Champion - Bethlehem Burners

Its been about a month now since I bought this torch, and I've got to say I love it. Its a beast it will melt things in pretty quick all while being gentle on the glass. Its nice to colors and pretty east to fume on as well. Very simple to use and can generate many flame chemistry's with ease. The scroll works great and stays in place where you put it and the base is nice and sturdy, a good solid torch. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to upgrade!

I am extremely happy with all the features and innovation the folks at Bethlehem have put into this torch. It is as versatile as it is well designed. I can work with the most temperamental colors with out boiling them and use less oxy/prop to do it. The softness of the flame is really the key. The flame more envelopes and wraps what you are working on, as opposed to the more driving flame that other torches deliver. Combine this with the added safety of a surface mix torch and you'll understand why it is called the Champion. Other flame workers have commented on how easy it was to not boil their cadmiums and how gentle they found the flame to be in comparison to what their GTTs put out. This a great torch for a beginner as well as a seasoned professional. I would recommend it to anyone.

This is a wonderful torch – a very worthy successor to the PM2D that I learned on, and far superior to it in every way I can think of (that old PM2D was, admittedly, beat to crap long before I ever sat down behind it. I have no idea how it would compare to a new one). The outer fire is absolutely gorgeous. For the kind of hollow work I do, it's amazing. Big, hot, even and stupidly smooth. Melts 50mm standard wall tubing like nobody's business – I haven't tried anything bigger yet, but I foresee no trouble in heating pretty much any size tubing I care to. Flasks & Goblets on the lathe are a breeze. Round-bottom vessels done by hand turn out effortlessly. Flame annealing is very easy. I do have a very minor beef about Bethlehem's centrefire – it won't achieve a flame that is both tiny AND hot, like a GTT (I'll still use my phantom for really tiny stuff). It does a very good job for about 90% of what I do, so I consider this a minor drawback. A really sharp, oxidizing needle flame is possible, but it isn't anywhere near as hot as on a GTT. I have no regrets whatsoever about buying this torch.

I own my own glass art business where I travel to music festivals and demonstrate the craft. I can't say enough good things about this torch.. I have a concentrator setup at home and use an oxygen tank on the road. The torch works beautifully with both setups. I specialize in fumed work.. this torch really get the job done. My limitations come from within me, not from the torch itself. I also own a Bravo which is my primary travelling torch. Previously I owned a CC+, a Nortel Midrange, and two small Nortel torches. This torch is SILENT compared to the CC+ with the same capabilities or more, uses half the utilities.. not to mention the Beth torches all stay completely cool to the touch around the knobs even after 4hrs of straight working

This torch is a monster! It has a heavy base with rubber feet that keeps the torch in place. Didn't even need to worry about c-clamping the torch down the the table. Even with the extra hosing pulling down with the foot pedal down below. Rack and pinion! This thing is smooooooth and tight! Turn the knob with ease and it stays in place. You cannot move the torch up and down without turning the knob. *THE FLAME!* This is my first all surface mix torch. Coming from the screaming banshee premix top, this sweet, soft whisper in my ear is wonderful. I can turn down the music and hear someone beside me while I work. I am using a Rock It Foot Pedal with oxy bypass. This allows oxygen to flow on the outside. This give your center flame more oxygen, giving you a little bit more flame dynamics and a better oxidizing flame. The outer flame is great! Super hot and there is just something about it. It heats up so evenly all around the glass is almost seems unreal. Other Thoughts *I got a Griffin L Marver (same one for the Bravo fits the Champion). Works well, but blocks the outer fire knobs just a little bit. *Cleaning tools included with the torch are great. Wire cleaners, copper brush, and a stick to 'tap' the carbon out. Key tools for a long life torch. *It's beautiful. A big step away from the old Bethlehem torches with brass and water cooling. Looks more like GTT style now. All stainless steel body! *Valves are something to get use to. These are needle point valves and they are sensitive, which has been my biggest learning curve. Not a draw back at all. Great value, awesome torch, and this torch has up'd my glass game!

This is a wonderful torch – a very worthy successor to the PM2D that I learned on, and far superior to it in every way I can think of (that old PM2D was, admittedly, beat to crap long before I ever sat down behind it. I have no idea how it would compare to a new one). The outer fire is absolutely gorgeous. For the kind of hollow work I do, it's amazing. Big, hot, even and stupidly smooth. Melts 50mm standard wall tubing like nobody's business – I haven't tried anything bigger yet, but I foresee no trouble in heating pretty much any size tubing I care to. Flasks & Goblets on the lathe are a breeze. Round-bottom vessels done by hand turn out effortlessly. Flame annealing is very easy. I do have a very minor beef about Bethlehem's centrefire – it won't achieve a flame that is both tiny AND hot, like a GTT (I'll still use my phantom for really tiny stuff). It does a very good job for about 90% of what I do, so I consider this a minor drawback. A really sharp, oxidizing needle flame is possible, but it isn't anywhere near as hot as on a GTT. I have no regrets whatsoever about buying this torch.

I've put a couple of years on this torch after using a mirage for 4 years and I prefer this torch in all except one area. It's durable, it's much less susceptible denting the barrel or melting its face if you accidentally run the flames short. The flame is plenty hot, maybe not technically as hot with a triple mix. But the face of the torch is also wider which means it covers more area. Patrick W's review says a bit more I like. The center fire is a double edged sword though. Sometimes I enjoy the larger blunt flame, like making gathers or evenly heating up areas. But sometimes you need a tight flame, and you can't get it. If I didn't have a mini torch next to me I would have switched back to my mirage. It's a drag cooking out devit or cooling rings, popping carbs, or working in downstems on rigs. Depending on your needs this torch could be 5 star, but if I had known how much this blunt flame would get to me I would have bought the sharp flame (which was released after this model).

This torch is awesome it will do anything you need it to one of my favorite torches I’ve used

Great torch with a large soft flame that’s really hot, the only negative would the the center fire isn’t the most versatile at pinpoint applications but it is manageable, I haven’t tried the sharp flame champion that is addresses that issue so you may want to go with that one otherwise an all around great torch!