A thermic lance is a steel pipe filled with steel wires, or with a combination of wires and an inner pipe, that burns with oxygen to generate an extremely high-temperature flame for cutting, boring, and breaking up hard materials. Known by various names across different regions and industries, the thermic lance is also referred to as a thermal lance or burning bar. Even though the names vary, the practical question from buyers is usually the same: what can it cut, how does it work, and which type fits the job?
At Daiwa Lance, thermic lance is presented as a cutting tool for demanding industrial jobs rather than a theoretical product. It is commonly considered for thick scrap, large castings, slag buildup, refractory materials, or mixed materials that are difficult to process quickly because it delivers intense heat, strong penetration, and field-ready practicality.
In most industrial conversations, thermic lance, thermal lance, and burning bar are used interchangeably. In Daiwa Lance, we often use thermic lance, while some buyers or operators may be more familiar with thermal lance or burning bar depending on the market. The terminology may change, but the cutting principle remains the same: an oxygen-fed consumable lance that burns at very high temperature.
Using all three terms naturally also helps reduce confusion during sourcing. In many companies, the person searching online, the engineer reviewing the application, and the operator on site may not use exactly the same wording. It is helpful to make that connection early so everyone understands they are discussing the same family of products and the same type of cutting solution.
The working principle is based on exothermic oxidation. Once the tip of the lance is ignited, pressurized oxygen is fed through the pipe. The steel components inside the lance react with that oxygen and generate intense heat. As the reaction continues, the lance consumes itself while transferring heat into the workpiece, which is why it can cut, bore, or demolish materials that are difficult to process with ordinary cutting tools.
In practical terms, this means the lance does not only heat the surface from the outside. It keeps advancing as it burns. That is why thermic lance is useful for deeper penetration, removing heavy deposits, opening blocked passages, and cutting thick sections where speed and force matter more than edge appearance. When the priority is access and material removal rather than cosmetic finish, this process becomes much more relevant.
The basic structure starts with an outer steel pipe. Inside, the composition changes depending on the thermic lance type. In the Daiwa Lance range, one design uses only steel wires, while another uses steel wires together with an inner pipe. This internal construction affects how oxygen flows through the lance, how the flame behaves, and how the lance performs on different materials.
This matters in real purchasing decisions. Two thermic lances may look similar from the outside, but they can perform very differently in the field. When buyers compare only outside diameter or piece price, they often miss the point that inner design also affects cutting speed, penetration pattern, oxygen demand, and consumption rate. Those are the factors that shape real operating cost.
Another reason structure matters is flame behavior. A more focused flame is useful when the job requires concentrated penetration and stronger forward action. A wider, hotter flame can be more suitable when the material has a higher melting point or needs broader heat coverage. For that reason, the inner design should always be matched to the application rather than chosen as a generic standard item.
Daiwa Lance thermic lance lineup commonly includes two main types: Type T and Type W. Type T uses wires and an inner pipe. It produces a straighter, more focused flame and is typically used for cutting steel scrap, cast iron, slag, aluminium, and similar materials where forward cutting power is important. Type W uses only steel wires. It produces a wider flame at higher temperature and is often preferred for stainless steel, copper, brass, refractory materials, and other harder-to-melt materials.
The difference is not only descriptive. It changes performance. In published comparison data using 17.3 mm OD lances, Type T operated at a higher oxygen flow rate and completed the cut faster, while Type W used less oxygen flow but took longer on the same test length. For buyers, the takeaway is simple: the right choice depends on the material, the cutting objective, and the flame behavior the job actually requires.
A practical way to read the difference is this: if the priority is straight, forceful cutting through scrap and metal objects, Type T is usually the more direct starting point. If the priority is broader and hotter burning against stainless steel, refractory, or other difficult materials, Type W is often the better place to start. When the question is which type is better, the practical answer depends on the workpiece, not only on the catalogue.
Standard size selection is another part buyers should check carefully. In Daiwa Lance, we offer Type T in multiple outside diameters, from smaller sizes for lighter handling up to larger sizes for more aggressive cutting. Type W also covers several standard sizes, with different wall thickness and weight per meter depending on the configuration. Connection options such as threaded socket and quick coupling are also shown, because connection method affects both handling and site convenience.
Oxygen setup also needs to be confirmed early. An oxygen pressure range of 8–12 bar through a regulator is specified. The lance, the oxygen supply, the regulator condition, and the working method all operate together. If one part of that setup is weak, the result in the field will not match expectations.
