New Mega Minor torch?
 

Who can tell me more about the new Mega Minor torch by Nortel? The ad says the new design features slightly larger ports... and not much more.

Thanks.
Alana

I want to know as well. I'm looking for a new torch to run with one Oxy con. I feel I just need a little more heat than the minor. Please do tell if you have used this torch.:biggrin:

I thought it had more ports? It's supposed to be inbetween the minor and mid-range I think. I've not used one though.

Sadie

I would like to know also. I am buying one this month...I need a replacement for my bobcat. I have worked on a minor, so I hope this is like that but a bit hotter.

NancyB

I don't know from personal experience but I did find this: http://dragonjools.blogspot.com/search?q=mega+minor

Wow. Interesting review. I'm just beginning the process of looking for a slightly bigger torch to work boro. This looks like a good alternative. I'm currently on a Minor and Piranha and just not quite happy enough. Of course, I'm also impatient...!

If that is the red one they had at the Gathering, it gets much hotter then the minor does. I played with some boro on it and it melted like it was coe104. I was so not ready for that that I almost lost control of it.
Dia

Were they running it on O2 tanks, or an oxycon?

I believe it was tanks for that area of the floor.
Dia

I believe it was on tanks, too. I'm going to call Jean to find out the oxygen requirements/consumption rates. I would like to know how it would run on concentrators.:wave: I'll let you all know what I find out.

That's great, Kimberly. I am thiiisssss close to buying one!

I'd like to know more as well...any one know how it does with soft glass-I switch back and forth between 104 and boro.

Hey Kim.... Any updates on the oxygen requirements of this torch?

Does anyone know if this will work well on natural gas at household pressure?
I do have 1/2 lb PSI and it works well with my minor. I also have two concentrators.

The mega-minor appears to be a great next step for me. Did Nortel publish any specs for this anywhere? Has anyone called them and asked? I think I might do that if I can't find out this information anywhere else.

I emailed them this morning, but haven't heard back yet. I wouldn't be able to call until after work, and then they probably won't be there either....

I just got off the phone with Peter at Nortel. He told me that he does not have any figures for the oxygen consumption, but he does for the fuel consumption. He recommended going with a 5:1 ratio for propane and a 2:1 ration for NG to approximate the oxygen consumtion (so, for every unit of propane used, guess 5 units for oxygen). He said that he would fax me the fuel consumption rates this weekend.

He also said that it will run on a single 5 LPM concentrator, particularly if you are in a low presure situation like using natural gas, but will run much better one two 5 LPM machines, like when using propane.

Thanks for the information, Kimberly! It looks like I should seriously be considering this torch:cool:

Ok who is carrying this torch and do we have a suggested price on it. I am looking for something a bit hotter than my bobcat and am waffling between this and a lynx. I know how much a lynx is but dont know about this torch.

Arrow springs had one on display at the gathering, I think they said it was going to run $250.

thanks

Arrowsprings has an introductory special on them which, I think, ends today. $199 with free shipping.

my hubby's not working right now. I was going to buy the new nortel at the end of september :(

But I've never worked on anything but a hothead, and my store doesn't have them set up either. I'd like to have someone show me, because I have no idea what I'm doing. Anyone in the Superior Wisconin area?

I ordered one the other day from Arrow springs. I'm going to take it apart and mount it on top of my Redmax in place of the minor....
I can't wait..... \\:D/

I'm going to play on one tomorrow. Trying to decide between this and the Lynx. Considering this is 1/2 the price of the lynx.
Leslie

I'll be anxious to hear what you think of it. I'm seriously considering it...

when I asked arrow springs today they said this would not run well on concentrators

but that they also hadnt had it hooked up so I will be interested in knowing more also :)

Well I tried it on tanked oxy but with the pressure and flow turned down to simulate oxycons. But not really a true test. Was it as good as I expected? No. However, I think that may be due to the hype and buildup in my own mind. It does seem easier to turn it right up and keep a neutral flame than the bobcat. I really didnt get to play that much (only melted the end of a 10mm boro rod)

At 1/2 the price of a lynx, I am still considering it. Cant get it in canada yet (ironic because it is manufactured in canada) so have some time to mull it over.

Leslie

I pre-ordered mine from Arrow Springs...should ship out today!!

YIPPEE!!\\:D/\\:D/\\:D/\\:D/

They said 30 of them had sold so far....wonder who all of the buyers are?

I was number 21 on the pre-order list so quite a few people think this is going to be a great little torch. We shall see......


Hugs
Lorraine

I got shipping confirmation today on mine from Arrow Springs... I just paid for it Monday and it's on the way today... WoooHooo!!!!!
Can't wait.. Good luck to everyone who has ordered one...
Joe

hi,
Actually you can get it in Canada - at www.artistryinglass.on.ca and I am sure if you call Jean at Nortel you can get it from her too.....

