Perplexed-oxycon?

[nlinaz]

I have a Puritan Bennet oxycon with 11,300 hrs on it, I turn it on the alarm goes off,(normal)and warms up and then I turn on gas(propane). I set the regulator and light the torch. The minute I open the o2 at torch the flame blows out. If I'm lucky its only a small flame that fluctuates and then blows out.

I've tried all different pressures on the regulator and oxycon. With the propane off and o2 on, the oxycon is steady(the ball stays in one place).
I recently changed regulators thinking it was the regulator but I don't know any more](*,)](*,)
Nancy

[bead crazy]

Are you using a regulator with the oxycon? If so that could be the problem. You don't use one with a oxycon. I light my propane first then turn on the oxycon and slowly turn it on at the torch. I also always when finished at the end of torching I open the knob at the torch and leave it open until the next time I torch to get all the o2 out of the line.

[nlinaz]

No regulator on the oxycon. I just tried it again same thing. I'm gonna dig a grave out back for it ;)

[kbinkster]

Air will blow out your flame. So, it could be a function of either air in your line when you first start up, low purity product from your concentrator during the warm up phase, or just plain old poor purity from the concentrator even after it has had a chance to warm up.

When you are letting your concentrator warm up, are you leaving the oxygen valve on your torch on?

[nlinaz]

Yes the o2 valve on the torch is open when warming up, it warms up for 10-15 minutes. At first I thought it was the propane tank acting up with high outside temps, then thought it was my regulator-which I just replaced, now I think its the o2con. Does the alarm go off when purity is poor? I noticed it gets quite warm too. If it is the purity can I fix it or is it a big job???

[bclogan]

I have that happen sometimes, even on tanked O2. Light the propane, then SLOWLY open the Oxygen valve. I have found if you open it too quickly then the oxygen "blows out" the flame.

[kbinkster]

Yes the o2 valve on the torch is open when warming up, it warms up for 10-15 minutes. At first I thought it was the propane tank acting up with high outside temps, then thought it was my regulator-which I just replaced, now I think its the o2con. Does the alarm go off when purity is poor? I noticed it gets quite warm too. If it is the purity can I fix it or is it a big job???

It depends on the concentrator. Some have an OCI (oxygen concentration indicator) that will alarm when the purity drops below a given level. Unfortunately for us, that level is usually around 85%, which is already too low for lampworking.

Some concentrators have an indicator light that alerts you to a problem with the machine. So, if you have a leak or something, it could light up. I'm not very familiar with the features of the Puritan Bennet machines.

It is possible that after that many hours on your machine, if it has never been reconditioned, it could be time for some big maintenance. If you have a medical supply place near you that repairs concentrators, it may be worth it to take it to them and let them check it out. Sometimes, it is just easier and less expensive to buy another machine.

Concentrators do warm up as they run. The inside cabinet temperature can increase about 30 degrees or so from the compressor.

You said that sometimes you get a flame, but it is small and fluctuates. What torch are you using?

[nlinaz]

I have that happen sometimes, even on tanked O2. Light the propane, then SLOWLY open the Oxygen valve. I have found if you open it too quickly then the oxygen "blows out" the flame.

I always open it slowly- when I do get a tiny flame, the candles start to lift a bit and out it goes...it just gets worse. Thanks though:-)

[nlinaz]

It depends on the concentrator. Some have an OCI (oxygen concentration indicator) that will alarm when the purity drops below a given level. Unfortunately for us, that level is usually around 85%, which is already too low for lampworking.

Some concentrators have an indicator light that alerts you to a problem with the machine. So, if you have a leak or something, it could light up. I'm not very familiar with the features of the Puritan Bennet machines.

It is possible that after that many hours on your machine, if it has never been reconditioned, it could be time for some big maintenance. If you have a medical supply place near you that repairs concentrators, it may be worth it to take it to them and let them check it out. Sometimes, it is just easier and less expensive to buy another machine.

Concentrators do warm up as they run. The inside cabinet temperature can increase about 30 degrees or so from the compressor.

You said that sometimes you get a flame, but it is small and fluctuates. What torch are you using?


