Torch comparison

[Cyndi]

Can anyone tell me how a Mini Carlisle would compare to a Betta? I love my CC for stringer work- I can get a really small flame. I'm thinking I'm ready for a bigger torch as some of my larger beads can take over an hour due to not enough heat. I'm running one concentrator. Even some input on what you have for a torch (not too expensive!) and why you love it would be helpful!!

Thanks!!

[Emily]

You might want to think about adding a second concentrator instead of getting another torch. The miniCC is a pretty hot little torch when you give it enough oxy. I just spent the weekend at Carlisle at an Open Torch playing on a miniCC, and lack of heat wasn't an issue. (We were running on tanked oxygen -- liquid oxygen, actually.)

Sorry I can't help you with the Betta comparison, but I wanted to suggest another option.

(I'm not a diehard Carlisle fan, by the way -- I liked the miniCC, but I wouldn't trade my Lynx for it.)

[kbinkster]

I will second Emily's suggestion of adding a second concentrator. That should make a nice difference. All of the torches out there will run better on two concentrators than on one, even the Betta.

[Cyndi]

I did have a second concentrator but it died... seemed though it might be cheaper to buy a new torch. The noise of 2 concentrators drives me batty- enough so I've considered tanked oxy. The CC did run better on 2 concentrators though, on one the torch adjustment knobs get toasty enough to burn your fingers!

[Glassgoodies]

The Betta wouldn't be a bigger torch. Just different.

[Emily]

I'm not up on all the different models of concentrators, but some of them are pretty quiet. At Carlisle they had an M-10 that someone was using (she asked to be hooked up to it, because she was used to a concentrator at home and the miniCC with tanked oxy was too hot for her) and that thing is practically silent. Not cheap, though -- $459, I think, for 5 lpm at 10 psi (so it's higher psi than the usual concentrators). I don't know how noisy other concentrators are. I have a couple of AirSeps, and they definitely make noise, but it doesn't bother me. I can run the concentrators, the vent hood, and the torch, and still hear an audiobook playing on my external iPod speaker.