One of the things that has made the National 3A handtorch one of the most versatile and popular torches is that the tips are interchangeable. By selecting the proper tip, you can configure the torch to your specific needs.
The 7/16-24 thread used on the National 3A tips has become an industry standard, and other torch manufacturers now offer torches using this same thread. Premier Industries (the manufacturer of the National 3A torch) uses this thread on their 3B, 6B, and 8R torches. Nortel also uses this thread on their pre-mix torches, such as the top torch on the Red Max. This means that any tip made with the 7/16-18 thread will fit all of these torches.
While both Premier and Nortel make their own tips, there exists this opportunity for someone to offer a line of 3rd-party tips that offers better performance than the stock tips. Let me introduce the Shelbo 'Whisper Tips'.
These new premix torch tips were designed specifically with the glass worker in mind. Mike Shelbo (a fine glass artist in his own right) has worked with other glassblowers for quite some time to develop a premix torch tip that would offer quality, versatility, and a different perspective on what a torch flame meant for glass should be. There are five tips available: 3, 7, 13, 31, and 55 hole. Each orifice is only .015" in diameter; the average hole size in most premix tips is twice that or more! These tips offer clear advantages in fuel efficiency, flame setting variables, and glass workability. All of these tips can be used on both soft glass and borosilicate. Whisper Tips are perfect for making beads, sculpture, marbles, all sized blown work, scientific apparatus, polishing punty marks, fixing cracks, making small welds in tight areas, and more.
"The Shelbo Whisper Tips were developed so I could have a tool used for glassblowing that was able to work both soft glass and borosilicate in the flameshop and in the furnace shop. The design of the tips focuses on achieving fine detail in glassworking. Each tip has a wide variation of flame settings and can be adjusted between the flame you do the majority of your glassworking in down to a tiny and hot pinpoint shaped flame. The unique combination of orifice size and hole pattern creates the perfect glassworking flame. Using Shelbo Whisper Tips you will have better productivity with better heat saturation, better flame performance, and fuel savings due to the efficient design of the tips. Less uncombusted propane will be in your working region of the flame, leaving you more control with color and when using soft glass. Taking your Shelbo Whisper Tip into the furnace shop will help you add detail to your work and polish punties with ease. By using a Shelbo Whisper Tip you will be investing in your livelyhood and a quality tool to help you make the best work you can make."
- Mike Shelbo
| Number of Holes | Price |
|---|---|
| 3 Hole | $50.00 |
| 7 Hole | $50.00 |
| 13 Hole | $55.00 |
| 31 Hole | $60.00 |
| 55 Hole | $65.00 |
Building on the popularity of his standard Whisper Tips, Mike turned his attention to another popular handtorch, the Smith 'Little Torch'. Mike saw that this handtorch could also benefit from his Whisper Tip design. So, here are the Shelbo Whisper Mini tips:
There are 4 different tips: a 1-hole, a 3-hole, a 7-hole, and a 12-hole tip. Sold as a set, consisting of all four tips and a 3" long extension neck.
Artist's loved Mike's new Mini Tips, but asked if he could make a longer extension neck for torching inside of the kiln. So, here it is! This 8" long neck is used in place of the 3" neck included with the the tips.
| Description | Price |
|---|---|
| 'Whisper' Mini Tips Set (4 tips and 1 standard neck) | $150.00 |
| Long Mini Extension Neck (sold separately) | $50.00 |