Lampwork Etc.
 
Mountain Glass Arts

LE Live Chat

Enter Live Chat

No users in chat


Frantz Art Glass & Supply

Beads of Courage


 

Go Back   Lampwork Etc. > Library > Boro Room

Boro Room -- For Boro-related tips, techniques, and questions.

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 2019-12-21, 1:25pm
nnantel's Avatar
nnantel nnantel is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 21, 2019
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 15
Default Flame color on oxy con

Hi All,
I've been lurking on this site a while now and finally got my studio sufficiently "done" to melt glass and of course I need some help! Couldn't find the answer to my problem using search.

I'm running a GTT Scorpion's Bobcat center fire on an EX-20. I can melt boro easily enough but not getting the expected bright yellow sodium flare; it's orange and not painful to watch. It doesn't look like the flame I was seeing during classes, which was on tanked O2. I'm questioning the oxygen purity and whether it's even the ~92% I should get from oxy cons? The low purity light is not on and adjusting the EX-20 flow & propane doesn't help.

Any thoughts on whether this is normal for oxy cons or if there is a problem with this particular EX-20 unit? Maybe a specific color test would help? I've got lots of colors to try if someone can suggest one.

Thanks for any insight and I look forward to returning the favor in due course.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2019-12-21, 5:09pm
Eileen's Avatar
Eileen Eileen is offline
Loving learning
 
Join Date: Oct 11, 2010
Location: Florida
Posts: 11,650
Default

Were the classes using the same glass, or soda lime?
Sorry I sm not much help.
__________________
My current "hot" fantasy involves a senior discount on glass & tools!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2019-12-21, 9:59pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

First off boro is going to be much brighter/whiter than soft soda lime glass in the flame.
The yellow flare in soft glass is from the soda burning but since boro replaces soda in the glass mix you aren't going to get the same colors.

( Please don't look at either flare without proper eye protection. It doesn't take long to ruin your eyes for ever. Don't let others watch you work without it either. )

Second, oxycons will drop purity levels when you turn the output all the way to the max.
Best to run oxycons at 4.5 on a 5 LPM machine, 9 on a 10 LPM and 13 on a 15 LPM.

Even then oxycons only deliver 96 to 97 % purity at the best of times while tanked O2 from welding shops can give you 99% but you pay serious $$$ for the privilege.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2019-12-21, 10:09pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

But I could be seriously wrong on this.

( I just watch a video that showed boro laboratory glassware being made and it had lots of the yellow flare. )

The oxycon purity level stuff should still hold from what I understand of how the things work.

ETA: And Welcome to the addiction. Try not to spend your retirement plan on glass. It lasts a long time but you still can't eat it when you stop working.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.

Last edited by Speedslug; 2019-12-21 at 10:14pm.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2019-12-22, 12:42pm
nnantel's Avatar
nnantel nnantel is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 21, 2019
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 15
Default

The classes I took were on a Nortel Minor I believe and we only did boro; that flame was unbearable up close and painful from afar. At home I can just look at it but of course I don't (using Phillips BoroTruview3.0 glasses). I've played with the flow rate and warm up time, no change.
Since I can melt the heavier boro rods and stiffer colors I can continue on my learning curve but at some point I will want the Scorpion's outer fire and I doubt I can get much out of it with the EX-20.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 2019-12-22, 5:20pm
Speedslug's Avatar
Speedslug Speedslug is offline
Phill
 
Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Winnebago, MN
Posts: 2,489
Default

Aye, I am a hot head and GTT Cricket kid running on 10 LPM and house hold natural gas so I only get to "rage at the machine" (1980s reference) and rage a torch in my dreams.

Good luck.

Teach me what you learn if you think of it.
__________________
The Zombie Apocalypse is Upon Us.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 2019-12-27, 4:53pm
AuntD's Avatar
AuntD AuntD is offline
funny mofo
 
Join Date: Nov 25, 2007
Posts: 1,088
Default

Are you using propane or household natural gas?
__________________
Donna's law of glass: If you're the first one to smell something burning, you're probably the one on fire.
Washington, DC: Taxation Without Representation, 200+ Years and Counting.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2019-12-27, 6:41pm
nnantel's Avatar
nnantel nnantel is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 21, 2019
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 15
Default

Propane
__________________
GTT Scorpion, EX-20, HB89E
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2020-01-28, 5:47am
RobertPhillips RobertPhillips is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 28, 2020
Posts: 3
Default

Did you find a solution ? Maybe playing in uptown aces mobile helps you make some decision and bring new energy in life.

Last edited by RobertPhillips; 2020-05-13 at 11:06pm.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2020-02-06, 1:25pm
nnantel's Avatar
nnantel nnantel is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 21, 2019
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 15
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RobertPhillips View Post
Did you find a solution ?
Nope, just making do with what I have for now. I still have to work on not boiling some colors so there is certainly enough heat for my newbie projects.
I will get to some oxydizing color tests but first I have to put finishing touches on my work table.
__________________
GTT Scorpion, EX-20, HB89E
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 2020-02-07, 10:07am
Beadz Gone Wild's Avatar
Beadz Gone Wild Beadz Gone Wild is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 23, 2006
Location: Roscoe, Illinois
Posts: 578
Default

Go to etsy and search for pipyr. She has several tutorials for a $1.00 that can help. One is boro on a concentrator and it will give you tips on how to get great color.
__________________
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 2020-02-12, 7:47pm
Three Muses Glass's Avatar
Three Muses Glass Three Muses Glass is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 23, 2005
Location: Up and down I-95
Posts: 4,390
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nnantel View Post
The classes I took were on a Nortel Minor I believe and we only did boro; that flame was unbearable up close and painful from afar. At home I can just look at it but of course I don't (using Phillips BoroTruview3.0 glasses). I've played with the flow rate and warm up time, no change.
Since I can melt the heavier boro rods and stiffer colors I can continue on my learning curve but at some point I will want the Scorpion's outer fire and I doubt I can get much out of it with the EX-20.
You might be surprised. Nothing is like tanked oxy but that torch should be fine with your EX-20. Up to a point. The difference that you're seeing is probably just that it's a different torch, different company. I use a Beth at home but have used a GTT at classes. Def a difference.
__________________
Rebecca


To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 2020-09-08, 5:11am
Andrey-Ksaff Andrey-Ksaff is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 05, 2020
Posts: 1
Default

only natural gas in using
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 2020-12-17, 4:56am
Karamazov Karamazov is offline
Dude
 
Join Date: Dec 17, 2020
Location: Sochi
Posts: 1
Default

I guess it's about fine tuning and gas quality.
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
some great bonus 4 new members
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
ex-20, flame adjustment, scorpion


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump




All times are GMT -7. The time now is 2:24am.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Your IP: 35.173.178.60