Bright Spark 1-Piece 12 x 4.5 x 6 cm Catering Blowtorch,Grey

Edit review - April 2016I have used this bright spark regularly for 10 months now. It still lights first time and works like a dream.I never think twice about popping out to the garden with a frying pan full of newly cooked sausages to blitz the skins dark (I hate chewy sausage skins) or to crust up the fat on the edge of a thick steak or dry up the sticky sauce coating on babyback ribs or to sear the soft skin on a leg of lamb.I love this device and strongly recommend it especially if like me you have tried and failed with so many alternatives. The large Bright Spark gas cartridges (bigger than you expect) also last for ages. I bought 4 in June 2015 and am still using the first one! If you are in two minds about this, don't be, just buy it.Original Review - June 2015Having tried a few of the 'pretty' kitchen blowtorches (the one piece stainless steel types etc), they all had downsides ranging from losing the flame when tilted, not lighting easily, losing gas when stored, tiny flame jets or having trouble refilling the gas from refill cartridges. They were all cheaper then this unit and all ended up in the bin due to never working properly, or at all, when they were needed. This Bright Spark unit has started out well. I bought it together with 4 x Bright Spark gas cartridges. It arrived at about 3.45pm last Sunday literally as I was taking some sausages out of the oven to go with a pork roast so I assembled the torch (simple), pressed the yellow button igniter (which worked first time) and blasted the dull skin of the sausages to give them that 'just bbq'd' look. The torch is powerful, seems foolproof, doesn't go out when tilted (yet) and is far better than anything I have tried to date. It is now Wednesday and I saved the review until I had stored the torch for a few days to ensure it does not lose gas and it still weights the same 432 grams it did when I stored it on Sunday. This torch does the job well. It is slightly bigger than I expected and produces a better flame than I expected. All in all I am very pleased indeed and therefore give it 5 stars.

Easy to attach to gas cartridge (which I bought separately) - simply position it as directed, gently press in and turn, like fitting a light bulb. Wait 2 minutes with the yellow knob facing upwards (apparently this 'warming up' period reduces flares). When ready to use, turn the yellow knob anti-clockwise slightly and press (you'll hear it click). Adjust the flame by turning the yellow knob.Unlike the smaller blow torches, there is little likelihood of the gas running out when you're doing your third creme brulee. Also, no leaks, as can sometimes happen when you're refilling the smaller blow torches with lighter fluid. The A4 Bright Spark gas cartridge costs £2 and will last a long time. To store, I simply detach the nozzle from the gas cartridge, keeping the latter out of harm's way.The flame can be as gentle or as strong as you'd like: by adjusting the flame you can lightly colour meringue on Baked Alaska or sear a roast before it goes into the oven. This is a proper chef's blow torch and the performance does not disappoint.

Rather than for any DIY or mechanical purposes, I bought this as an aid in cooking. Granted, the aforementioned categories probably do fall into the realms of cooking, but at varying levels. First off don't just use it for "cooking", an oven does the job far quicker.I've tried a couple of other brands of kitchen blow torches in the past, one cheaper and another about the same price. With both I had issues with refuelling them, and one struggled to ignite when it was most needed. To that end, the Bright Spark hasn't let me down. It's very easy to set up, I think some people have had issues screwing on the torch to the canister, but after a couple of practice goes it's plain sailing.The ignition of the torch, as you would expect is instantaneous, and you have excellent control of the flame intensity. It it is very well made and although it does have some plasticky looking parts, but they are soundly manufactured and should last! Other than the kitchen I've also used it for lighting the BBQ, and if the BBQ takes too long to get going, just blowtorch the food! (From a food safety point of view though, the latter's not recommended, use a welding torch instead).

This is a well-made and well-balanced blow lamp, with a nice fine jet. Like most blow lamps, it requires a few seconds to warm up or you'll get a mass of yellow flame. Likewise, you shouldn't really try to use it upside-down, although you can go to quite a wide angle. To be honest, for creme brulee and the like, that doesn't require a fine jet, my plumbing blow lamp is just as good, but for fine work, it has a lovely narrow jet. It is a birthday present for my 17 year-old daughter and I'm quite happy it will be safe in her hands (after a bit of training!). I might be borrowing it from time to time, just as she borrows my plumber's blow lamp!

I use this at work every day, and as a professional chef, because I love using it that much, I bought one to use at home too. I highly recommend this blow torch, as it's simple to use and can easily control the flame with the adjustable knob, which is the igniter too. Takes seconds to reload a new can of battery gas (literally twist and off) and works a treat. No fancy unnessary handle to hold which other brand designs tend to have, as you just hold the can or hold the body of the blow torch (not the VERY HOT metal part) when operating it! And twist the igniter/has adjusting knob to turn off when finished.You will need to remember to buy the gas cans separately as this is only the blow torch!The seller was really efficient in dispatching the item and it arrived in very good condition. Highly recommend the product and this seller!