Really Silly Questions about Minor and OxyCon

[Llama Girl]

Hi (and thanks) to All who respond!

I have a Minor torch that has made a lovely mantle piece for the past *cough* years and I'm sick and tired of looking at it and using my HH (not that I don't mind the HH, I just want to use my Minor, dang it!).

Silly questions/comments:

I want to skip the oxy tanks and go for an oxy concentrator (I live in SOUTH Langley, BC and getting up to the local Aire Liquide to refill will be a major pain in the butt....I can picture myself putting off filling an empty tank for months). What kind of PSI and LMP am I looking at for a Minor? I'm not likely to upgrade from a Minor any time soon, either. Also, I work with Moretti and some Caliente - I might work with Boro at a later date, but it would be small pieces that the Minor could handle.

Where are any available near Vancouver, BC, or how much does it cost to have one shipped up from the States? (I actually live in Langley, BC....not that it makes much of a difference if it's getting shipped)

I've heard wonderful things about some brands of oxycons, but the ones I've heard rave reviews about are around $1500. I have no where near that kind of money to spend. I'm trying to save up to put myself through the PDP (for teaching) and I'm hoping to find something around $400...maaaaaybe a little more. I'm also freshly engaged and my fiance would have a heart attack if I asked for a $1500 oxycon for Christmas. :D

Also, I welcome comments from everyone who has used oxycons - let me know what you think of them!



Thanks ahead of time!
Shannon

[squid]

a 5 lpm unit will power a minor just fine! You can get units a lot more powerful than you need for about $600, so I would think a 5 lpm would be doable for about $300.

[Llama Girl]

Thanks for the reply!

So even if I want to step up to the plate and take on small Boro projects, the 5lpm would be okay? What do I run the PSI at? Does that come into factor as well?

Sorry for all the uninformed questions! I'm just one of those annoying people who like to ask a lot of questions to get as much information as possible before I go for something.


Thanks again!
Shannon

[Kym]

I think 5lpm is on the edge of OK. You may be happier saving a little longer and getting a 7lpm in the long run. It will make a difference.

Kym

[Mark Parkinson]

I have a minor burner on a 5-M oxy-con from oxygen unlimited I have pushed that poor torch for all its worth and the oxy-con keeps up with it, I have been able to do small boro on the minor 1-1.5" pieces but would go with a larger torch for anything bigger I think. Pipyr has what looks to be a good tut on using a minor burner oxy-con combo for boro for sale in the tuts area ... http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100721

I noticed that some one in the Salt Spring Islands is selling off four Minor oxy-con combos with hoses for a resonable price you might want to check it out http://www.canadianlampworkforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1828

[Ellen Black]

I've had a minor for years, run it on natural gas, and 2 5 lpm. It ran okay on one, but adding the second made a difference.

[Kym]

That's an excellent tute by Pipyr. I will be using that this weekend.

Kym