Help me pick a new torch...please!

[eidyn]

I'm looking to upgrade from my nortel minor w/oxy con to something that can handle bigger pieces. I work in COE 104 & started out doing only smaller beads but I quickly found my personality more suited to larger stuff. I'm now making flute bird beads amongst others that my little minor has a hard time handling. I'd ideally like to be able to get a torch that I can use for smaller work as well as the big honking pieces & semi-scultural stuff, so I'd like a torch that I can adjust to a small focused flame or a flame that can handle up to about 5"-6" finished pieces.

Any advice would be hugely welcome! Also, please let me know what, if any, different requirements I would need for your recommendation re: oxy, etc.

Thanks guys!

[ItsMeRoRo]

I am so glad that you have posted this -- I am in the same postion with my Minor and would like to upgrade...

:) I will watch this and see what others have to reccomend... Thanks!

[squid]

I am upgrading my minor eventually too and will be going to a Lynx - and maybe a megaminor in the meantime.

[Hayley]

I upgraded from a Bobcat with a DeVilbiss 5lpm oxycon to a Barracuda with two M15s . . . love my current set up!

If you are not looking for a two-stage (outer and inner fire) torch, I have heard great reports on a Cheetah.

[ItsMeRoRo]

So does anyone use a major minor? I seem to struggle with wanting to make larger sculpturals on my minor and feel like it takes forever...
could a mega be better or do I need something else? I was really also considering a Japanese torch to try the ultra soft glass... hm

[ArtcoInc]

I'm looking to upgrade from my nortel minor w/oxy con to something that can handle bigger pieces. I work in COE 104 & started out doing only smaller beads but I quickly found my personality more suited to larger stuff. I'm now making flute bird beads amongst others that my little minor has a hard time handling. I'd ideally like to be able to get a torch that I can use for smaller work as well as the big honking pieces & semi-scultural stuff, so I'd like a torch that I can adjust to a small focused flame or a flame that can handle up to about 5"-6" finished pieces.

Any advice would be hugely welcome! Also, please let me know what, if any, different requirements I would need for your recommendation re: oxy, etc.

Thanks guys!

What oxycon are you using now?

Depending on what torch you end up getting, you will probably need more oxygen than you currently have. If I may suggest, start first by upgrading your oxycon. Either get a larger one, add a second one, or get a bottle.

Try the additional oxygen with your existing torch, and see if that makes a difference. Even if it doesn't, you'll eventually need the extra oxygen when you *do* replace your torch.

Malcolm

[nagibeads]

Hi Mary Beth--
How about a GTT Phantom? It has the inner fire that can go to a tiny pinpoint and has an outerfire that you can do large things with.
Because you can turn the outerfire off you can save on O2--you only use it when you need it. You can hook up your concentrator for the inner fire and get a tank for the outer fire....

I have a Mirage and love it. You can do Satake or tiny detailed beads all the way up to large boro marbles and sculptures. I have a setup that can switch from either a concentrator for the inner fire or tanked(for boro). I got a foot pedal for handsfree outerfire control... :-)
The Cheetah is great for soft glass or boro :-) Now that I have the Mirage I don't use it much, but I still love it!

[G.L.McBead]

For sure get the 2nd or bigger concentrator first.
G.

[Kym]

I just bought a Betta and can only compare it to a Lynx for heat. Its hot!
My only problem is turning that gas and oxy back down enough after having the Lynx or Minor hooked up. The Betta is verrry! efficient and I love it.

Kym

[eidyn]

What oxycon are you using now?

Depending on what torch you end up getting, you will probably need more oxygen than you currently have. If I may suggest, start first by upgrading your oxycon. Either get a larger one, add a second one, or get a bottle.

Try the additional oxygen with your existing torch, and see if that makes a difference. Even if it doesn't, you'll eventually need the extra oxygen when you *do* replace your torch.

Malcolm

Currently, I've got a Puritan Bennett Companion 590...refurbished. I'm aware I'll need to upgrade my oxy along with my torch. That would be part of why I need to know about the oxy requirements of the recommended torches.

Right now, the problem I'm running into is that I'm having a hard time keeping the extremities of my larger pieces in the heat, since they extend well beyond the inch or so outside the flame width that's still hot enough to prevent cracking (i.e. I'm getting too big for my flame width). Well, that & it takes forever to melt & shape that much glass while making like a mad drunk rotisserie/typewriter combo to keep my extremities warm while moving what needs moved.:wink:

[eidyn]

Hmmm...so the most interesting sounding to me from what I've read here are the Barracuda, Phantom & Cheetah.

I'm aware the Barracuda & Phantom are inner/outer ring of fire typed setups. What would be the pros & cons to these guys? Any idea how wide/narrow a flame they can get? Anybody out there that's had both?

As to the Cheetah...not inner/outer ring...anyone have one that could tell me the pros/cons to the Cheetah?

Thanks all...I really appreciate the input. It's a wad of money for me to be dropping & I'd like to make an informed decision.:smile:

[earthandsky]

I went from a Minor with 5LPM concentrator to a HellCat with M-15s about a month ago and I'm really happy with it. The HellCat is a two stage torch like the Barracuda and Phantom, and the inner fire is basically a Mini CC with its nice radiant heat. The outer fire melts boro like soft glass melted on my Minor setup.

Carlisle recommends three M-15s for this torch, but I know a couple of people here have said they're running on two and are happy with the performance.

Before I was able to get the M-15s connected and the HellCat set up, I hooked up one of the M-15s to my Minor. Oh my! It was a total step up from the 5LPM. If I would have just purchased an M-15 to go with my Minor, I may not have gotten new torch itch quite so badly! (Was highly frustrated with not enough heat for what I wanted to do.)

Better oxy will step up your Minor, but I understand about needing a larger/more radiant flame for your work.

[pam]

I have a Cheetah and run it with an OG-20. I also understand that a Regalia will run it. I do soft glass sculptures between 3 1/2 to 5 inches perpendicular to the mandrel. I have no trouble doing small beads or large on the Cheetah. However, I would suggest that you try out, if possible, any torch you are looking to purchase. It took me about a month to adjust to the Cheetah, coming from a Beth PM2D. I still have the PM2D, but wouldn't go back and will probably eventually sell it.

[eidyn]

Thanks Pam...sounds like the Cheetah mike work for what I'm doing then.

At least now I've got a short list of torches to try out...I leave for the Gathering in the morning (YEAH!!!!\\:D/) so I'll have a chance to get up close & personal with all my candidates.

Thanks so much folks for all the input. I hope to make my final decision while at the Gathering (open torch just seems like such a great opportunity to see which one is the best fit for me). Either way I'll come back & let everybody know which way I went.