I'm on a minor. I usually work with a small flame w/ the o2con at about 3-3.5 level with a pancake regulator. But the flame I got yesterday was tiny and it blew out. I've tried every possible combo with the new regulator. My mom says I should be happy I got 2 yrs out of it-I bought from an estate sale in FLA from ebay, and it probably wasn't reconditioned. I'm gonna call around tomorrow. Thanks for your help:waving:

[bclogan]

OH... A PANCAKE regulator. Get a new one and try again. Those things don't last long, and they aren't very good anyway. We had one of those on a grill - it dies about every other year and has to be replaced. And we have similar problems - flame not acting right, blowing out easily, etc. We even had a bad NEW one. Personally, I'd just get a real regulator, but that's me. I don't like to fool with stuff.

[nlinaz]

OH... A PANCAKE regulator. Get a new one and try again. Those things don't last long, and they aren't very good anyway. We had one of those on a grill - it dies about every other year and has to be replaced. And we have similar problems - flame not acting right, blowing out easily, etc. We even had a bad NEW one. Personally, I'd just get a real regulator, but that's me. I don't like to fool with stuff.

I did get a new regulator, a fancy brass one. I tried all different pressures on the regulator and the o2con, with the same problem. I ordered a new o2con from Jay at Hobbies for us, he gave me a good deal:biggrin:now I have to wait for it to arrive...I'll let you know what happens.
ETA, kbinkster I would've bought from you but I have a teeny tiny budget hope you understand.

[JoeWokovich]

Hi everyone,:waving:
I'm the new kid on the block. I've been hanging out and reading a lot. I try to find my answers in other folks posts. That way I learn a lot of other things. Anyhow, this leads to a real newbie question. I have just had great luck in buying a minor with the creation package. :shock:One of those too good to pass up. I hadn't really planned on getting this far in yet. I do a lot of sand carving and some fusing and it somehow just all fits together.

Question is: What do you look for in buying an oxycon? I thought about going tank oxy but the rent is too high for the little I currently plan on using.
There is evidently the good and the not so good. I learned that just now when talking about the different regulators.

I'm looking forward to jumping in real soon.

Thanks
Joe

[nlinaz]

Joe, hobbiesforus.com has good deals on reconditioned oxy cons, just call for availability, he'll ask you questions on your needs. Hope this helps:)

[kbinkster]

Just be aware that all used concentrators are not equal and different companies have different definitions of "reconditioned."

Basically, if you buy a used concentrator that has not been thoroughly reconditioned, you are taking a chance. You do not know if the previous owner ran it above the rated 5 LPM or in bad conditions (smoke, really high heat and really high humidity, exposure to the elements, stored in very cold or very hot conditions, etc.). If it has low hours and has been run in good conditions and run at or below the rated 5 LPM, then you should have a machine that will last you a while and give you good service. If your machine has been thoroughly reconditioned and you take care of it, it is like starting over and you can rest assured that you will get good performance for a long time.

The 5 LPM machines that I sell are high quality reconditioned machines that are thoroughly reconditioned to give many years of good service. A lot of work has gone into these machines. The seive beds have been repoured, the compressor has been rebuilt, the filters have all been replaced, valves have been repaired or replaced as needed, the units have been cleaned inside and out, etc. Each machine is brought up to the specs that the machine had to adhere to when it was new. They are covered by a five year warranty from my supplier. All of this is why my machines are more expensive than some of the others out there.

About me...
I was a lampworker long before I got into the concentrator business. I am also married to the co-owner of one of the major torch companies (GTT). I care very much about the lampworking community and am pretty knowledgable on matters of torches, concentrators, lampworking, and how it all fits together. The quality of the machine is an important factor, but fitting the machine to the torch and how the artist works is important, too, as is troubleshooting systems, and that is what I can help with better than any other concentrator seller out there.

[G.L.McBead]

just make sure to get all the air out of the line before you light the torch.
I should be open the whole time the concentrator is on anyway.
G.

[JoeWokovich]

Joe, hobbiesforus.com has good deals on reconditioned oxy cons, just call for availability, he'll ask you questions on your needs. Hope this helps

Thanks, I'm waiting to hear back from them via email
Joe

Just be aware that all used concentrators are not equal and different companies have different definitions of "reconditioned."
Basically, if you buy a used concentrator that has not been thoroughly reconditioned, you are taking a chance. You do not know if the previous owner ran it above the rated 5 LPM or in bad conditions (smoke, ...............

Thanks, I'll be in touch with you next week. I've still got a couple of questions
Joe