Bethlehem Barracuda (discontinued): the high-output surface-mix bench torch

The Bethlehem Barracuda was a high-output surface-mix bench burner built for heavier borosilicate and production work, the larger end of Bethlehem’s surface-mix bench range in its time. It is discontinued and has been succeeded by the Bravo, so this page exists for reference rather than as a current buying recommendation.

Discontinued, and what replaced it

Bethlehem has retired the Barracuda and replaced it with the Bravo. If you’re shopping new, that’s where to start: the Bravo is a two-stage bench burner with a 6-jet center fire and a 12-jet outer fire on a 1-inch face, and Bethlehem lists 6 LPM gas and 30 LPM tanked oxygen at full flame, on a swivel base and scroll pedestal. Above it sit the Champion, with a 6-jet center and a 30-jet outer fire on a 1.125 inch face, and the three-stage Grand at 42 jets. Compare the current tiers in Alpha vs Bravo vs Champion.

Each of those carries a jet count and a full-flame oxygen figure drawn from Bethlehem’s own materials in our catalog. The Barracuda carries neither, which is the practical cost of the older torch: you cannot line it up against the current range on paper.

What the surface-mix flame gave you

Like the rest of Bethlehem’s burners, the Barracuda was surface-mix: fuel and oxygen meet at the face of the torch rather than premixing inside it, for a quiet, calm, low-backfire flame that’s characteristic of the brand. For the background on why that design is prized for boro and production, see surface mix vs premix torches.

Glass and intended work

The Barracuda’s catalog record lists borosilicate only, marks it an advanced torch, and files it under large boro and production work. Worth knowing if your bench is not boro-only: the Bravo’s record covers soft glass as well as boro. Bethlehem doesn’t publish the Barracuda’s jet count, stage count, or exact oxygen flow, so treat its capacity qualitatively rather than by the numbers, and treat any secondhand figure attached to it with suspicion.

Buying one used

A well-kept Barracuda can still be a capable surface-mix burner. Because it’s discontinued, the checks matter more than they would on a new torch:

• Fuel and fittings. Our record lists propane and natural gas. Ask which the unit was plumbed for, and check its fittings against your regulators and hoses: torch fittings, hoses and connectors.
• The face. A surface-mix face is a lot of small ports, and a used bench torch has usually spent years in front of hot glass. Ask what cleaning it has had, and look for discoloration or blocked ports: torch maintenance and discoloration.
• The mount. Confirm what mounting hardware comes with it and that it suits your bench height and angle: torch mounting and bench angle.
• Supply sizing. With no flow figure on record you cannot check a concentrator or a tank plan against a number in advance, so size from the work: how many LPM does my torch need.
• Parts and support. Confirm with Bethlehem what is still serviceable before money changes hands.

Whatever you end up running, set it up with the flashback protection your torch and gas supply call for, which is not a one-size answer: flashback arrestors explained covers why the makers differ. If you’re starting from scratch, how to choose a glass torch walks through the trade-offs.

Editor’s note: the Barracuda is listed in our catalog as discontinued and succeeded by the Bravo. Bethlehem doesn’t publish its jet count, stage count, exact oxygen flow (LPM), or any current pricing, confirm details and any used-unit support directly with Bethlehem.