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2024-10-10, 3:04am
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2024
Posts: 9
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Bethlehem Alpha VS Star for sculpture, OxyCon ?
Hi everyone! Looking for advice on these torches please? Anyone have experience or knowledge to share on the Bethlehem Burners Alpha vs the BB Star? What you’d recommend?
I’m leaning towards the Star for a bit more power if I need it down the track, but wondering if it’s at the expense of detailed work or anything that you might get from the alpha?
Also, will the Star work reasonably with an oxygen concentrator at max 10Lpm ? (Its recommendation is 20LPM) (eg maybe just not give me the full flame /full capacity)?
Or will it just be poor performance all round / poorer than the alpha with the 10LPM?
IM coming from a hothead learning bead techniques atm with the aim of hollow sculptural work; as large as my budget allows- ideally dinner plate size or larger , but I’ll settle for fist size… or what could I get up to? Any thoughts or suggestions?
TIA Jen
https://www.bethlehemburners.com/torches/alpha/
https://www.bethlehemburners.com/torches/star/
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2024-10-10, 6:56am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 31, 2006
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,274
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Both of those torches seem inadequate for anything fist or dinner plate sized. That's pretty ambitious for torch work, and I think would require tanked oxygen. But others may tell you they have done it so, ymmv.
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Kathy
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2024-10-10, 10:15am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2021
Location: los angeles
Posts: 154
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Making dinner plate-sized, or even fist-sized, sculptures requires very advanced torch technique. It does depend on your torch but also your kiln and work flow. I have a Bobcat on 10lpm (7-jet similar in size to Alpha but hotter) and I can make fist-sized hollow sculptures but it is very challenging so I don't normally do it. A larger torch would help but frequent kiln soaks and short working bursts is basically how I do it. That and LOTS of flame annealing. Keep in mind, this is for boro. I wouldn't even try it with soft glass, might as well just work off hand.
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Bobcat on 15lpm and Phantom on HVLP
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2024-10-10, 12:38pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 31, 2006
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,274
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rcktscientist
Making dinner plate-sized, or even fist-sized, sculptures requires very advanced torch technique. It does depend on your torch but also your kiln and work flow. I have a Bobcat on 10lpm (7-jet similar in size to Alpha but hotter) and I can make fist-sized hollow sculptures but it is very challenging so I don't normally do it. A larger torch would help but frequent kiln soaks and short working bursts is basically how I do it. That and LOTS of flame annealing. Keep in mind, this is for boro. I wouldn't even try it with soft glass, might as well just work off hand.
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I applaud you for even trying that, lol!
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Kathy
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2024-10-10, 1:57pm
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2024
Posts: 9
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TY everyone! Disappointing but good to know. I was initially looking to move to Boro, though tbh really enjoying soft glass, the learning journey. Willing to move / learn tho as needed.
Question - of these 2 torches, or another that can run reasonably on Oxycon , what is better for detailed work?
And if anyone knows - does having less than recommended LPM oxygen severely affect torch functionality?
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2024-10-10, 5:28pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 31, 2006
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 2,274
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The Alpha will run fine on your oxycons. I don’t have any experience with the Star.
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Kathy
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2024-10-10, 11:58pm
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Slogan Challenged...
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2009
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Posts: 6,480
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I had alphas for years and loved them, I moved up to the Star last year and I'm very happy with it. Detail work is fine for either, just dial it down. The Star has more firepower and works on the same Oxycon/propane setup that I used for the Alpha. I run an M20 and 3-4 psi. They say it will work on a 10 or 5 too, you want more power if you want a hotter flame and there's no way around that for any torch.
I would start wtih the Star, they say it's good for boro work too, although I haven't tried it yet. But it can get you started on your way for the larger projects.
have fun
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2024-10-11, 6:13am
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 10, 2016
Location: Leicester, UK
Posts: 89
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They do amazing large flame work in Venice with soft glass; but they have special techniques and years of experience. They do run courses - something to consider when you have a bit of practice under your belt!
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2024-10-14, 11:24am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2021
Location: los angeles
Posts: 154
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Quote:
Originally Posted by echeveria
I applaud you for even trying that, lol!
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Yeah, trying the hard stuff really helps you understand the 'why' in people's advanced techniques. It also exposes your limits which humbles you and seems to be helpful in general.
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Bobcat on 15lpm and Phantom on HVLP
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