Customer Reviews

BernzoMatic TS7000 019070 Trigger Start Adjustable/High Output Cast Aluminum Torch Head

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The TS7000T is a very high quality and well engineered device. Except for the red control knob and the tank gasket, it's all metal; the body is cast aluminum, the burn tube is stainless steel, and the other parts are brass. It's attractive, heavier than I expected, and easy to use.

After screwing the TS7000 to a propane or MAPP gas cylinder, turn the red control knob to "on". Pull the knob in like a trigger, and the mechanical internal igniter clicks audibly, which starts the flame instantly. Hold the control knob in and the flame stays on. Release it and the gas (and flame) shuts off immediately. In other words, you can use this torch with one hand. Once the torch is lit, if you press the lock button in and then release the control knob, the torch will stay lit for continuous use, without touching any controls. Turn the control knob to off when you are done and the flame stops and the gas is shut off.

The adjustment knob controls gas volume from off to wide open. In use that means you can control flame size from just enough to stay lit, to full on. By comparison, the TS4000T torch is identical to this model except it has no volume control, so the TS4000T flame burns only at maximum. If you only need a torch to light the barbecue or for other uses where maximum flame will always be OK, consider the less expensive TS4000T. However, if a maximum flame won't always be appropriate for the task at hand, you're better off with the TS7000T. (As you can see in the customer photo, the torch itself is labeled TS7000, not TS7000T).

The torch head won't get hot enough to burn you -- a great safety feature. By contrast, the head on my older gas torch glows cherry red while in use.

Bernzomatic's claim that the torch flame "swirls" to produce high heat is actually true. On full flame, it's like a small focused blow torch. It used to take 30 seconds or longer for copper fittings to get hot enough to sweat (tin solder) with my previous MAPP gas torch. The TS7000 gets the fittings hot in only a few seconds; an amazing performance improvement and time saver. (By the way, if you're a homeowner doing your own copper plumbing, use MAPP gas rather than propane. MAPP gas burns hotter, which makes soldering easier and faster.)

Although this product clearly warrants 5 stars, the instruction sheet is another matter. To save money, it covers 9 Bernzomatic torches, in 3 languages, and is printed in a very tiny font (35 characters per inch!). Would it kill these manufacturers to include instructions for JUST the one tool, with larger print?

Summary:

The TS7000 is a brilliantly designed and manufactured torch that is straightforward to use and works as it is supposed to. A first-rate product.

For a homeowner who has used nothing but a standard propane-bottle torch for years, upgrading to this BernzoMatic torch with Mapp gas was like stepping up from a hacksaw to a lithium-powered reciprocating saw. Helpful reviews by professionals like those offered by Victor, "remodeling-guy" are invaluable to the homeowner. Occasional plumbing repairs are one thing, but if you are facing a major project like replacing all of the copper pipe in an older home, this torch will save a tremendous amount of time. It takes a bit of getting used to. Safety was my main concern due to the increased ambient heat generated at the work spot. Not being a professional - and not having the luxury of a fire station next door - I always place flexible, quilted-metal insulation around the work area. In older basements where all of the copper is suspended overhead next to the floor joists - and next to old batted insulation that will flame like pine-resin kindling, this allows me a little more security. Workable fire extinguishers are a must. And just in case I want to cool things down a bit, this torch with propane is still far superior to the old torches I've used in the past.

I've struggled along with a $14 torch for 30 years. Chicka, chicka, chicka with the flint lighter every time I wanted to start it, so I was tempted to just let it burn during the entire job which was unsafe and wasted gas. Tilt the bottle and the flame changed radically, touch near the business end after turning it off and YOWEE burned.

This is a dramatic improvement. Well constructed, lights immediately with every trigger pull, flame is steady as a rock in all orientations -- I love it. I'm not sure about the need for this quality torch to light fireworks like one reviewer reported, but if you use a torch for miscellaneous household projects I highly recommend this one. It is a little heavier than I expected, but I decided this helps balance the weight of the gas bottle.

I chose this one over the TS4000 because you can adjust the flame strength and I can't imagine using a torch full blast for all jobs.

Someone complained about the instructions -- I don't remember reading the instructions, it's pretty straightforward if you've used a propane torch before.

It works well until the pizzo ignitor gives out.

To bad they don't offer the ignitor as a replacement part. I have four of them. Three out of four don't work because the pizzo ignitor has given out. It is always the first thing to go. When it goes out you can't light the torch with a match or welding flint striker like a regular torch either.

I guess I could go buy three more of them at a retail store, swap out the ignitors, and return them all as bad. This really stinks. BernzOMatic doesn't recommend replacing the ignitor and doesn't off them as a replacement part. Product liability or they just want you to buy another one. I haven't been able to find them any where else either except in China by the thousands. They are much smaller then the ones used in gas grills, etc.

This feels like a really quality piece. Has good weight, the dial is smooth, etc. It started up the first try. No problems. The flame was easily adjustable. Turned it off and tried again and it worked great. So I used it for a few minutes and then turned it off. Using MAPP gas it was nice and hot and did what I needed it to do (loosen a stuck bolt). Went to start it again a couple minutes later and nothing. Kept trying and nothing. The igniter button never worked again. So I started it with a flame and quickly realized the dial to adjust the flame no longer worked. After much fiddling and trying the dial finally worked again but not the igniter button. So I returned it. This thing had five start potential but something that breaks ten minutes after you start using it just can't get a good review. If it works for you then you'll like it. But I think it has a high chance of failing soon after you start using it based on my experience and what I read in a couple other reviews. So two stars unfortunately.

I don't need to repeat all the good things which have already been said about this torch. It consistently delivers in the wide variety of applications I use it for. The flame can be adjusted to a very precise and steady small/low flame, or turned up all the way it cooks. A first rate product.

plumber ten years...Love this torch, all the boys have em now. auto light is key, and has been working for three years now on my first one...I have three. wont "waste" gas, is completely dissasemblable for complete cleanings, heavy cast body will take a heavy fall, or ten, and with no sign of problems. Better than my $70 Turbotorch!

This unit has an adjustable flame for $10 more -- it's not worth it for me (the adjustable feature). I use this torch to sweat a few joints, start my outdoor grill, cauterize ends on nylon rope, etc. and I don't need an adjustable flame. I don't feel it works all that well and next time I'll get the non-adjustable type (I can't remember the Model Number.)

I use this torch at my job daily and I would not ever consider any other propane / mapp gas torch. The flame adjustment keeps me from burning down the building accidentally and I can heat anything I touch to red hot in a few seconds. The swirl flame looks cool and does it's job as advertised. I own a TS4000 also but hardly ever use it anymore.
Make sure to only use the "FAT MAX" MAPP gas bottles because they are very sturdy with a low profile, heavy bottom and they come with a green valve that lets you empty them to recycle the metal container. I have yet to have a Fat Max bottle tip over.

This is about the best hand-held torch I have ever had. I love the feature of holding the button to keep it on, and the available always on switch. It's much easier than having to use both hands to turn it off each time I finish soldering.