders hold mostly propylene (Wikipedia). Some cheap torches are rated for propane only, so check before you buy a MAP-Pro cylinder.
Pipe size sets how much heat you need. TurboTorch rates its STK-99 kit for soft soldering copper up to 3 inches on propane and 3 1/2 inches on MAP-Pro (PexUniverse). Most homeowners work on 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch lines, where any trigger head here is enough. For large pipe and regular brazing, trades step up to air-acetylene kits, which burn hotter.
Trigger Heads, Hose Torches And Swivel Tips
A trigger-start head screws straight onto the cylinder. Squeeze to light, release to shut off, and use the flame lock for long joints. On the Terry Love plumbing forum, a longtime member told a homeowner asking which torch to buy that a trigger start is safer and keeps the heat steady because you relight faster when the flame blows out (Terry Love forum). A regulator in the head steadies the flame when you tip it, but a cold cylinder still gives a smaller flame, so Bernzomatic's manual says to start with one at room temperature.
Cylinder-mounted heads have one limit: angle. Bernzomatic markets its regulated heads for use at any angle, but its manual for the TS8000 and TS4000 warns that tipping the cylinder more than 60 degrees from upright can make the torch flare (Bernzomatic manual). For overhead joints and tight joist bays, a hose torch solves that. The cylinder stays upright in a holster or on the floor, and only the wand goes into the gap (Bernzomatic).
Self-lighting swivel torches, the style TurboTorch is known for, put a separate regulator on the cylinder and a tip that turns on its handle, so you aim the flame instead of the tank (PexUniverse). If you'd rather avoid flame altogether, push-fit and press fittings join copper without a torch, at a higher cost per fitting.
Soldering Safely, And Lead-Free Rules
Soldering is hot work. Fine Homebuilding advises a proper heat shield behind the joint, rather than a scrap of metal, and a working fire extinguisher within reach (Fine Homebuilding). Torch manuals add: no use on or near combustibles or in confined spaces. Fires can smolder inside a wall for a while after the work, so check the area again before you leave. Heat the fitting, not the solder, and let capillary action pull the solder into the joint. Too much heat burns the flux off and the solder beads up instead of flowing.
For drinking-water lines, federal law requires lead-free solder and flux, with no more than 0.2 percent lead, and pipes and fittings averaging no more than 0.25 percent (EPA). Brass torch parts can carry a California Proposition 65 lead notice, so wash your hands after handling them (Bernzomatic).
No torch on this list turned up in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall database. The nearest case is fuel: in 2012, Worthington recalled MAP-Pro and MAPP cylinders sold under brands including Bernzomatic and TurboTorch, alone and in torch kits, because the seal could leak after the torch came off (CPSC). Hose torches have precedent too: propane hoses sold with Flame King torches were recalled in 2021 as a fire hazard (CPSC). Test any hose torch's connections with soapy water, and stop using a torch that hisses or leaks at the cylinder thread.
How we researched this
We screened about 80 torch listings and looked closely at 20 torches and kits, including every model from the previous version of this page. We read Bernzomatic's trigger-start manual for the TS4000 and TS8000, its instructions for the Reach BZ8250HT and the WT2301, Bromic's TS8000 data sheet, Master Appliance's PT-2000Si sell sheet and warranty, and TurboTorch's hand-torch catalog with a dealer's pipe ratings for the STK-99, plus This Old House's Richard Trethewey on fuel choice. The CPSC lists no recall for any torch here; the closest is Worthington's 2012 recall of MAP-Pro and MAPP cylinders sold alone and in kits.
Sources (24)
- Bernzomatic: DuraCast 8000 (TS8000) torch
- Bernzomatic: Reach torch
- Master Appliance: PT-2000 datasheet
- Plumbing Picks: Best plumbing torches
- Terry Love plumbing forum: which soldering torch
- Wikipedia: MAPP gas
- Fine Homebuilding: soldering copper pipe
- EPA: lead-free pipes, fittings, solder and flux
- CPSC: Pearl River propane hoses sold with Flame King torches recalled
- CPSC recalls
- Bernzomatic: DuraCast 4000 (TS4000) torch
- Bernzomatic: Utility Torch (WT2301)
- Bernzomatic: trigger-start torches manual, TS4000 and TS8000 (PDF)
- Bromic: Bernzomatic TS8000 technical data sheet (PDF)
- Bernzomatic: BZ8250HT Reach Torch instruction manual
- Bernzomatic: WT2301 trigger start torch instruction manual
- Bernzomatic: MAP-Pro hand torch cylinder
- Bernzomatic: propane hand torch cylinder
- Master Appliance: warranty
- ESAB: TurboTorch STK series torches
- TurboTorch: hand torches catalog (PDF)
- PexUniverse: TurboTorch STK-99 specifications
- This Old House: how to choose and use a blowtorch
- CPSC: MAP-Pro and MAPP cylinders recalled, 2012
Frequently asked questions
What is the best torch for soldering copper pipe?
For most people, the Bernzomatic TS8000. It lights with a trigger, has an adjustable swirl flame, a regulator and a flame lock, runs on MAP-Pro or propane, and carries a limited lifetime warranty. Fuel is sold separately.
Should I use propane or MAP-Pro to solder pipe?
Propane is fine for half-inch copper repairs. MAP-Pro burns a little hotter, about 3,730 degrees Fahrenheit versus 3,600 for propane by Bernzomatic's figures, and heats 3/4-inch and larger fittings faster. Check that your torch is rated for MAP-Pro first.
What is the difference between a blue and a yellow torch cylinder?
In Bernzomatic's colors, blue is propane and yellow is MAP-Pro. Other brands may differ, so read the label. Yellow cylinders today hold MAP-Pro, mostly propylene, not the original MAPP gas, which is no longer made in North America.
What is the difference between the Bernzomatic TS8000 and TS4000?
Both are trigger-start heads with a flame lock, a regulator and a limited lifetime warranty, and both take MAP-Pro or propane. The TS8000 adds a knob that sets the flame size and an ultra-swirl flame; the TS4000 has a plain swirl flame and no flame adjustment knob. The TS4000 costs less.
Is TurboTorch better than Bernzomatic?
They suit different users. TurboTorch kits such as the STK-99 use a separate regulator and a self-lighting swivel tip and are rated for large copper, which suits trade work. Bernzomatic trigger heads are simpler and cost less. We found no neutral head-to-head test.
What is the hottest part of a torch flame?
The hottest spot is just past the tip of the small, bright inner cone of the flame. Aim that point at the fitting rather than the pipe or the solder, and move it around the joint so it heats evenly.
