Hey

[Glass_armyman84]

I am a newbie with glass so i need a torch and what would be a good one to start out with and how much money would i save to get one my girlfriend has one and i want one for my self so we have are own torch.

[kittyluv4ever]

What kind of glass will you be working with? Boro? Soft Glass? Think about what type of work you will be wanting to do, beads, sculpture? What kind of oxygen will you have available, bottled, oxygen concentrators? You want to get the best torch that you can afford for the kind of work you want to do. Check out the torches these guys make, I have one of the mini cc's and for me it works great. http://www.carlislemachine.com/

[wendbill]

Start with a hot head and work out if you want to continue.

[Sylvie D.]

A while back there was a poll on LE about which torch was used by LE members. I think this might help you some.
Personally, I have a minor and I'm still very happy with it (BTW I don't do boro, just soft glass). Here is the link:
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34849

[Sylvie D.]

You might also want to check here for torch related questions: http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=55

[nagibeads]

What do you plan to make and what is your budget?
If you have the funds, I highly recommend the GTT torches. The smallest is very affordable at around $199(?). If you know you will go "big", perhaps think about a GTT Phantom or Mirage. The centerfire is a Lynx which is good for most apps, but it has a big outer fire for marbles and tubing :-D
http://www.glasstorchtech.com/torches.html

I have a Mirage and I LOOOOOOOVE it. But one thing....it will make you want to go even bigger--Delta Mag(a girl can dream, no?)

[rverk47]

I would start out with a hot head, it's reasonably priced and you only need mapp gas to get started..If you like it then invest more in a torch that will do more etc..I started about 3 yrs ago and I still have my hot head..I would love to get a "bigger" torch that uses propand and oxygen but it freaks my husband out and it does scare me a little..The one thing I have found out that I can't work with is raku other than that I'm completely happy with my hot head..Hope that helps..

[redbearmountain]

Hello, I started about three years ago on a hothead torch! I probably made about 300 hundred beads my first week. I went thru alot of mapp gas bottles which only seemed to last me three hours torching they say you can get five hours I never did. Plus the mapp gas was 8.00 a bottle. I decided that a better torch was needed I was hooked. I found the hothead to be a royal pain so I bought a nortel minor burner and have been very happy. Jacque Red Bear Mountain

[wendbill]

I only ever used the hothead with bulk gas (propane BBQ bottle). I switched up to a Nortel minor burner after about 18 months.

You can often pick up torches cheap in the garage sale.

If you've already used your girlfriend's oxy/propane torch (assuming that is what she has), then you'd probably find it harder to go back to using a cheaper cooler hothead anyway.

[jhana]

I just have to say that I love the title of this thread.:lol: :lol: :lol:
Say what?:wink:

[lampworker1]

I learned on the minor and mini cc. For my home I bought a hothead. If you know that you are going to continue making beads or working with glass I would buy the best torch you can afford. The hothead allowed my to grow while I saved my money. It is incredibly noisy and slow. A minor, mini cc or a GTT torch would give you more versatility and if you ever decide to take a class from someone you would be familiar with the type of torch most studios use when teaching classes. I don't have a GTT, but I plan on buying one because I have heard that the technology used in making those torches is incredible. Good luck, keep doing your research!!!!

[redbearmountain]

Hello, I just know that when I upgraded my lampworking skills improved greatly! It is the only way to go as far as I am concerned. Buy the best torch you can afford. I would also buy a kiln as soon as possible. You can also use your hothead torch with a single hose and propane bottle, I just had mapp gas bottles which are a royal pain. If you know you are hooked then invest in good equipment thats what I did and I have not been sorry! Jacque Red Bear Mountain

[Just Nancy]

Unless you have a large budget I vote newcomers start on a hothead and change when they know they want more and love glass. Maybe that's because when I bought my hothead the dual fuels were less talked about here in the midwest.

The dual fuels will change how you work the glass, but if you buy one and don't love it you are out the money for torch, hoses, regulators, oxygen (Machine or tank) and propane. Some or all of this can be sold, but seems like most people want new or a 'deal'.

I have a bobcat. It is ok. I wish it was bigger. When I move up I don't think I will stay with GTT. Good luck.

[artsyuno]

I'm a relative newbie. I've taken classes on a minor, but bought a hothead and hated it. It's a lot slower and glass burns much more easily, in my experience. If you've started on your girlfriend's oxygen-propane torch and know you like lampworking, I'd skip the hothead and get an oxy-pro torch. I just bought a piranha, but I haven't tried it out yet (need to figure out why my oxygen concentrator that just arrived late last week isn't working right). I started out thinking I'd get a minor and after reading many threads here started considering a bobcat and then read a little more and decided on the piranha. I wanted something that would hold my interest for a while, would have flexibility in terms of bushy flame to pinpoint flame and that I could run on 1 5 LPM oxycon unless or until I want to try boro.