Any threads on working with Natural Gas

[loopydo]

I am in the process of doing a new set up and have the opportunity to use natural gas. I know that there were some threads on this subject but I can't seem to find them now. Anyone switch to natural and what are the pros and cons? I run a Mini CC usually with one or two concentrators. Any information that you guys can bestow upon me would greatly be appreciated!!! I have learned to ask before I leap-sometimes!!!! Thanks for any info on this subject!
Linda

[LyndaJ]

I've always run on natural gas. I use a mini CC and have no troubles with enough heat. I can get candles close to an inch in length with both concentrators on full blast.

I never had our house psi tested, but from other threads they usually run 1/4 to 1/2 psi.

Pro - you NEVER run out
Con - none for me personally, from what I've read, it's not enough gas for some of the torches. Some areas of the country may have additives in the winter that can cause a change in the flame. It can be hard, sometimes, to find a plumber willing to do the work. Some local codes (home inspectors) may not want to say that it's safe.

Just go to the search tool toward the top of the page, and type in natural gas. Choose threads (no posts) and read away!

[loopydo]

Thanks for responding! So how are your colors compared to propane? I LOVE my mini cc. So I did try to do the search and it won't come up with anything. It keeps giving me a message that I need 4 search words? I've never had that problem or I would have tried a search. I know that there are tons of posts somewhere in this lovely treasure trove of info!!! I guess if no one else pops in here I'll have to ask the admins how the heck to access that info without four words. Doesn't matter what combo of words I try....nothing comes up!! :???: But seriously thank you for taking the time to reply. My husband has to have a gas guy come in and put heating in the shop so he figures it will be a cinch to have an outlet plumbed......HA, HA, HA!!!! We'll see!!!
Linda

[Dale M.]

Thanks for responding! So how are your colors compared to propane? I LOVE my mini cc. So I did try to do the search and it won't come up with anything. It keeps giving me a message that I need 4 search words? I've never had that problem or I would have tried a search. I know that there are tons of posts somewhere in this lovely treasure trove of info!!! I guess if no one else pops in here I'll have to ask the admins how the heck to access that info without four words. Doesn't matter what combo of words I try....nothing comes up!! :???: But seriously thank you for taking the time to reply. My husband has to have a gas guy come in and put heating in the shop so he figures it will be a cinch to have an outlet plumbed......HA, HA, HA!!!! We'll see!!!
Linda

Think its 4 LETTERS.......

The search term you specified (***) is under the minimum word length (4) and therefore will not be found. Please make this term longer.

If this term contains a wildcard, please make this term more specific.

Dale

[bilbenglass]

I got the same message. Put "natural gas" in double quotes. Worked like a charm. Good info too.

Bill

[Beckah]

I've been running a MiniCC on NG for about a year-and-a-half -- I'm pretty certain that I'm getting 1/4 PSI (called the City). I just switched from a single 5LPM concentrator to a 10LPM oxycon and that made a huge difference! The MiniCC is much happier with more O2. I never used propane with the MiniCC so I can't really compare color differences between propane and NG. The extra O2 has been better for working silver colors and Raku. With additional O2, I can now get more O2 than fuel but I'm getting enough of both that I can work small boro pieces. I like that I never have to deal with tanks or running out of either O2 or fuel. I'm pretty certain that the NG is cleaner since I've had very little carbon build-up. I also don't have to fuss with where to put propane -- my NG is just piped into the garage. I think that unless you're going to work a lot of boro, that NG has enough heat for 90COE and above glass to work just fine.

[loopydo]

Ahhhh thanks for responding Beckah! I will be using two concentrators hooked together so that may be plenty of oxy. So you don't have to use a line booster for your gas? I only occasionally work boro so that won't be a problem. I swear that when I work boro I get a sunburn!!!! Don't like that...my 50+ year old skin can only take so much!!! Bill thanks for putting the info about the search here-you're right it sure does work like a charm. Kathy from CIM PM'd me with that info as well. LE folks are some of the best in the bead world!!!! Now to wade through ALL that info and try to put it together to come up with a system that works!!! You guys are simply the best!!!
Linda

[LyndaJ]

No line booster for me. My colors (I use bullseye) were fine on one concentrator and great on two.

I've never used any of the 104 fancy silver glass, so I can't answer that part, but it does great the the bullseye silver color and the reichenbach/kugler 96 silver colors.

I really love that you just go to the wall, and turn on the valve to let the gas flow through to the torch. No propane tank refilling/too cold/explosion worries. I do drain the lines after each torching session by turning the gas off at the wall and leaving the valve on the torch open with the ventilation running.

And my set up is hot enough to easily melt the boro that I use to hold silver for fuming and punties.

I think if you move to some of the bigger torches that you need a line booster. From what I've read mini cc, minor, and betta all run on regular city line pressure. I'm not sure about the bobcat, lynx, and other middle sized torches, though.

[Beckah]

Two oxycons seems like plenty of O2 for a MiniCC!

No line booster on my NG. When I talked with the City guy about the NG which was about 2 years ago, he said that it was all piped in at -- if I remember correctly -- 2 PSI and stepped down to 1/4 to run the household appliances. However people who are heating pools can get the full 2 PSI piped in and then each gas appliance has a regulator that steps the pressure back down to 1/4. I toyed with the idea of trying to get a line at the full pressure but decided that I didn't want to go through that hassle until I was certain that I wanted more pressure.

I will add that I had read a long post somewhere about "T"ing off the water heater line and the guy who installed my line said that I wouldn't get the full pressure. So he went directly from the place that my NG arrives at the house which is right at my garage (where I torch) so my NG adding the hose and the piping still has a run of less than 12 ft. I know with the oxycon that I've read lots of posts about minimizing the run to the torch to keep the pressure up -- I don't know if that holds true about the fuel...

[loopydo]

Thanks for the info Beckah. Yes, I'm not sure that a low pressure would be that much of a problem with the mini cc. I try to run my propane at 2 #'s right now. That can be hard to get it that low!!! My colors turn out brighter with the lower gas rate. Hmmmmmm...looks like I'll have to get it set up and see what happens!!! Won't be happening for a little while but I'll try to post the process!
Linda

[Dale M.]

If one wants to have really low propane pressure get a "pancake" regulator similar to one used on BB Q's or RV propane tanks....

Pressure is about 1/4 to 1/3 psi....

Dale

[Venbead]

I use natual gas with .25 lbs of pressure (regular household pressure) and I work exclusivley boro and get great colors. I have a betta and an m-20

[Beadanna]

The link for the previous ng thread is http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77327
Provided thanks to Tobias in the chat room today.
Thanks Tobias

[Nancy Peterson]

I use natural gas from my house supply. No extra boosters. Works just fine although I don't do boro or huge huge beads. I also use one oxygen concentrator with my Minor torch. Love the ease - no lugging around tanks!

Colors are fine, fuming is fine, reducing is great. At my Beaver Island studio I use propane (that is the house supply) and that is a hotter flame. I use an oxygen concentrator there also.

Nancy
Beaver Island Jewelry (http://www.beaverislandjewelry.com)