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 selections, 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.
Editor's Notes
October 17, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
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.
May 12, 2020:
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 14.1-ounce cylinder with a standard screw thread, and none includes fuel. The choice is between propane and MAP-Pro. Bernzomatic's figures put flame temperatures in air at about 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit for propane and 3,730 for MAP-Pro. That gap sounds small, but MAP-Pro transfers heat faster, so a working plumber's guide recommends it for 3/4-inch and larger copper and calls propane fine for half-inch repairs (Plumbing Picks).
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 are almost entirely 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. A forum thread of plumbers and HVAC techs favors trigger starts over striker-lit torches because you can relight in a second when the flame blows out (Terry Love forum). A regulator in the head keeps the flame steady as the cylinder cools and empties.
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 about 60 degrees from upright can cause flare-ups, according to a plumber who checked it (Plumbing Picks). 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).
We checked every brand here in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's database and found no torch recalls. The category does have precedent: 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 from two product searches and looked closely at 20 torches and kits, including every model from the previous version of this page. We read makers' product pages and datasheets, a dealer's specifications for the TurboTorch kit, a licensed plumber's buying guide and a plumbing forum discussion, analyzed patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We found no independent lab tests of plumbing torches.
Sources (10)
- 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
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. The TS8000 adds an adjustable swirl flame, and Bernzomatic says it delivers up to 65 percent more heat on MAP-Pro, which helps on larger fittings. 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.
