Silver flows at 1,761 degrees. Gold at 1,945. The torches that melt precious metals don't distinguish between jewelry and jeweler. Tony has the burn scars to prove it.
"Heat sneaks up on you. You're focused on the work, and suddenly you've got a second-degree burn because you didn't notice the radiant heat."
The Heat Hazard
Soldering and casting expose hands to extreme heat. Not just direct flame — radiant heat from hot metal, conducted heat through tools, flash burns from unexpected flare-ups.
Gloves help but kill dexterity. Bare hands allow control but invite burns. Tony needed something in between.
Targeted Heat Protection
Tape on his guide hand blocks radiant heat during long soldering sessions. It's not fireproof, but it buys time to react. The fraction of a second between "getting warm" and "burn" becomes manageable.
"I still get burns sometimes. But they're smaller, less frequent, less disruptive. My hands can keep working instead of healing."