Any one working with a Piranha?

[Shadow Darner]

Hi, I've been working on a piranha for a couple of years now....I think I actually bought one of the last ones before the Minnow came out. I've been thinking about changing torches....maybe a bobcat or lynx. I run the piranha off one oxycon but have been thinking that before I switch over I should try it on a second oxycon. Any one have experience with this torch? Can you advise me?

I like the Piranha but am ready for a bit more umph since I'm making big focals and would like to try out boro in the future.

Thanks for your time!

[jeepinwelch]

I love mine! I have my old Bobcat in drawer as a backup but keep thinking about selling it because I really haven't used it in a few years. The Piranha is a much hotter flame. I did get a second oxycon because I started making murrini and it took forever to get it hot enough to pull. The gathers for my murrini are large, baseball to softball size, and it could take up to an hour to get it it hot enough. The second oxycon did the trick for me and I now have plenty of heat. I don't know about working boro with it. If you would like me to I can get a few rods and try it out for you.

[Hayley]

A second oxycon will definitely give you more ooomph. I have a Barracuda and use the inner fire most of the time which is a Piranha. It works on one M15 fine but when I have two M15s hooked up, it's amazing! I would recommend getting another oxycon before changing to a different torch.

My sister uses a Bobcat and it will be a step down for you instead of an upgrade.

[Shadow Darner]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm certainly getting another oxycon so the practical thing to do is to see how my torch works with two. I had no idea a bobcat would be a 'step down'...I do like the piranha really....just wanted more oomph.

Jeep...murrini is another reason I wanted to have more power. The size you're pulling sounds really impressive!

It seems like there are not many people on the piranha....why is that? Does anyone know why Bethlehem stopped making them? If I mention a piranha here in Europe I usually get blank stares.

[hotflashwanda]

My first torch was a Bobcat, which was great, but I got a Piranha because I had tried one and it had a hotter flame. At that time I was working boro with one Devilbiss concentrator. I'm sure with two concentrators, you would be able to get all the power you need. I ran mine on an OG-15 generator for a while, and it powered the torch at 100%.
I also had a Lynx, which was a very nice torch but for some reason I still preferred the Bethlehem.

Anita
www.nitabeads.com

[Shadow Darner]

Thanks Anita! I've ordered a 2nd oxycon today and will pick it up on Friday....now I need to find the valve to hook them together....Here in Flanders they call it a T-stuk (T piece)....don't we call it a Y-valve?

One thing that I have always wished for is a mounted marver but I can't find one to fit the piranha....does anyone have a solution for this?

[artsyuno]

I've used a Piranha for a couple of years but just switched to a Barracuda a few weeks ago. I love the pinpoint flame and penetrating heat I can get on the Piranha but sometimes wanted a bigger, wider flame, especially for encasing with thick rods of clear. I ran my Piranha off one 5 lpm oxycon for a little while and it's definitely not full strength (mostly I've used the studio at a fine arts center and they have liquid oxy - huge difference). I think you'll be a lot happier with two.


Regarding the marver, the trick is to use a hose clamp. If you're handy, you can probably make one yourself by attaching a hose clamp to a metal plate and screwing that into the underside of a marver. You can then tighten the hose clamp on the barrel of your torch. If you don't want do hassle with that, you can do what I did -- contact Ross at ABR and ask him to have one made for you. :) His price was very reasonable and I had the marver within a couple of weeks.

[Shadow Darner]

Thanks Felicia!! I think I'll take advantage of your lead and contact ABR about the marver...I could try to do it myself but it probably wouldn't come out as good!

I just picked up oxycon #2!!! Just got to get the right valve/connector and I'll be up and running! Just in time for the weekend too!!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin: