Yes — Nortel describes it as a large, concentrated flame that's great for borosilicate, plus general work. It runs soft glass too. For the very largest boro you'd look at a dedicated production burner.

Should I get the hand torch or the bench Red Max?

Same flame, different format. The hand torch is held and maneuvered for off-bench and spot work; the bench Red Max is mounted for hands-free work and carries a swappable top fire. See our [bench vs hand torch](/guides/clusters/bench-vs-hand-torch) guide.

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Nortel Red Max Handtorch: the Red Max's 45-port flame in the hand

Name: Nortel Manufacturing Red Max Handtorch
Brand: Nortel Manufacturing

Nortel Red Max Handtorch · Hand torch · Surface mix

The Nortel Red Max Handtorch is a stainless surface-mix hand torch with the same 45-port flame pattern as the Red Max bench burner — a center ring of 16 ports surrounded by 27, with a flame up to 1.25in — on a wooden grip. A large, concentrated flame that's great for borosilicate, in a hand-held form.

Nortel Red Max Handtorch

Specs

Mix type: Surface mix
Mount: Hand
Oxygen: —
Fuel: Propane, Natural gas
Skill level: Intermediate, Advanced
Glass: Soft, Boro
Best for: Hand torch, Boro, General
Price: Mid ($$) $$
Jets: 45
Stages: 1

Overview

The Nortel Red Max Handtorch puts the Red Max’s flame in your hand. It’s a stainless-steel hand torch with the same 45-port flame pattern as the Red Max bench burner — a center ring of 16 ports surrounded by 27 — throwing a large, concentrated flame up to about 1.25 inches, all on a wooden grip. If you want the Red Max’s boro-friendly heat but need to bring the flame to the work, this is the hand-held version.

What the Red Max Handtorch gives you

This is a surface-mix torch — fuel and oxygen meet at the face rather than premixing inside — so even at this size the flame stays clean, quiet, and color-friendly. The 45-port pattern gives a large, concentrated flame that Nortel calls great for borosilicate, and the wooden grip keeps it comfortable in the hand through a session. For the background on the flame type, see surface mix vs premix torches; on choosing a format, bench vs hand torch.

Who the Red Max Handtorch is for

This is an intermediate-to-advanced hand torch for boro and general work — a strong pick for someone who wants real heat and reach in a hand-held form, for assembly, spot heating, or larger off-bench pieces. It runs soft glass too, but its concentrated flame leans toward boro. Not sure which glass you’re committing to? See soft glass vs boro vs quartz.

Size, fuel, and oxygen

The Red Max Handtorch is 18 inches overall and burns propane or natural gas with oxygen. Nortel’s suggested regulator pressures are roughly 0.25–5 psi on the gas and 5–15 psi on the oxygen — line pressures, not flow rates. A large flame like this draws more oxygen than a small hand torch, and Nortel doesn’t publish its exact LPM, so size your oxygen supply against the work. See how many LPM does my torch need.

Where it sits in the Nortel line

The Red Max Handtorch is the hand-held counterpart to the Red Max bench burner, sharing its 45-port flame. Among Nortel’s hand torches it sits at the higher-output end, above the smaller Ranger and the entry Unitorch.

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 arrestors on both lines, didymium eyewear, 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 Nortel’s own materials for the Red Max Handtorch (the 45-port pattern, flame width, overall length, and suggested pressures). Nortel doesn’t publish the torch’s exact oxygen flow (LPM) or current pricing, so confirm those specifics with Nortel before purchasing.

Best for: Intermediate-to-advanced makers who want the Red Max's large, concentrated surface-mix flame for boro and general work in a hand-held torch.

Not for: Beginners and hands-free bench production — this is a sizeable hand torch, and the largest boro wants a dedicated production burner.

Pros

+ Same 45-port flame pattern as the Red Max bench burner (16-port ring inside a 27-port ring)
+ Large, concentrated flame up to 1.25in — great for borosilicate
+ Stainless-steel build with a wooden grip
+ Surface-mix design: clean, quiet, color-friendly

Cons

− Sizeable hand torch (18in overall) — not for hands-free bench work
− Bigger flame means a bigger oxygen appetite
− Exact oxygen LPM isn't published — confirm with Nortel before sizing a supply

Flame notes

Stainless-steel hand torch with the same 45-port flame pattern as the Red Max bench burner (a center ring of 16 ports surrounded by 27), flame width up to 1.25in; wooden grip. Large concentrated flame, great for borosilicate. Overall length 18in; pressures ~.25-5 psi gas, 5-15 psi oxygen.

Maker

Nortel Manufacturing

Canada

Focus: Soft, Boro, Beginner

Minor/Mid Range/Major/Red Max/Rocket bench burners plus Ranger/Twin Fuel/Multimix hand torches; the core bench line is surface mix (premix tops/accessories optional); ubiquitous, affordable, easy to learn on.

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FAQ

How is the Red Max Handtorch related to the Red Max bench burner?: It uses the same 45-port flame pattern as the Red Max bench burner — a center ring of 16 ports surrounded by 27 — with a flame up to about 1.25 inches. It's that bench flame in a hand-held, wooden-gripped form.
Is it good for boro?: Yes — Nortel describes it as a large, concentrated flame that's great for borosilicate, plus general work. It runs soft glass too. For the very largest boro you'd look at a dedicated production burner.
How big is it?: Nortel lists an overall length of 18 inches. Suggested pressures are roughly 0.25–5 psi on the gas and 5–15 psi on the oxygen — those are line pressures, not flow rates.
Should I get the hand torch or the bench Red Max?: Same flame, different format. The hand torch is held and maneuvered for off-bench and spot work; the bench Red Max is mounted for hands-free work and carries a swappable top fire. See our [bench vs hand torch](/guides/clusters/bench-vs-hand-torch) guide.