Piranha on NG? Really?

[Iwannadobeads]

I have been scrolling thru all these threads and seeing the rave reviews of the piranha with a couple people referencing natural gas as their gas source. For some reason I thought that ONLY the Betta could do NG.

I am still working on plumbing gas into my studio and I can go either way (propane or natural gas) for basically the same piping cost.

At this point, I plan to have one Oxycon.

Thoughts? Opinions?


Thanks

[kbinkster]

Yes, really.

All torches can burn Natural Gas. The small torches can run on Natural Gas at the low household delivery pressure (usually 1/4 psi).

In fact, I know of one studio in particular where there were different torches set up on low pressure NG: the Bobcat, the Wale Firebird, the Betta, and the Minnow. The other torches on the table outperformed the Betta on the low pressure NG they had. In fact, they had to take that Betta off the table because the other torches (particularly the Bobcat and the Firebird) did a better job. They could barely get a workable flame from the Betta they had on the table with the low pressure they had at that studio.

The Nortel Minor, the Carlisle Mini CC, the GTT Bobcat, the Wale Firebird, and the Bethlehem Piranha will all run on NG at low pressures (1/4 psi). It was Bethlehem's advertising (aimed at beginners) that put the impression out there that the Betta was the first torch capable of running on low pressure NG (this is on their website), when in fact, other torches could perform well on low pressure NG long before the Betta ever came along - and for a lot less $$$.



As for whether to go with propane or NG, go with propane if you can. Propane is a much better fuel. It is hotter. That means that you won't be heating your glass as long to get it to move. The more you heat it up, the more you beat it up.

[Janine]

My minor works well on NG and one oxycon, and I have been running it that way for a year. I only wish is was a bit hotter and we were going to add another oxy con. However, we are moving in a couple of weeks and going to go to propane. Given the choice, propane burns hotter and the price is the same ballpark for us.

If they are the same for you, I would go propane.

[bhhco]

I suggest propane.

Natural Gas, during peak demand or shortage, is sometimes 'stretched' to meet demand, aka 'peak shaving'.

That is, a propane and air mixture is injected into the NG gas supply line at the main supply point and thus mixed with the NG... stetching the NG supply. This allows suppliers to meet peak demands with a fairly static LNG storage system (think godzilla sized BBQ tank).

I suspect that every once in a while when lampworkers on NG suddenly get odd results while torching (i.e., not good results), that perhaps the NG might have been stretched with a little propane/propylene and air admixture.

In all fairness to both propane and NG suppliers... these gases are made for welding, heating, and cooking... they are not made specifically for lampworker's use. We takes what we can gets... and do the best we cans.

Me

ref: http://www.secowarwick.com/metalminutes/maintenancetips/peakshaving.htm

[Heather/Ericaceae]

I use a Piranha, NG and Solaris oxycon. Yep, it works! The O2 is the limiting factor much more than the NG... I get a huge *volume* of NG, just at very low, soft pressure. When I get a 2nd oxycon I'll be able to get even hotter, but for now I still can get a neutral flame with 1/2" candles and a 8" cone (just eyeballing, I didn't actually measure or anything...) and melt 1" gathers no problem. I do have to adjust my flame when the furnace kicks on, though. That's the biggest annoyance. But I LOVE that I'm tank-free and never have to worry about re-filling! And no regulators, either. Propane has its own advantages, of course. Good luck with your decisions and set-up! -Heather

[Janine]

Yeah, being tank free is a huge bonus of NG! And no regulators or flashback arrestors.

[sandree]

I have a Barracuda that I run on NG and an Integra oxy con. I only use the inner ring of the torch (which is basically the Piranha) cause I really don't feel the set-up can run the large outer ring. But with the Piranha it runs fine. I actually think my boro colors are cleaner and bright with the NG but that might be my imagination...

Sandy

[LaVere]

I have a Mini CC and runs NG with one oxycon all of the time. Works great for me. I have a second Oxycon for back up or extra boost. and I never use it.