Harbor Freight Pencil Torch Review

These were not the best made but were all metal and are handy. They are still readily available online. These are useful in confined situations and more precision placement of heat.

[@Tom-Travels]

Tractor Supply has these for $5.99 this weekend.

[@dummkompf]

what kind of tractor do you have?

[@tammygurl64]

I just saw 2 for $4.99 at Tractor Supply! It sounds like a great deal if they work. 👍

[@timhunt2167]

I got two from TSC also. Mine are red. Worked well but now won’t let fuel out the valve.

[@rippfkmarlo647]

What kind of tractor do you got

[@FALLONMICHAEL1022]

I got 2 two packs for 2.99 each at TSC

[@1D10CRACY]

About 35 years ago I seen these being peddled at a tool / trade show and had to have one! I used it for many years and have bought others since then. They haven't changed any over the years! Classic design that works well, its sad that Harbor Freight does not carry them anymore.

[@EdwardRodriguez-cv6pf]

Bought a couple from Tractor Supply they still have them in stock hope they don't do the same thing Harbor Freight did and phase them out

[@stigyanblue1442]

​@@EdwardRodriguez-cv6pf Can confirm. Good for reducing bubbles on resin, s'mores, or fending off attackers.

[@snapringchronicles3020]

I got the black plastic butane Micro torch from Harbor Freight. Starts up like a charm every time I needed it

[@greaterlxve6457]

same here! had it over two years and its the only torch ive had that works every time

[@TheEnragedGamer]

I’ve got one that as far as I know is atleast 5-6 years old it works perfectly it’s super solid and very reliable it was sitting a tool box for years so I do t know it’s story but it’s my favorite torch for sure 😊

[@-mike9227]

Thx for the demo Catus - it looks a bit too temperamental for me. I use a mini Butane torch for small work.

[@tammygurl64]

I wonder if these would be good for flame painting details on copper?

[@90FF1]

Left mine sit unused for > a year. Went to use it. Charged it with butane. Lite it --- and my hand and forearm were engulfed in flame for a second. Must have a leak, right? Into the trash it went. Too bad. it was very useful for a while.

[@TylerSnyder305]

I prefer just a butane torch lighter, because I've had these and found them to not hold up very well. They're finicky and they just don't last long.

[@proyectozonda]

Bought one and also having issues with the valve to keep a continuous flame. How many time you need for getting it fully loaded? Maybe I’m not fully charging it🤔

[@karljay7473]

I have two of those and I had to steal parts from one to make the other one work. Be careful about the seals, or you can have a bit of a fire bomb in your hand :D. Great tool because you can refill them and they are very slim. It would be cool if someone made a version that was a butane soldering iron and open flame tool all in one. Maybe mix two together with oxy and actually cut some metal :D

[@TheBlackbelair]

I have silver soldier that melts at 1325 deg. Fahrenheit. Will this torch work? Or, what is the temp. of a butane flame?

[@moltitrader]

98% of the video doesnt show the pecncil torch as a whole. It shows only front part of it. We really need to learn to make videos because these are great videos

[@stinkycheese804]

This was never a "harbor freight" torch in particular, other B&Ms sold these for decades. I've had mine for at least 25 years. Maybe the HF is a lower quality clone, as mine didn't exhibit leaking down in only a month. I wouldn't say it's particularly fragile either, try dropping a regular torch and see how it fares.

[@johnjingleheimersmith9259]

you should review those plasma stick lighters. They bend and flex at the head and they are rechargeable via usb

[@stinkycheese804]

and utterly useless for any application where this torch makes sense, except for LIGHTING this torch. Really, the plasma stick lighters are crap for just about everything except lighting some gas appliance like a grill, water heater, this torch, or a candle in a deep vessel. Plain old dollar store $1 butane lighter does all that just as well, and lights fires on less combustible materials much better too. So my review: Makes a spark. Waste of money.

[@johnjingleheimersmith9259]

@@stinkycheese804 You realize he basically said pencil torches are crap right? The one he had could barely perform the job at all and a small jet lighter would have been more effective. At least a plasma lighter is rechargeable and can actually self ignite and is reliable. Hell you can easily make a better version of a pencil torch at home with a compressed fuel source, hosing, and nozzle of your choice.

[@Beee_Ceee]

Yup all those same issue with mine don't even know where it's at anymore

[@JohnSmith-yl6dn]

You can only get the nozzle attachments at HF. They do not carry any butane or propane bottles.

[@politicalpotato8383]

Lmfao🤣😂🤣🤔

[@jeffb329]

If you cut those in half there's literally no fuel tank. The whole steel body is the tank. Its not a seperate thing. So not very surprising the seals aren't good

[@jordanstevens3]

I need me one of those

[@BiitchSlapper]

I used to get these at the dollar store...after use the solder used for assembly would heat up and tin over the pinhole orifice in the stem and seal it shut never to work again, unless you took it apart and opened it up.

[@stinkycheese804]

Umm, you're not supposed to get the solder ON it, doofus. There is no solder used for its assembly. Plus, it would be trivial to just run a carbide PCB drill bit down it if you ever have that problem.

[@BiitchSlapper]

@@stinkycheese804 There was solder used in assembly, stinkboy. Listen when elders speak.

[@FALLONMICHAEL1022]

I just picked up 2, 2packs for 2.99 each at TSC!!!

[@AngelHernandez-mp6tm]

Tractor supply has them now 2 for 5.00

[@tammygurl64]

I just saw a 2-pk of pencil torches at Tractor Supply for $4.99! It sounds like a great deal if they work. 👍

[@JNC1973]

Lol i just bought the 2 pack from my Tractor Supply today for $5 bucks. Mine are Red though not Blue. I hope both of mine work. A lot of people have said only 1 works from their 2 pack.

[@WanderingLostMC]

Just picked up a 2 pack at Tractor supply for $4.99

[@pauloneves833]

keep a candle in your side!

[@shawbros]

I never use a flame on heat shrink. A heat gun works much better, with virtually no chance of burning it.

[@politicalpotato8383]

👍

[@timhunt2167]

Unscrew the valve all the way. Like I’m your turning the flame up but don’t stop. The pin comes out of the cap but that’s ok There’s O rings and stuff in there. Clean em off and out and all that

[@catblueeye]

A just bough two for 5.99 at tractor supply

[@Raven-qj9gv]

H F getting rid of it says enough. !

[@stinkycheese804]

All it really says is that most people now prefer the style that has a piezo igniter built in. Not me, my non-HF branded version of this is still working a quarter century later while no piezo igniter lasts that long.

[@averyblanton301]

Got your mixing chamber screwed off to far.

[@AquaTech225]

Had these a couple times. Always was junk. Flame goes out very easy. Adjustment always sucked like hell. Very unfortunate. Perfect size for a quick solder/heat shrink that comes out of the blue. An wouldn’t take up any space in the bag. Ild pay high dollar if someone actually redid this tool. An made it properly an had a good adjustment an good seals ect. Ild easily drop $50 on a good quality one in that form factor. Even if it had to be a slight touch bigger

[@noahsimpson6409]

You said catus maxus it's catus maximus get it right

[@arthurserino2254]

This model is rubbish. I have a Portasol gas soldering iron with a tip that serves the same purpose, with much better safety and reliability.

[@EdwardRodriguez-cv6pf]

Probably couldn't buy two of those for $3.50 like the pencil torches