BEST TORCH ON MARKET  BUT ... WAY OVERPRICED
582923
I AM A BENCH JEWELER OVER 30 YEARS , THIS IS THE BEST ON THE MARKET BUT THIS TORCH IS OVERPRICED BY $$ 130.00 I NORMALLY WOULDNT RESPOND TO THIS BUT THIS IS A HUGE RIPOFF
 CHECK AROUND STULLER, OTTO FREI WILL HAVE IT MUCH CHEAPER

 GET REAL... 300.00 WHO ARE YOU KIDDING
4574572
I recently purchased this torch for multi-purpose uses through recommendations as well as seeing it in use by a friend. He highly recommended it and since I have just used mine once with excellent results, I will surely write another review after several uses.
I am surprised that there is little or no information at the comapny's website ([...]  The only information on their site as I write this review is a blister pack photo with the words 'MT-565 COMING SOON'. to verify, please open website, go to 'Products' and double-click on 'MAP-Pro Gas'. Poor marketing strategy by Magna since the product is available for purchase.
2066931
I mainly use this for soldering, but sometimes i like to use it as a torch. Both uses work brilliantly. First off for the people who have trouble lighting the torch with the soldering attachments or as a torch: Turn down the butane setting to 1-2 then light. The torch will light every time without fail. Keeping the torch on 3 and 4 butane strength setting pushes far too much butane to light the torch. For the people who have trouble refilling the torch: hold butane can down for 2 seconds on the pen torch until u get a drop or 2 of butane, then release and press a few more times to top off. I've never run out of fuel on any soldering or torch job I've ever used this torch for. Some people think that its not filling, because its so quick to refill, but you're wrong, it is that quick.

Excellent product for a retail price of 5.50 at home depot. if you want more power, self lighting, or a better overall product, spend more money. This is the best torch/solder pen for the price.

I own 2 of these now. One in my office for electronics soldering and one in the garage for everything else. over a year of use on the first one, and still performing the same as the first day. Note: I only use Benzo fuel.
3714682
Great light if you love buying EXPENSIVE batteries OFTEN! (4 "C" cell batteries yeah one of the more expensive battery's on the shelf and almost never on special)  *** Warning *** tried the rechargeable NiMH batteries and FRIED this light in 1.5 seconds of maybe it's only performance of emitting 1300 lumen or more of a flash of intense light... Now LED just flickers dimly barely visible looking directly into it. VERY DISAPPOINTED My light came with no instructions (They should post a clear warning on the outside of the light near where you put batteries in that it cannot use rechargeable batteries) There are a lot better options out there for very bright LED flashlights (Oh and they take RECHARGEABLE batteries too). Also of mention is that they are relying on just the LED through a magnifying lense for the output which I doubt very much is even close to 1300 lumens of light. Most of the good LED lights have a focused parabolic mirrored chamber that greatly intensifies the output and dispersion of the beam... In my opinion a much more useful beam from the parabolic type then the variable slider magnifying glass. Hope this information saves someone else from ruining what was a fair flashlight over the old Incandescent battery hungry lights of the past.
363404
The Fenix E12 is a significantly better & brighter flashlight for not a lot of additional size nor cost.  I recommend skipping this torch and moving up to the E12 instead.
3349299
was  very  disappointed  with the performance of this  torch.  I would  not recommend purchasing it.
2113738
Granted, I am biased by the amazing quality and performance of the ThorFire C8s for only twice the price of this light, but overall I can only give this TA13 one 3 stars.  This light does have a few advantages over the C8s (starting with the really low price), but I cannot recommend this light nearly as highly as the C8s by ThorFire.  Here are the pro's and con's of this light as compared to the C8s as I see them:

Pro's:
-Half the price of the ~$17 C8s
-Can use 3xAAA batteries OR the rechargeable 18650 battery (C8s can ONLY use the 18650)
-narrower head of the flashlight makes it slightly less bulky

Con's:
-Painted instead of anodized (but does seem to be reasonable paint quality and the threads are covered too)
-18650 sleeve (to allow use of the single rechargeable battery instead of the 3xAAA holder) rattles around inside
-Adjustable "zoom" lens wiggles a little, overall build quality is just OK versus completely amazing of the C8s
-Not nearly as bright (even "zoomed in" all the way with no peripheral light, the center is a little less bright than the center portion of the C8s that also has decent peripheral light at the same time) or quite as long of throw
-tail-cap button does not feel as good quality clicking as the C8s
-cycling through 3 modes does not have a memory that will hold its last setting after turning off and then back on

Bottom line: IMHO even though it is twice the price of this cheaper light, the ThorFire C8s is simply the brightest and best built hand-held tactical-size light that I have found under $150 (and it's only $17 at the time of this review).  It is such a superior light to this one, that I have a hard time believing that it is built by the same company.  If I had never owned the C8s (well actually, I own three of them), I probably would have rated this TA13 light 4 stars or maybe even 5 based largely on the low price.  But unless one of the "pro's" listed above is the main thing you're looking for, drop an additional $7 more, get the C8s.  Trust me, you'll thank me later.

Update: If you can get this light with the bundle battery and charger for a great price (currently they have a promotion where it's only $10 for the whole kit) then it becomes such a bargain that even despite it not holding a light to the C8s (pun intended) in terms of brightness or build quality, I raised the rating to 4 stars because the really good price.  Otherwise if the flashlight alone is around $8 or $9, I'd only give it 3 stars.

