propane torches
from my experience, I have found that more care is required with plumbers torches using propane or mapp gas. For delicate work, the torches that they sell for cooking, creme brulee work very well and are much more forgiving. Depending on what I need to accomplish, I use one or the other.
If I want to char a large area, I use the plumbers torch as I know I will be cleaning it up afterwards. If I need to char a delicate rim, I use the creme torch.
As a afterthought, the plumbers torch works much better in making creme brulee. the problem with a creme torch is that in order to get enough heat to burn the sugar, you melt the cream. A plumbers torch burns the cream before the creme even gets warm. I gave my daughter, the cook, a plumbers torch for Xmas one year and after I explained the logic, her creme dishes improves remarkabely. Sorry for the ramble.