Questions about the Cheetah

[Lisi]

I debating on whether I should go with the Lynx or spend a little more and get the Cheetah. I use the Bobcat now and I love it! :)

I need more heat for a good boro torch, the Bobcat is perfect for the soft glass. Does the Cheetah have a pinpoint (or is it more like a pencil point?) flame like the Lynx?? What I really want to know, is if the Cheetah has an adjustable flame range like the Lynx does?? From what I understand, the flame is wider.

I also want the ability to switch from boro to soft glass without necessarily having to change back to the Bobcat.

[IF-Designs]

The cheetah is bushier. The flame is definately much wider than a lynx or bobcat. I do not get a pinpoint flame with it I can focus the flame but I do not get a pinpoint flame like those do with the lynx I love it for boro though it rocks as a boro torch....but I tend to go to the minor for small soft glass stuff...

[nagibeads]

Hi Lisa!
I have used the Bobcat, Cheetah and Lynx(centerfire) and for beads I love my Cheetah and use it almost exclusively. It cannot do a pinpoint flame and needs some practice to get stringer control but I love that wide flame. It's great for pulling your own cane from the big Reichenbach rods.
The Lynx has a wonderful small flame and I use it to make tiny beads with fine details.

I run an Onyx+ oxy con and it only runs the Cheetah at about 65% but that makes for a nice soft flame perfect for boro and soft glass beads. For marbles, I hook it up to an O2 tank. (One note on the Onyx+--it was a good choice back when I bought it, but now there are many better, far less expensive machines out there.) The Cheetah is an oxygen hog and that is an important factor to think about before purchasing one.

[kiko]

Cheetah is great for small boro and larger soft glass beads. You can work boro tubing with it as well. Cheetah's detail flame is larger than the lynx but still a righteous little flame for softglass stringers. Lynx is the best for softglass detail! Once I learned how to dial down a nice small flame on the cheetah I use it exclusively. Needs 15-20 psi though. I run it on a OG20 at 80%. Beware though it's hot for soft glass you can work faster and bigger. Hope this helps,
Lori

[kbinkster]

I think something important to point out here is that when people say that the Lynx has a pinpoint flame, it has a pin point flame. Literally, I can safely get a flame on the Lynx (using the red and blue valves only) that is about the size of a sewing/tapestry needle AND it is still hot enough to do melt-ins.

The Cheetah can get a small flame that comes to a point. You just use the red valve with the blue valve and just a little of the green valve on. It is more carrot-shaped - it's wide at the base and tapers to a point. You can definitely do detail work on a Cheetah. The Cheetah is actually an oxygen efficient torch. It has more jets than say a Lnyx (the Lynx has seven and the Cheetah has twelve, I believe), so, naturally it will use more oxygen (22 CFH/ 10.4 LPM as opposed to 14 CFH/6.6 LPM on a Lynx. THIS IS ON ITS HIGHEST SETTING - like when making a 3" boro marble. For soft glass bead making, you would use only about a quarter to a third as much oxygen or less - somewhere around 5 CFH).

I have use of several torches, from the Bobcat on up the GTT line. When I sit down to do beads (mosty soft glass), I go for the Cheetah. I also run it on my 10 LPM concentrator (to do soft glass and small boro). Don't get me wrong, I love the Lynx, too. But for the way I've been working lately (bigger sculptural beads), the Cheetah fits the bill.

PS If you ever find that your flame is too hot, you can either add more oxygen to make it slightly oxidizing to cool it off OR just work out a little further.

[PaulaD]

Kimberly this is really useful information. I'm printing it out but know I will loose it and forget where it is by the time I get around to buying one of these!
Is it possible to put this kind of information up on the GTT website for each of their torches?
Thanks. Paula

[Lisi]

Wow, thanks for the great info! i'm going to go with the Cheetah then. :)

I have one of those expensive generators that was bought three years ago, but it runs 10-15lpm and 15-18psi, so it should be good with the Cheetah. I have liquid oxygen as an option too, but would only go there if I could afford the Mirage.