3lpm oxygen concentrator and a Cricket

[Shrimp]

I had the opportunity to try out a 5lpm oxygen concentrator when I got my Cricket torch. I recently had to return it to the original owner. One of my neighbors has a 3lpm oxygen concentrator that he said that I could have. Would this possibly be strong enough to run my Cricket on?

[kbinkster]

You could make little spacers with it. And later, if you ever get a 5 LPM machine, you could hook them up together (just make sure that they put out the same psi).

[Shrimp]

What is the advantage of increasing the lpms? I notice that some folks have a Cricket and run it on two 5 lpm concentrators. I thought that one concentrator of 5 lpms was sufficient for a Cricket.

[kbinkster]

If you want to make beads that are about an inch or smaller, then one 5 LPM machine is fine. The Cricket tends to make better use of 5 LPM than other torches. If you want to go larger, as with any torch, more LPM is better. "LPM" is "liters per minute." It's the measure of how much oxygen the machine can produce over a given period of time. Having more oxygen available to you will allow you to have a bigger neutral flame or oxidizing flame.

BTW, for anyone who might be wondering, when you see "psi," that's just the push that oxygen has behind it.

[Dale M.]

IT also simple physics... More fuel and more oxygen the bigger the flame, the bigger the flame more heat, more heat the bigger glass object can be worked....

The difference is similar to comparing a candle on birthday cake (small flame - little heat) to a fire in fire place, big flame more heat.....

Dale