Please help

[jaykhub]

hey
i am from corning and i recently started taking a class at the museum and im thinking of getting my own torch. i want something basic, but i would like it to have a 4 part flame. all of the basic torches i look at have only the inner flame. can any one give me any suggestions on a good torch or what to do to a 2 part torch to make it decent?
thanks
jake

[kbinkster]

What kind of work are you intending to do? GTT can help. Their torches are able to achieve a great range of flame characteristics (both chemically and in size) - much better than the standard torches on the market.

[jaykhub]

I plan to be doing some pretty decent sized sculpture, paper weights, and pipes. ill be working with borosilicate most likely. i want a 4 part flame

[NightCat]

What exactly is a "4 part" flame? I mean I know ports and stages or inner fire and outer fire. As Kimberly said GTT (and others) have multi stage torches. GTT makes MONSTER three stage torches that pretty much need to be fed by liquid Oxygen tanks and have serious ventilation needs. How many thousands of dollars do you have to throw down? By the time you get to that level you are pro or atleast a loooong time hobbiest.

You have no profile so I dunno........ Here is a Python and I think it is the biggest torch around and something like $5,500.00



http://www.dichroicalchemy.com/pics/GWP03/869.jpg

[jaykhub]

i just need something that has an inner flame and an outer flame. im still pretty green so i am not actually looking to throw down alot of money. i def wanna start off small. basically i want something for less than 400 that will give me a decent sized flame

[kbinkster]

I am guessing that when you are saying that you want a four part flame, you are meaning a four stud or four post torch - one that has seperate oxygen and fuel feeds for the inner and outer fires. There are torches that are two and three staged torches, but that means that they have seperate inner, middle, and outer fires.

Most two-staged torches (those that have an inner flame and an outer flame) start at around $900. The Nortel RedMax has an upper flame and a lower flame, but costs more than $400, I believe.

Like I said, the GTTs have an amazing range of flame sizes. On a Lynx, for instance, you can have a flame that is right around an inch wide at the shoulder on one setting, but you can dial it down to a small, tight flame that is about the size of a tapestry needle/tootpick (for detail). And, you can also get every flame size in between. It does all of this with only a single fire. The Lynx is the inner fire for the larger two and three stage torches in the GTT line. The Lynx is $435.

The GTT Bobcat is versatile, as well. You can get the same sized wide flame as you can with the Lynx, but the small detail flame is not as tight (because the Bobcat is a standard mix torch and it is the triple mix feature of the Lynx that allows it to get that super tight flame), but it is still respectable. The Bobcat is only $195.

If you want the ability to have a nice, wide flame as well as a good, tight flame, but cannot afford the two-staged torch price range, the GTT Cheetah is a great choice. This torch is wonderful for both soft glass (especially very large beads and blown vessels) and boro (beads, marbles, pendants, hollow boro vessels, sculptures, etc). The Cheetah is $550.

The size work you can do on a torch (any torch) will increase along with your skill. I started off with a HotHead and moved up to a Lynx. I started doing boro sculpture (like a 5-6" long mermaid and other things - I wanted to go larger) and thought I needed a larger torch, so I bought a GTT Phantom. As time went on, I found that I did more and more of my work just using that centerfire, using the outerfire just to heat large gathers fast. After even more time went on, I got to try a Cheetah. I loved that torch - it did so much! I found myself reaching for the Cheetah to work glass with more than the Phantom. At least that was my experience.

[frankO]

I am a big fan of the nortel redmax (pre-mix model)for beginners. It is very versatile and the flame is comparable to the carlisle, just not quite as hot allowing the beginner a little more control over the glass. For the price it can't be beat in my oppinion. Also you may be able to find a used one in your price range if not spend the extra cash and get e new one, you won't be disappointed. Goodluck

[barbaracollins]

I like my new Hellcat from Carlisle. It has an inner fire that is the same as the Carlisle Mini CC. And it has an outer fire also. Do not confuse it with the Wildcat.