Need help comparing bullet and hellcat

[Neilyboy]

Firstly great website and hi to everyone in the northern hemisphere from downunder! I'm just a novice at glassblowing but i'm looking to upgrade my burner- so far it looks like the choice is between a knight bullet or a carlisle hellcat- not interested in a GTT burner- so I really don't want to hear about them- i know they're good but its too far to send them away for repairs and I like doing some larger stuff so I like being able to have a large flame, as well as a pinpoint at times(i also think they're overpriced- they say over here that opinions are like arseholes- everyones got one!!!) Was going to get the hellcat but i don't like the sound of them heating up. Out of curiosity I'd also like to look at how efficient they are- does anyone have the figures for how much propane and oxygen they both use (and please use the same measurements-I still don't know the difference between cubic feet per hour, square cubic feet per hour????? and litres per minute!!!!!You guys do realise the rest of the world is in metric??????LOL!!!). Anyway I would appreciate any input.
Neil

[cghipp]

This won't be much help as I haven't actually used either one before. They've both gotten excellent reviews; especially the Bullet, which has been around a little longer. I've got the Hellcat on my wish list but that's because I already use a Mini CC and I know I love a Carlisle torch. But the Bullet has a great reputation and, last time I checked prices, seemed to be especially good for the price compared to some other torches. The good news is you can't go wrong with either torch.

[Emily]

I can't speak directly about either torch, but my guess is that they're similar. Knight was started by an ex-employee of Carlisle.

The Hellcat is the newest Carlisle, isn't it? I haven't even had a chance to play with that one yet. People seemed pretty excited about it when it was coming out.

If you want the specs on the Hellcat, e-mail Carlisle directly and ask. I think they're pretty good about answering e-mails.

carlisle@carlislemachine.com

I did a little Googling, and saw that Deb Crowley has a Hellcat (that Mike has been borrowing lately). Maybe Mike or Deb will have a comment. And we know Cosmo here loves his Knight burners.

[Cosmo]

I have used both quite a bit. Honestly, if you were set up to work so that you could only see the flame and not the torch itself, I don't think you could tell a difference.

I have used a Bullet quite a bit. I taught for three days on a Hellcat at BeadFest. I've used both torches on tanked oxygen and concentrators. I honestly can't tell enough difference between the two torches to recommend one over the other. Either will do very nicely.

I don't know about the actual efficiency of either one, but just judging from the flame characteristics, I doubt you'll see much difference there either.

[G.L.McBead]

I have the Bullet,had it for about 2 years.It is a great torch.I had a Mini cc before the Bullet and loved it also.
I think you will be very happy with ether torch.
G.

[SuzyQ]

Cosmo you can use the Hellcat with concentrators? What exactly would I need, a 10 LPM one or could I use two 5's?

[Cosmo]

I have never tried to use it with concentrators. I know you can run the center fire with concentrators, but I don't know about the outer fire. At BeadFest, I ran a Hellcat on 3 M-15's, and it ran well. With the similarity of the two torches, I would assume the Bullet would run well on them too.

[Hayley]

Suzy,

I have been doing a bit of research on upgrading oxycon and torch - both the Hellcat and Bullet should get about 85-90% on a Hurricane (or 2 M15's) and close to 100% on a Cyclone.

[SuzyQ]

Thanks Haley.

I'm still undecided which means I probably don't need to upgrade just yet, lol.

[kbinkster]

Firstly great website and hi to everyone in the northern hemisphere from downunder! I'm just a novice at glassblowing but i'm looking to upgrade my burner- so far it looks like the choice is between a knight bullet or a carlisle hellcat- not interested in a GTT burner- so I really don't want to hear about them- i know they're good but its too far to send them away for repairs and I like doing some larger stuff so I like being able to have a large flame, as well as a pinpoint at times(i also think they're overpriced- they say over here that opinions are like arseholes- everyones got one!!!) Was going to get the hellcat but i don't like the sound of them heating up. Out of curiosity I'd also like to look at how efficient they are- does anyone have the figures for how much propane and oxygen they both use (and please use the same measurements-I still don't know the difference between cubic feet per hour, square cubic feet per hour????? and litres per minute!!!!!You guys do realise the rest of the world is in metric??????LOL!!!). Anyway I would appreciate any input.
Neil

:lol: Just so you know, you would have to send in a Hellcat or a Bullet just as far for repairs...

I have a Bullet and a Mini CC. I felt that the construction of the Bullet was better than the Mini CC. I cannot say how it would compare to the Hellcat ( a larger torch in the same line), though. Carlisle claims that the Hellcat uses 15 LPM for "standard usage." That means typical soft glass work like beads. Larger soft glass or boro would no doubt require more oxygen. Knight claims that the Bullet uses 150 CFH - that's about 75 LPM - for it's maximum flame. I have not tested it out, yet, for myself.

As for prices... when you talk about the price of a torch, you should consider all of the costs involved and weigh the benefits. If your fuel and oxygen end up costing more for the "cheaper" torch, then, well, it wasn't really less expensive, afterall.