Herbert Arnold Big Arni: a 15-jet surface-mix bench burner for beads

The Herbert Arnold Big Arni is a 15-jet, single-stage surface-mix bench burner aimed squarely at beadmaking and small handicrafts. It runs propane and oxygen, produces a solid, homogeneous flame with two-zone adjustment, and — like other surface-mix burners — gives safety against backfire because fuel and oxygen meet at the face of the torch rather than inside it. It comes from Herbert Arnold, the long-established German glass-machinery maker known for precise, quiet burners.

What the surface-mix flame gives you

In a surface-mix torch the fuel and oxygen mix at the face rather than premixing inside the body, which keeps the mixing chamber cooler and is safer against backfire. On the Big Arni that translates to a solid, even flame that’s well suited to controlled bead and detail work. If you’re new to the distinction, surface mix vs premix torches explains the trade-offs, and Herbert Arnold concentric-ring burners covers the maker’s wider approach.

Who the Big Arni is for

The Big Arni is aimed at beads and small handicrafts in soft glass and small boro, at the beginner-to-intermediate level. It’s a well-built burner, but it’s a premium German tool rather than a budget starter, so weigh it against more affordable options if it’s your first torch — our best beginner glass torch and how to choose a glass torch guides can help.

Glass, fuel, and the hardware

The Big Arni works glass up to roughly 40mm diameter — it’s sized for beads and small pieces, not large tubing or heavy boro. It burns propane with oxygen. The burner head measures 28mm in diameter with an 11.7mm jet ring, weighs about 1.76 kg, and sits on a cast-iron base with a ball joint for stable, adjustable positioning. Herbert Arnold doesn’t publish the burner’s exact oxygen flow (LPM), so match your oxygen supply to your work before you buy — see how many LPM does my torch need.

Before you buy

Budget for the whole system, not just the torch: oxygen (tanks or a concentrator), the correct propane regulator, flashback arrestors on both lines, didymium eyewear, and ventilation. As a German burner, sourcing, support, and parts can be less convenient outside Europe. New to plumbing a torch? Start with the fittings, hoses & connectors guide and the glass torch safety setup guide.

Editor’s note: spec details (the jet count, head and jet-ring dimensions, weight, base, and the ~40mm working size) reflect Herbert Arnold’s own materials and dealer listings. Herbert Arnold doesn’t publish the Big Arni’s exact oxygen flow (LPM) or current pricing, so confirm those specifics with Herbert Arnold or your dealer before purchasing.