Upgrading Torch Questions

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

Hubby said I may be able to upgrade my torch next year.What should I upgrade to?I wanna do boro and would also rather use a O2 concentrator rather than tanked Oxy.Will the bigger torches run on bulk propane tanks?What all do I need with a bigger torch that I don't need with my HH?
Tina

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

No suggestions?

[wendbill]

Th ebigger torches do run on propane bulk tanks. I run my minor on a bbq tank of propane and an oxy concentrator.

I'm only using soft glass, so I can't answer any questions about boro although I hear you can melt boro on a minor. Like everything it's probably all based on speed.

[Patti]

I recently upgraded from a Lynx to a Cheetah so that I could do larger pieces and more boro. I ran the Lynx with an OG-15 generator and propane and I could do some small boro pieces. I loved my Lynx, so it was a tough decision as to whether it was worth it to upgrade.

I run the Cheetah on an OG-20 generator and a barbecue tank of propane, which a plumber piped into my studio according to code (too scary--not to mention against the law--to have the barbecue tank of propane in the house!). I also had a nice ventilation system put in. This setup works great for me. I've been told that my Cheetah will run hotter with tanked oxygen, but I'm very happy with the way that I have it now.

I don't know if this really answered your questions, but hope that it helps. Good luck in making your choices. There are a lot of great options out there!

[RyanTheNumberImp]

Well it depends on what you are currently using but I would suggest a lynx or minor assuming you are coming from a hothead.

[G.L.McBead]

A Mini CC will keep you happy for a long time doing soft and boro.
I think all the torches run a lot better with 2 concentrators.
G.

[Beckah]

I'm working with a MiniCC, natural gas and 1 5LPM concentrator. This set-up did not work for me when I tried to work boro. I just purchased a 10 LPM oxycon -- a Regalia. When it arrives, I'm going to try boro again.

I did work boro in my beginning lampworking class on a Minor with tanked propane and tanked oxygen. I could make small pieces but it took some time.

I've been researching, reading and thinking about the boro question. What I think I've learned is that a Bobcat, Minor or MiniCC are pretty much the same class of torch. Some people do work boro on these torches with just 1 5LPM concentrator and propane. I don't think I've seen anyone with NG and 1 5LPM oxycon working boro. However, most people are ecstatic when they either add another oxycon so that they have at least 2 5LPM oxycons for approximately 9-10 LPM or they purchase a 10 LPM oxycon. If you look at the Torch Room, there's all sorts of ganging together of any number of oxycons to create enough oxygen for the large torches.

As for the torches, I'm not clear what torches are in the next level up from the Bobcat, Minor and MiniCC but I do know the Lynx is a step up from that group. I'm hoping to try one out in the next year as that may be my next upgrade -- however, from my reading, it sounds like I'd need to switch to propane although the new 10 LPM oxycon should be sufficient to run it. However, the Bobcat group is plus/minus $200 and the Lynx is at least double that.

Hope some of this helps. I'll let you know what happens when I get my new oxycon.

[Beckah]

This may be obvious but switching from the HH to a larger torch, you'll need:

*a fuel source -- usually propane (lots of folks use the bar-be-que tank) or natural gas
*oxygen -- if you use an oxycon at least 1 5 LPM... 2 is better
*hoses
*regulator and flashback arrestor if you're using propane

I think that's it... but I'm going off the top of my head and my memory isn't what it used to be.

[RyanTheNumberImp]

Truthfully, I would say that a lynx needs at least 15lmp, and more like 20lpm to really shine.

I am running it on 15lpm and while I can do very large pieces, when I really turn the flame up it is slightly reducing.

[Beckah]

Truthfully, I would say that a lynx needs at least 15lmp, and more like 20lpm to really shine.

I am running it on 15lpm and while I can do very large pieces, when I really turn the flame up it is slightly reducing.

Thanks for that info.

[Beckah]

Tina, I was just going to look up your question in my Kervin "Everything you want to know about Glass Beadmaking". The first couple of chapters have lots of info on torches, oxycons, etc. But do you want to borrow the book? I think those chapters would answer lots of your questions.

[sleekbeads]

I'm on a mini cc high oxy model with one oxycon and a 20# propane tank.
I've been working boro happily for a while now. I've just recently decided that I'm ready for an upgrade myself. But rather than purchase a new torch, I'm going to add a second oxycon.
I love my mini cc.

Jo

[OnCloud9]

Hi Tina

I was just at Nortel on Friday and was looking at their new "Mega Minor" torch. It is a hotter torch than the old minor and will do boro. It will run on either natural gas or propane and on either tank oxygen or a concentrator.

carol

[HONEYBUNNY72_99]

Beckah I sent you a PM:)
I will have to check out all these torches.The Mega Minor sounds interesting!
Tina

[kbinkster]

Truthfully, I would say that a lynx needs at least 15lmp, and more like 20lpm to really shine.

I am running it on 15lpm and while I can do very large pieces, when I really turn the flame up it is slightly reducing.

The Lynx consumes about 14-15 CFH (that's right around 7 LPM) for its maximum flame setting. If you are really pushing a highly oxidized flame, you could use more than that.

What set-up are you on, exactly?

[RyanTheNumberImp]

I am using an OG-15. I may have mis-represented what I meant to say, I can do baseball sized gathers and 3-4" soft glass marbles, its just that I know that if I was on tanked I could go even bigger.

[Patti]

Wow, Ryan, I wish that I could watch you work. I ran my Lynx on an OG-15 and later an OG-20 and I don't think that I could have worked that large, especially without getting some stress cracks. Could it have been because I was making large, thin disks, hearts, and leaves as opposed to thicker pieces like marbles? My flame was relatively narrow on the Lynx. Maybe if I had known your secrets, I wouldn't have felt the need to upgrade to a Cheetah! However, I also love the Cheetah. I can run a wider, bushier flame with it. But let go of the Lynx? Not at all ready for that! It is sitting next to my workbench taking a rest, but I am still quite attached to it!

[RyanTheNumberImp]

I found it more difficult to do thin or blown work than murrini and marbles on a lynx. Sometimes it takes a while, but its fun. The lynxes flame really heats up large gathers.

[kbinkster]

I am using an OG-15. I may have mis-represented what I meant to say, I can do baseball sized gathers and 3-4" soft glass marbles, its just that I know that if I was on tanked I could go even bigger.
That is really impressive!

I was wondering if you were confusing LPM and CFH. The OG-15 puts out 15 CFH. The OG-20 puts out 20 CFH. Some concentrator/generator companies list their machines' output in terms of CFH and others in terms of LPM. Most torch companies report the consumption rates of their torches in terms of CFH.

[RyanTheNumberImp]

That is really impressive!

I was wondering if you were confusing LPM and CFH. The OG-15 puts out 15 CFH. The OG-20 puts out 20 CFH. Some concentrator/generator companies list their machines' output in terms of CFH and others in terms of LPM. Most torch companies report the consumption rates of their torches in terms of CFH.
You are right then, I mixed up the units.

[kbinkster]

Wait til you add "psi" to the mix. :lol: All those abbreviations! They're easy to mix up.

[Beckah]

Tina, the Kervin book is on its way to you. I sent it Media Mail so it may take a week or so to get to you but I usually have luck with Media Mail being as fast as 1st Class. Hopefully, it'll be useful.