National 6B Glass Torch
Premix
$183
US reference price
Bench configuration shown.
Overview
Best for: Pendants, Small-to-mid work, General
- Mount
- Bench
- Fuel
- Propane, Natural gas
- Oxygen (estimate)
- Not confirmed
Specs
The National 6B is a single-stage premix bench torch, a stand-mounted version of National's 3A-B hand torch with the same flame, aluminum knobs, and a 360-degree free-rotating O-ring elbow. It's an approachable burner for pendants and small-to-mid soft glass and boro.
Pendants and small-to-mid work, beginners and improving intermediates who want a simple, dependable premix bench flame for soft glass and lighter boro.
- Jets
- Not confirmed
- Stages
- 1
- Mount
- Bench
- Mix
- Premix
Specs
- Mix type
- Premix
- Mount
- Bench
- Oxygen (estimate)
- n/a
Manufacturer manual · checked 2026-07-18 · source
- Fuel
- Propane, Natural gas
- Skill level
- Beginner, Intermediate
- Glass
- Soft, Boro
- Best for
- Pendants, Small-to-mid work, General
- Price
- ~$183 (reference)
Manufacturer page · confirmed · checked and price captured 2026-08-16 · source
- Stages
- 1
Figures come from National's own pages and manuals where we have them; the oxygen figure is a rough estimate, not a specification. Confirm the current spec with National before you buy.
How we source these figures
Treat the oxygen figure as a rough sizing estimate. Depending on the model it may be manufacturer full-flame consumption, a converted flow figure, or a documented estimate, and delivered pressure and purity matter as much as flow. What actually drives a torch choice is the glass, the work, and the flame, so size your oxygen supply after you pick the torch.
Prices may be manufacturer list prices or observed dealer references. Where a cell carries an evidence line it says where the figure came from, the date we checked it, and links the source where we hold one; a cell without one rests on the sources at the foot of the page. On a phone those lines show while this note is open. Confirm the exact configuration with National before buying.
Spec provenance: 2 of 7 spec fields on this page cite the manufacturer's own pages or manuals.
Overview
The National 6B is a compact, single-stage premix bench torch, a stand-mounted take on National’s 3A-B hand torch with the same flame, fitted with aluminum knobs and 1/4-inch barbed hose fittings. National is a classic American hand-torch name with deep roots in scientific and entry-level glasswork, and the 6B brings that simple, dependable character to a bench-mounted format aimed at pendants and small-to-mid work.
What the premix flame gives you
The 6B is a premix torch: fuel and oxygen mix inside the body before reaching the flame. Premix burners tend to be simple to light, stable, and predictable, exactly what a learner wants, and the flame is easy to read. That predictability is a feature rather than a limitation within the torch’s intended range of soft glass and lighter boro. For how this compares to surface-mix designs, see surface mix vs premix torches.
Who the 6B is for
The 6B suits beginners and improving intermediates doing pendants and small-to-mid soft-glass and lighter boro work. As a bench torch it sits on a stand so both hands are free for the glass, a different way of working from a hand torch; the bench vs hand torch guide walks through which format fits how you work. New to the craft? The best beginner glass torch guide puts entry burners like this in context.
The free-rotating elbow
A nice touch on the 6B is its 360-degree free-rotating O-ring elbow: it seals positively and lets the tip and elbow rotate to any angle without a wrench, so you can position the flame to suit the piece. Note the 6B is sold without tips, so budget for the correct tip for your fuel and your work separately.
Glass, fuel, and oxygen
The 6B burns propane or natural gas with oxygen and handles soft (soda-lime) glass and lighter boro. It isn’t built for large boro tubes, marbles, or heavy functional work, which need more heat than a compact single-stage premix bench torch delivers. National doesn’t publish the 6B’s jet count or exact oxygen flow (LPM), so match your oxygen supply to the work you actually do before committing, see how many LPM does my torch need and oxygen concentrator vs tanks.
Before you buy
Budget for the whole system, not just the torch: oxygen (a concentrator or tanks), the correct propane or natural-gas regulator, flashback protection matched to your torch and gas supply, the right tip for the 6B, didymium or boro-rated eyewear matched to your glass, and ventilation. New to plumbing a torch? Start with the fittings, hoses & connectors guide and the glass torch safety setup guide.
Editor’s note: spec details reflect National’s own product materials and dealer listings. National publishes a list price (the 6B bench torch is $183.14 on its 2024 price list), but not the jet count or exact oxygen flow (LPM), and the 6B ships without tips, so confirm those specifics, and the correct tip for your work, with National before purchasing.
Fit and tradeoffs
Best for: Pendants and small-to-mid work, beginners and improving intermediates who want a simple, dependable premix bench flame for soft glass and lighter boro.
Not for: Large boro tubes, marbles, heavy functional pieces, or production work, a single-stage premix bench torch isn't built for that kind of heat.
Pros
- + Simple, predictable premix flame that's easy to light and read
- + 360-degree free-rotating O-ring elbow positions the tip to any angle without a wrench
- + Bench-mounted version of the 3A-B, so the flame and skills carry across National's hand torches
- + Burns propane or natural gas
- + Entry price band
Cons
- − Single-stage premix, not built for large boro or production heat
- − Sold without tips, so budget for the correct tip separately
- − Exact jet count and oxygen flow (LPM) aren't published, confirm with National
Reader reviews
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Flame notes
Compact premix BENCH torch: a bench-top (stand-mounted) version of the 3A-B hand torch with the same flame, fitted with aluminum knobs and 1/4in barbed hose fittings. A 360-degree free-rotating O-ring elbow seals positively and lets the tip/elbow rotate to any angle without a wrench. Sold without tips. Ideal for pendants and small-to-mid work.
Manuals & instructions
- National torch and regulator operating instructions index, which lists the 6B (National's site)
- National torch tips description table (PDF, National's site)
Manufacturer documentation on the maker's own site, which holds the current revision.
Maker
National Torch
USA
Focus: Hand-torch, Bench, Scientific, Industrial
National Torch is a division of Premier Industries. The current official catalog includes premix and surface-mix hand and bench torches plus interchangeable tip systems.
Related reading
FAQ
- Is the National 6B good for beginners?
- Yes, it's a simple, predictable premix bench torch in the entry price band, the kind of forgiving flame that suits someone learning soft glass and small work. As your work grows into larger boro you'd step up to a bigger bench burner.
- What's the difference between the 6B and the 3A-B?
- The 6B is essentially a bench (stand-mounted) version of the 3A-B hand torch with the same flame, fitted with aluminum knobs and barbed hose fittings. The 3A-B is held and maneuvered; the 6B sits on the bench so both hands are free for the glass.
- Does the 6B come with tips?
- No, National sells the 6B without tips, so you'll need to add the correct tip for your fuel and the work you do. National can tell you which tip that is.
- Soft glass, boro, or both?
- Both, within its range: the 6B handles soft (soda-lime) glass and lighter boro and is well suited to pendants and small-to-mid pieces. Large boro tubes and marbles need more heat than a compact single-stage premix bench torch delivers.
Researched and edited by Joe Blanchard, sixteen years on the distribution side of the glass industry.