Size selection has direct operational meaning. Larger diameters generally support more aggressive cutting and are often chosen for heavier work, but they also change handling and oxygen requirements. Smaller sizes may be easier to control in tight spaces, yet they may not be the most economical choice for high-mass sections. When comparing options, it is better to discuss size in relation to the actual material and job condition rather than asking only for the biggest or cheapest lance available.
Thermic lance is mainly used for materials that are thick, difficult to melt, or inefficient to process with ordinary cutting methods. Typical examples include steel scrap, cast iron, stainless steel, brass, copper, aluminium, slag, refractory materials, concrete, natural stone, and other hard industrial materials. The exact fit depends on the lance type, size, oxygen setup, and the condition of the material being cut.
For buyers, this matters because application fit is not only about whether the lance can technically melt the material. It is also about whether the process will be efficient, controllable, and economical for the job at hand. A suitable supplier should help answer not just “Can it cut?” but also “Is this the right type, size, and setup for the material, thickness, and working condition?”
In steel and foundry operations, common applications include opening iron notches and tap holes, cleaning ladle nozzles and tundish nozzles, removing slag and metal buildup, and cutting large iron castings or heavy scrap. These are jobs where thick material, high heat, and difficult access are common. In that environment, buyers normally care about dependable cutting performance, manageable consumption, and stable supply for repeat operations.
It is also used beyond the melt shop. Common heavy-duty applications include scrap yard cutting, ship-breaking, removal of refractory material, concrete and reinforced concrete work, mining, and industrial demolition where mixed materials or severe conditions make ordinary cutting less effective. When the job involves a combination of metal and non-metal materials, thermic lance becomes especially useful because it can handle situations where a cleaner cutting method is not necessarily the most practical one.
Cutting efficiency depends on several factors working together: lance type, diameter, internal construction, material type, material thickness, oxygen pressure, oxygen flow stability, and operator technique. Even when two jobs look similar on paper, actual performance can change if the base material is different, the oxygen setup is unstable, or the flame pattern is not well matched to the application. That is why published test data is useful, but it should still be read in the context of real working conditions.
This is why experienced buyers compare more than price per piece. A lower-cost lance can become the more expensive option if it burns too quickly, requires more oxygen, cuts more slowly, or creates unnecessary downtime. In practice, total cost is shaped by the amount of material removed, lance consumption, oxygen use, and total job time. Those are the numbers that matter on the floor.
It is also worth checking what the supplier means by performance. Some buyers focus mainly on cutting speed, while others care more about stability, consistency, or lower consumption in repetitive operations. Before comparing quotations, it helps to decide which of those outcomes matters most for the operation. That makes technical discussion more useful and helps avoid selecting a configuration that looks good on paper but performs poorly in daily use.
Before sending an RFQ, it helps to prepare the following information:
The more clearly these points are shared at the beginning, the easier it is to recommend the right configuration. Buyers should also compare more than price. Ask what type is being quoted, what sizes are standard, what oxygen conditions are assumed, and what documents can be provided for review. That early clarification reduces the risk of ordering a lance that does not match the actual job.
Daiwa Thermic Lance product page: https://www.daiwalance.com.vn/en/products/daiwa-thermic-lance
Basic Knowledge about Daiwa Thermic Lance: https://www.daiwalance.com.vn/blog/basic-knowledge-about-thermic-lance
Structure and Size of Daiwa Thermic Lance: https://www.daiwalance.com.vn/blog/structure-and-size-of-daiwa-thermic-lance
Understanding the Differences Between Type W and Type T Thermic Lance: https://www.daiwalance.com.vn/blog/understanding-the-differences-between-type-w-and-type-t-thermic-lance
Answers to Questions about Thermic Lance (Thermal Lance, Burning Bar): https://www.daiwalance.com.vn/blog/answers-to-questions-about-thermic-lance-burning-bar-thermal-lance
Contact page: https://www.daiwalance.com.vn/en/contact
Established since 1997, Daiwa Lance has positioned ourselves as a pioneer in thermic cutting and oxygen lancing technology. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we have been providing quality customer service and products with advanced Japanese technology.
We maintain the highest quality standards with ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and JIS G standards certifications. We have also expanded our reach globally, exporting to over 55 countries worldwide.
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