Shauna

Just wanted to let everyone know Arrow Springs still has it on special at $199.00!!

how big is the flame on this torch? Is it comparable to the Mini CC?
Leah Fairbanks was mentioning that she just bought one and loves it and now after reading all this I am curious :-D
(not that I would ever on my life switch from my GTTs, but a girl's curiosity gets the better of her sometimes LOL!)
Thanks!

I'm getting one!!!

I used this torch all Saturday testing glass at Frantz. It's got a bigger flame than a minor, that's for sure, but it's still just as usable. I didn't have any trouble just sitting right down and using it. The flame is a bit wider than the minor, I thought.

cool
thanks Kevan:-)
Hmmm testing glass you say? anymore hints on what's ahead? :-D [-o<

Did you see the thread Kimberly started about the new Vetrofond Odd lots?

Fall colors. Think leaves. :waving:

I'd like to hear how it runs on an oxy con and NG.
I have a betta and I like it but don't know much since I've never used anything else but a hothead. i want something bigger I guess but that can run as well with one oxycon.
I can do boro on this one but....i dunno....more power?
Lol...let us know how it does. Sounds like a great price too!
Irene

uh-oh.....
:koolaid::koolaid::koolaid:

did we ever hear what kind of concentrator this will work on?

=D>=D>=D>=D> I got my Mega yeasterday.. I am replacing my Minor on my Redmax with it today.. Can't wait to play...
Joe

I just played with the Mega and it is (I think) an improvement over the minor. I found in a few minutes of playingthat It was much easier to get a nice hot oxidizing flame. I am working on tanks/propane, so sorry I can't answer any questions on concentrators or natural gas... I just had to leave the red heat sheild on.. it looks so good with the Redmax body....
Joe

That does look GOOD together. I should be ordering mine on Monday, I can't wait!

Peter never did send me the consumption data. I may have to acquire one of these torches to test for myself. I have quite the torch collection going.:)

I'm not trying to bum anyone on this torch.. While I think it is better than a Minor, I find I still can't get the Hot Oxidizing flame I want with it... I think I just need to change my whole torch setup... Anyone Got a Knight DragonFire laying around they want to swap me for..:lol::lol::lol::lol: (LMAO)

This will run on 2 5lpm machines I have spoke with Nortel as well as a tester of thiers who works it on 2 5lpm machines she says it works great ...I just thought I would share :P

Well I got a chance to use this torch last night and I have to say I really dont see much diffrence between it and a minor. Maybe my minor was older and so the ports were already wider from cleaning it so much or something but it didnt seem to me to be wider or that much hotter.
I did see a diffrence in the way the candles looked more spread out but I couldnt crank it up and out the way I did my minor.
I will still be keeping it for a while to use as a detail torch but man I should have never sold my wildcat..........altho now I get to buy a little dragon :P

but not to say this isnt a good torch it looks cool and does what it says it will I just had trouble with it getting a nice hot flame too.

I am also a huge flame loving momma and I should have know better then to try and move down once I moved up

Well, I'll add my $0.02 in to the discussion. I have 2 different set-ups I generally use.
1. Minor on NG and under-powered 5lpm oxycon (at home)
2. Piranha on tanked O2 and propane (at camp)

I decided I just had to try out the Mega Minor. It came and I set it up and ran it this weekend using the following configurations.
1. NG and the above-mentioned underpowered oxycon - I felt it definitely ran hotter than the Minor on the same configuration. Not tons, but enough so that I'd go for the Mega Minor over the Minor. I could push the flame a bit more and get it a little bit hotter.

2. Tanked O2 and NG working with boro - Oh my! Again, I'd say it's hotter than the Piranha, but not a huge difference. Of course, I'm used to running the Piranha on propane and I was using NG (I didn't want to hook the propane up inside the house). I think if I was to use this torch on propane I could push it even hotter. And I also think it was easier to get an oxidizing flame on the Mega Minor than the Piranha.

For me the bottom line is:
I'm going to sell the Piranha and replace it with the Mega Minor. At some point in the future I'd like to go to a Bullet Burner, at which time I'll replace the Minor with the Mega Minor.

I got my Mega Minor this week, and got to use it Tuesday. I only tried soft glass, but did notice that it was hotter. I made some sculptural pieces and they did take less time than 'normal' even though I felt I worked more on them. Not sure if that makes sense, but don't know how to work what I mean. (I use propane and tanked oxy.) I also noticed that I was bubbling some of my glass. I will try to get out tomorrow and have a go with the boro, and give my thoughts there.

Nortel sent me one to try and I LOVE this torch! It's hotter and a broader flame than my regular minor. I used it today on one concentrator, next time I'll try tanked oxy. It keep smy sculptural pieces warmer without boiling the bejezzus out of them, I really LIKE this torch!