LOVE my new Nortel Mega Minor

[Libby L.]

Yep just alittle hotter than my old Minor but just enough for me. Really burns clean too.

I am in love....

Anybody else get one?

[Olimpia]

Hi!
I have one and I love it too!
I was wondering about the "neutral" flame though, do you think the candles are a bit longer in the Mega than the Minor? Perhaps even a bit hissy? Seems like when I get the candles really short like what I thought was a neutral flame it's not so hot.

Granted I only used a Minor at the studio where they have open flame days, my first dual fuel torch is the Mega, so I don't have much to compare to.

[Tirian]

My classroom torches are Minors, and I was sent a Mega-Minor from Nortel to evaluate.

Definitely hotter than a regular Minor, but I agree with Closer2Fine about establishing a neutral flame. It's just a matter of getting used to a slightly different flame shape.

I've done boro marbles on it up to about 1.5 inches -- still took awhile, but it held its own.

Since I have a choice of torches I'm still a little partial to my old Minor, but if you want to do any kind of small boro, then between the two, the Mega hands down.

Jim

[Libby L.]

Yep it does look like the candles are kind of wrong but that is just how the torch is. I talked to Leah Fairbanks about the torch at Bead and Button and she told me about the
candles being longer than we are used to on a minor.
I don't adjust them..I just let them be.
I have noticed that when I used Lt. Turquoise I am not getting the bubbling at all. Stays really nice.
Also my clear is not getting scummy.

[Flonche]

This is the torch I am considering buying. Can anyone tell me what is the best oxycon to go with it, please? Thank you!

[kbinkster]

Peter Norton said that it does better on two 5 LPM concentrators than on one 5 LPM unit. So, I would recommend either two 5 LPM concentrators or a single 10 LPM machine like the Regalia.

[Flonche]

Thanks Kim! Just looked at the Regalia on your website, looks great but ouch! can't afford this right now...

[Olimpia]

I'm running mine on an M15, so far it's been great.

[Tirian]

This is the torch I am considering buying. Can anyone tell me what is the best oxycon to go with it, please? Thank you!

On my Minors and the Mega Minor I've been using a SeQual 10 LPM concentrator feeding into a reserve tank, and there's plenty of O2 for those times when I need to really crank up the oxygen and oxygenize, oxygenate, oxygenify, oxygenificate, misoveroxygenify the flame. Sorry, was just watching re-runs of the President's news conference on CNN and I get a kick out of making up new words like he does! (wow, did I just say that?) ;-)

I'll be using the same setup to power the inner flame of my Mirage (when it finally arrives...). The oxygen, not the new vocabulary!

See what happens when one doesn't ventilate enough? LOL!

Jim

[sunnyone]

flonche...I just set up a betta. really nice torch and will work on an oxycon and low fuel pressure. It a hot little bugger! I love it and I make some pretty big beads. Come on over and try it if you want. I also have a couple of minors laying around. I usually have a second hooked up for visitors to play. I will have it set up if you want to come try the betta.

crystal

[Libby L.]

Ok each new day I am loving this torch more and more. It's hotter but dang it doesn't cause certain glass that normally bubbles to bubble at all.
Wozzer!

[SharonP]

Yep - I'm with you, Libby! I bought one in January, and really like it a lot. Like it so much I've just ordered 12 of the little red stinkers for my new teaching studio at Aanraku Glass in San Mateo.
*s*

[squid]

<want> <want>

[volkanokaren]

mega minor and an EX 15..... love it

Karen
Volkano Exotik

[ItsMeRoRo]

This is the torch I am thinking of getting...

I tend to find myself struggling with my Minor when it comes to making larger focals... hm.

[Lorraine Chandler]

Mega Minor and a DeVilBiss 5lpm

My set up is a little different from most peoples.

I am using the little 1 pound blue bottles of propane from Home depot.

My torch is very hot and the candles looked funny to me at first and I could not believe how soft and quiet the flame was after using a HH.

I am amazed at how quickly I melt the the bigger rods....without boiling everything.
Had a little adjusting to do but love the heat...

LUV my MEGA Minor Torch.

Lorraine

[Dennis Brady]

Goldilocks and the porridge sampling:

5 is too cold
15 is too hot
10 is just right.

[bellavistaglass]

Mega Minor and a DeVilBiss 5lpm
I love mine... does not boil like my old minor (when I was too tired and running the torch too hot, not scummy with aqua and Vetrofo clear and similar glass...But a tad challenging so far to reduce with...have not quite had my AHA moment for that... But am quite amazed with this little torch
( and it's red...) thats so hot ;>)
Love it!
Patricia

[Glasstastic Treasures]

I'm in a little late, but....

This is my first dual fuel torch. And although I have nothing to compare it to, I have to say....

I ran out of O2, as I was using DH's tank, and had to go back to my hothead. Blah ptewey, don't like the hothead no more!! Used it for year, wanna toss out the torch. lol.

And, with DH being a bit of a welder, he informed me that my torch flame had too much orange in it and I needed more O2.

Of course, I told him he was insane! lol Do you guys have some orange around the edges of the flame? or am I doing something wrong?

Maybe I'm just used to the huge flame of a hothead?

[squid]

You shouldn't really have much orange at all in your flame. It should have short blue center candles with the smallest of yellow tips on them and then the rest of the flame should be blue.

[kbinkster]

Here's a pic of a Mega Minor flame full blast on 10 LPM before flame distortion:
131643
If you are getting a shroud of orange around the flame, not just at the tips of your candles, it could be due to humidity.

[Kevan]

I think I'll get one.

[Glasstastic Treasures]

the orange is around the flame, not at the candle tips

Here's a pic of a Mega Minor flame full blast on 10 LPM before flame distortion:
131643
If you are getting a shroud of orange around the flame, not just at the tips of your candles, it could be due to humidity.

[kbinkster]

That sounds like humidity, then. Sometimes running a dehumidifier or air conditioner in the room will help, but it shouldn't hurt anything.

[Glasstastic Treasures]

I'm out in the garage, so I won't be able to do much about humidity. But thank you for the info. You guys have been very helpful!! :love:

That sounds like humidity, then. Sometimes running a dehumidifier or air conditioner in the room will help, but it shouldn't hurt anything.

[Moth]

Yep - I'm with you, Libby! I bought one in January, and really like it a lot. Like it so much I've just ordered 12 of the little red stinkers for my new teaching studio at Aanraku Glass in San Mateo.
*s*

Well, that's all I needed to hear.

[char]

I am happy with my little red torch works great hooked up to two oxycons:smile:

[chopsticks]

Hi, I'm new here, and new to flameworking, just taking my first beadmaking course. I'm preparing to order my first torch and am considering the Mega Minor, since I think I might want to work with boro in the future (our studio torches are minors, which I really like).

My question: since I reside in Taiwan and have to order from the US, I need a torch that pretty much will never require repairs. I've heard the Minor is a real workhorse that way. So far, what is your experience with the Mega Minor in terms of repairs? Also, does it work well on O2 tanks and propane (what everybody here uses)?