Update to the update:  I've left the rating 4 stars because despite my concerns about the quality proving true (one of the 2 I bought just broke), ThorFire has great customer service and is sending me a new light without any hassle.
4928231
A very cool item. My 2 granddaughters love playing with flashlights, and they were delighted with these. They are holding up very well.
I give it 1 star for the high  price, otherwise I would have rated them a lot higher.
 I bought them at Pat Catan's for under $2. Way over-priced, unless money is no object to you.
208685
I have to admit the stuff does burn in my stove. I can only give this 2 stars because it's WAY overpriced at $16.99 for 4 cans.
I can buy 12 cans for just $1 more of a different brand with the same CRV explosion proof structure for $6 (4-pack).
4649120
Burns super clean but it just way too expensive. I use this for a small Stirling engine that has a glass bulb. Even 99% isopropyl alcohol leaves a horrible black soot. This burns completely clean with no soot all all. I also use this in an indoor ethanol fireplace that looks awesome. The problem is that you could easily burn through $20 of this in a single evening. It just isn't economical to use this in those fireplaces as anything other than a rare novelty for a nice evening indoors.
1114779
I purchased this for use in encaustic painting. It is touted as the best torch for fusing. I beg to differ. While it is extremely portable and easy to use, the flame is not even and steady. At lower levels it will inadvertently spit a burst of high flame, over fusing, melting the wax down to the substrate, or melting areas not intended. If the canister in angled in any direction the flame will flare from low to high in an instant. I really, really wanted to love this torch. It is so easy to take when I teach workshops. For my standard of excellence in my work, I need complete control of the flame.
1814529
Cyclops had another version (6AA battery also)of this spotlight that was advertised as 240 lumens, but when the package came, it said 160 lumens. Well, this current one must be the upgraded version of the earlier 160 lumen model. It's nice, but for 6AA bateries, and 193 lumens, the 'runtime' and 'reach' are only so-so. Amazon sells a Dorcy flashlight that I have which is rated at 180 lumens which runs two hours more than the cyclops (with just 4AA batteries), and throws a spot just as far as the Cyclops. (I've tried them side-by-side). The Dorcy is just about $21+...about half the price of this Cyclops.  The only reason to get this cyclops over the Dorcy 'high flux' flashlight that Amazon sells is for the 'cool' factor. The Cyclops is 'way cool' looking, as compared to the 'looks' of an ordinary flashlight. [Follow-up: A friend of mine was impressed with this light, so I ordered one for him, and the price had even dropped by that time. But unfortunately, so had the 'light output'. I'd estimate that on the second one I got, the intensity, and likely the range, of the light had dropped by 15-20% as compared to the first Cyclops I got. As I said above, for better light characteristics and 'duration', stick with the Dorcy "High Flux 180 lumen flashlight that Amazon sells for a lot less money.]
3900731
The bulb works great in my Honda Pilot and emits a bright, bluish-white light.

The problem is the high cost ($11) relative to other options. I mistakenly thought I was getting 4 bulbs instead of just one. Another version -&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/2pcs-31mm-12-SMD-1-25-12V-Festoon-Dome-Light-LED-Bulbs-DE3175-DE3022-DE3021-3175-White/dp/B006R0XYGY/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">2pcs 31mm 12-SMD 1.25" 12V Festoon Dome Light LED Bulbs DE3175 DE3022 DE3021 3175 - White</a>&nbsp;- emits the same quality and intensity light and is way cheaper ($1.60/bulb). Unless you need the prime shipping speed, I would get the cheaper bulb which takes about a week longer to arrive.
1313355
I just wanted to comment about the prior review. While I agree that projector bulbs are overpriced to a degree I wonder if the reviewer has checked prices for "all" projector bulbs. If he or she did they would have discovered that $300ish is about what they all charge. Each and every bulb is made by hand and placed in a special case as the technology used has to prevent damage to the projector if the bulb implodes! These bulbs use the same technology as the street light arc lamps but a side effect of such high light output is a bulb that is both difficult to produce as well as precautions needed as well as strict safeguards.

I have no question that there is a nice markup on these but do not fault "just" one company... they "all" charge the same and only a select few companies make these bulbs.

I just wanted to set the record straight. A few years ago when all projectors cost well over $10,000 few people questioned a $300 bulb. Now that many projectors are under $1000 the bulbs they use are still the same handmade ones the $10,000 units use but while a $10,000 to $300 seems reasonable, $1,000 to $300 does not :)

-JB
3479850
This is a great flashlight no doubt about that. What I have a problem with is the pricing! For anyone that has seen this light in the past year then you know this light has doubled in price. I have bought about 10-12 of these lights, and I love them. But when I first started purchasing then they were about $6.00, now they are $13 in a matter of months???

Pretty sure I have bought my last one of these. At the price they are going for there can probably be a better light at that price range. Too bad for me, I was giving them away as gifts to friends.

You will love the light and its power, it really is a great asset, small, big light area, one battery, who could ask for anything more? Well I could, how about dropping the price below $10.00.
477759
Well made light, but I don't understand why a damn flashlight costs so much money.
3645110
Amazing torch. Looks great. Its jumbo. The push button is great and igniter is immediate. BUT, for people like me who are heating up thick guartz nails with it, the flame temp is too low to heat it up quick even when turned up high. Probably burns at like 1200 f. I mean it works just takes a long time to heat up & clean. Blazers are really the way to go for high temp especially with the Big Shot burning around 2300