Cricket Torch Reviews

[firedancer]

I am seriously thinking about buying a new GT Cricket Torch before it goes off the $139.99 Inductory price. I would like some feedback, on this torch from people who already own one. And I heard there is a long wait, to even get one. Maybe a Nortel Minor, that has been used for so long would be better, since it is tried and true. Opinions, please?

[bousky]

I am interested in hearing too.

[shawnette]

Love mine!! Both of them!! And it's definitely worth the wait. Especially if you are using a concentrator. In the torch room, there are several threads about the Cricket.

[Firebrand Beads]

I have always considered my 1992 Minor burner to be the "Volkswagon" of torches -- runs forever, needs little if any maintenance, and could run straight up a wall if necessary, lol! However, I did buy a Cricket recently because it will melt small boro much faster, and with a concentrator. I don't get as clean of a "zero-oxy" reduction from the Cricket, however, as I did from the Minor or the Mini CC that I also have used. I do suspect -- and this is just opinion, guess, and conjecture here -- that the Cricket pulls some atmospheric oxygen as well as the oxy from the concentrator or tank. That might explain how it can be so much hotter, without having additional oxy or gas ports.

[Beckah]

If you have just one 5LPM oxycon or if you are working on household pressure natural gas, the Cricket is fabulous. I've had mine for a year and it is so much better than my MiniCC was with the low fuel and O2. Also is you order the Cricket now on the introductory price, you can get it in a fun color for less than the cost of a Minor.

[missbatteries]

I love mine works better than my minor ever did with my oxycon.

I have two complaints and 2 observations....the marver is way too small to use and the fittings where you hook up the hoses come straight down so with my creation station in place I cannot tilt the nose of the torch quite high enough (the guys at GTT talked me out of the rt angle fittings which I must admit might have been too much of a correction).

As far as the observations: I have to clean the ports (not sure what you call them but it's where the flame comes out) much more often than I ever did with my minor; and I have a little trouble getting it lit--not sure why.

But, like I said--love it. I have so much more control, I couldn't be happier!
-elaine

[squid]

I have never had to clean the ports on my Cricket. It is awesome!

[stacied]

I like my Cricket but I too have some observations. This is by no means saying I don't love my Cricket cause I do but I wanted to be totally honest.

1. Yes my torch face gets carbon build up during a torching session. I replaced my propane tank and regulators just to make sure it wasn't a fuel issue.

2 My propane seems to go down during torching sessions and I have to keep turning the propane up. Again replaced the propane tank and regulators and it still happens.


It does burn very hot and melts very nicely and that I really love so I am willing to muddle through the above 2 things. At some point I will probably send my Cricket back to GTT to be checked out but at this moment I can't really spend that many days without a torch.

I say go for it and buy a Cricket!!

[gallerygal]

I really like my Cricket. In fact, I've now ordered a Scorpion as I've been impressed with the Cricket's performance on my Airsep Intensity & bottled propane but want more.... :)

I have an ancient Minor which still runs & a Mini CC that seems to have blown something, so I don't use it.

I've used a Mega Minor on bottled oxy, but it didn't do much for me. There were normal Minors burning at the same time & I couldn't spot the difference.

The Cricket seems to have a hotter, finer flame than the Minor & definitely less radiant heat than the Mini CC. I couldn't put tools or glass on the workbench under the Mini CC flame (within about a 6 inch radius) as they got way too hot to touch.

The Cricket also seems to have a much more useable flame range than the Minor. I don't know how to qualify this & I can't compare them side-by-side. Maybe someone else can help out!

Carbon build-up - yeah, I flick a bit off the Cricket maybe every couple of weeks or so. The Minor - every hour or two.

When I light up my Cricket it goes a bit funny for a while, like there's too much oxy & not enough propane but no matter how much I fiddle it doesn't change. I've just got used to it. Light up, let it have it's hissy fit while I get tools out, sort glass, maybe dip a few mandrels & by then it's calmed down and sorted itself out, no biggie.

Happy torching with whatever torch you choose!

Marianne.

[firedancer]

oops. Maybe started this thread in the wrong place! Lots of great comments! I think a new Cricket is on my Christmas list.

[simvet02]

I have a Lynx and bought the Cricket as a backup torch for when the Lynx needed service, which it does. It does have the same problems as the Lynx where it you have to continually turn up the propane for about the first 45 minutes and then after that it stays goos. Not sure but I seem to remember something about the gasket warming up as you torch or something.

Not sure that I can heat boro with it as it doesn't seem as hot as the Lynx and I would have expected it to be as hot with the oxycon but I haven't tried it yet so I don't know. The Lynx doesn't do very well with the oxycon on boro.

