Thinking about buying an oxycon

Fire Warped Glass · #1 2015-10-06, 11:02am

I have a Bethlehem Bravo, I only use boro, and I make large marbles, etc, among other stuff. I'm thinking about buying an oxygen concentrator since the tanks are such a hassle, but I don't know anything about them. Which ones would work for me and my setup? The Bethlehem website says the Regalia 10 LPM would work with their torches. Does that mean any 10 LPM oxycon would work? Are there any I shouldn't buy? Where is a good place to buy them? Is it possible to find one for a few hundred bucks? Any help would be appreciated. thanks

bepnewt · #2 2015-10-06, 11:29am

I can't tell you what you can use, only what I have. I have an M20, which I believe is around 10lpm. It will run the center fire "well". Not at full blast, but well enough to do what you'd want to do with just the center. A 1" marble is no problem for the center on the M20, and I bet you can get up to 1-1/2" just on the center. Not well or as quickly as using the whole torch, obviously.

Maybe getting 1 10lpm Oxycon for the center and a pair for the outer will work, but I wouldn't run the outer on just 1 10lpm.

What size marbles are you making?

-BEP

ps. You're going to get people recommending Homefills, etc. You really should look into them if you do a lot of torching as they can save you in the long run.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Warped Glass

I have a Bethlehem Bravo, I only use boro, and I make large marbles, etc, among other stuff. I'm thinking about buying an oxygen concentrator since the tanks are such a hassle, but I don't know anything about them. Which ones would work for me and my setup? The Bethlehem website says the Regalia 10 LPM would work with their torches. Does that mean any 10 LPM oxycon would work? Are there any I shouldn't buy? Where is a good place to buy them? Is it possible to find one for a few hundred bucks? Any help would be appreciated. thanks

Fire Warped Glass · #3 2015-10-06, 11:44am

I make 1 1/2" marbles, hoping to get a little bigger sometime. So I would have to have separate concentrators for the inner and outer flames? Or maybe I could have a concentrator for the inner flame, and have a tank for the outer flame, and at least I would be using less tanked oxy that way? I don't think I can afford two or three oxycons right now. how much is the M20?

KJohn · #4 2015-10-06, 11:47am

depends on where you purchase it and what brand. I've heard recently that the Regalia is outstanding from a few people, but it is quite pricey. The M-20's and assorted brands are less expensive, check with Available Oxygen, Hobbiesforus and Pyro...something, KBinksters page, she advertises on here sometimes but I can't recall the name. Good luck!

bepnewt · #5 2015-10-06, 11:57am

Keep in mind that I am not a real bonafide marble maker, there are lots of people on here that know a ton more than I do.

I seriously doubt a single M20 is going to run the inner and outer on the Bravo and allow you to make 1.5"+ marbles in a timely fashion. I'd keep it just on the inner if all I had was the single M20. Well, I'd TRY to do both just to see the results, but I doubt it would do well running both inner and outer.

I have my M20 on the inner and tanked on the outer. I think that is a good compromise if you can't afford running tanked on both. Do most of the work with the inner and just turn on the outer when you really need to bathe it.

I think M20s go for $450+ new. I got mine as a scratch-n-dent special, so I don't know the normal price.

-BEP

Fire Warped Glass · #6 2015-10-07, 7:49am

Thanks for all the info BEP and KJohn. Just one more question. If I found an oxycon that had been used medically, could I go ahead and use it for glass, or would it have to be converted somehow?

KJohn · #7 2015-10-07, 8:50am

I think you can use it. Some of the vendors say they adjust the machines for lampwork use, but not sure what they do. It's very common for lampworkers to buy used machines.

LarryC · #8 2015-10-07, 4:19pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Warped Glass

Thanks for all the info BEP and KJohn. Just one more question. If I found an oxycon that had been used medically, could I go ahead and use it for glass, or would it have to be converted somehow?

No issue at all. Are you willing to sacrifice performance for this change? Only thing you can be sure of is that you will be somewhat oxygen deprived and that if you use boro silver striking colors you will most likely have problems.