[anneonline]

I love my Cricket and like those above me have some observations:
(1) Much more efficient use of oxygen (from both concentrator and tanks)
(2) Less "bushy" flame as compared to mini CC (meaning that you might have more fine stringer control success with the Cricket by turning down your flame rather than trying to work at the edges of a larger flame)
(3) Very clean burning with natural gas - no carbon build up on torch face at all (same amount of build up on torch face with propane for all torches I've worked with; that is, it completely depends upon how clean the propane is in any particular tank).
(4) Love the Cricket for boro (it has a dragon flame with a tank and seems to be hotter than a Minor; and is fine working in a smaller scale with a concentrator) and it is just fine for soft glass (see bushy flame in Item 2).
(5) I have had no issues with changing candle size and have not had to readjust the flame during use (beyond what I adjust for the work).
(6) The torch-mounted marver is pretty small.

Finally, I am very glad I purchased the Cricket and I would do it again!

[kbinkster]

The torch marver was designed to be small so that you can see around it. Personally, I'm not that into torch mounted marvers. They're great for keeping Murrini warm, but I really like my big slab of graphite I keep on the bench. If you want a larger marver, they can build you one.

As for the propane shrinking back...

The valves on the GTT torches have teflon seats in them. This makes for a superior seal and longer valve life (metal to metal valve seats will wear out), but it means that there will also be a breaking in required. It's not as much of a break-in for the Crickets because the seals are a little different, but some people can have issues when they are running the flame low or just starting up for the day. It goes away with use.

The teflon has memory, so when it is compressed and then released (from closing and opening the valve), it's going to want to spring back to the shape it was in before it was compressed. When it does that, it cuts off some of the flow, causing a decrease in the gas going through the torch. You will notice it more on the fuel, and not so much with the oxygen, because you don't open your fuel valve as wide as your oxygen valve when torching. And, you will notice it more when running a small flame (short candles).

With use, the teflon will lose that memory and will stop springing back, causing the flow cut-off. So, how quickly it is broken in (and the problem goes away) depends on how much the torch is used. The more it is used, the sooner it will stop.

Also, when you shut your torch off, close the knob until it stops. Don't crank it shut.

If you're getting carbon on your Cricket, try bumping your oxygen up (or your fuel down) and see if that helps. Make sure that you are running long enough candles with short enough tips. A glowing speck here and there is nothing to worry about. You can just flick that off while the torch is running. But, when you start getting black soot building on the face of the torch, and it's growing like ashes on the end of a cigarette, and the ports start closing up, and you can run a cloth across the face (after the torch is off) and get black streaks... that's carboning.

[lunamoonshadow]

I just want to say THANK YOU KIMBERLY (again!!!) 'cause I've read just about every scrap of information you've posted about running the cricket & seriously, I've had not a single issue getting mine to perform like a dream. Sue ("Sue in Maine") came over a couple weeks ago & helped me get mine all set up with my oxycon (which worked! yay! it's 2nd hand, so I was holding my breath!) & propane regulator & everything, & so it's a little different than using the crickets down @ "Playing with Fire", where they're on tanked oxy....(I've played on the mini cc down there a lot, & on a minor too...I do *not* like the minor at all)....
From your posts I've been able to figure out how to get the candles just right & run a really clean flame, & get a couple nice clean beads (no soot!) & it's just been great. I really appreciate all the info you've given out in all of the various cricket threads--& wanted to let you know I'm still reading, just in case you mention something else I've missed :lol:
I really can't say enough good things about the cricket--it's really a sweet little torch!
~lyn

[squid]

I do have the slow decrease in propane, but have never had any carboning.

[Marlene]

O.K. read all that but where do you get the special offer
Marlene

[kbinkster]

Lyn, thank you, you made my day!

Marlene, the Cricket had an introductory price of $139. The regular price of $167 went into effect on September 1st. That's still a good price given what the Cricket can do and how efficient it is.

[Sue in Maine]

I have both a mini cc and a cricket. I just recently set both torches up with quick connects so I can switch them out easier. I use the mini for 104 and the cricket for boro. I am on 2 oxy-cons at home and really LOVE the cricket.

Sue

[aks141]

I ordered mine on the 31st! So, while I'm waiting for them to contact me about payment, is there anything else I want to add to my order? I ordered the standard purple and will have it turned around on the base so don't need the special elbows. I don't anticipate wanting the torch marver, rarely use them on other torches I've used and I could always add it later.

ETA, Kudos to Kim for the wealth of knowledge she has provided in various threads. And to all teh Cricket owners who so clearly love their new torch.