A question about turning off my torch for short periods of time..

lynn's lampwork · #1 2006-10-23, 1:21pm

This is a question that I've never even thought about before since I've never had to do it, but is it bad for the torch to turn it back on/off, every now and then, when I have to leave for about 5 minute intervals a couple of times an hour? Does it hurt the torch or propane or anything?

Thanks very much, again,
~Lynn

bhhco · #2 2006-10-23, 6:52pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynn's lampwork

This is a question that I've never even thought about before since I've never had to do it, but is it bad for the torch to turn it back on/off, every now and then, when I have to leave for about 5 minute intervals a couple of times an hour? Does it hurt the torch or propane or anything?

Thanks very much, again,
~Lynn

Assuming it is a two-gas torch, no it does not hurt it or the propane or anything.
Me

artwhim · #3 2006-10-23, 10:39pm

Don't know if this is correct or not, but after I turn off the torch, I turn the oxy back on and let my concentrator run. I've always thought it seems easier on the concentrator to just run than starting up agian. Just remember to close your oxy before you light your gas again.
Kathy

EstherD · #4 2006-10-23, 10:53pm

Wouldn't the room be filled with oxygen then?
My "studio" (if you can call it a studio, it is more a very tiny basement but on ground floor level) is on the ground floor of the appartment building I live. When I have to use the bathroom I have to leave the studio, go up the stairs, walk outside for a few meters, and then go into my apartment. I always turn off both the torch and the concentrator, because I won't be able to keep an eye on them when I leave the "studio". Do I understand correctly that I can leave my concentrator on, as long as I have turned my torch off? Please advice, thank you.

Esther

Feldt's Glass · #5 2006-10-23, 11:37pm

I turn the torch off when I get up for some reason between beads. It is safer if I am moving rods around or frit ect. I don't want to get burned so I only light up when I am sitting in front of it. I leave the concentrator on with the valve open some so there is no back pressure to damage the beds. When I purchased my first concentrator the other lampworker just left it running with the valve closed and the back pressure damaged the beds to the point that I was only getting 50% oxy out of it. As far a the oxy in the room I leave the fan running to pull anything out of the room and I have a cross ventation to that helps it move. My concentrator takes about 20 min to get the full 98% so when it is warmed up I just let it go until I am done. Fred from OGSI said that is the best way to run it. So far so good. I check the oxy concentration about once a week or so just to see how the beds are doing.

artwhim · #6 2006-10-24, 7:59am

I may be wrong, but I don't think the oxy coming out of the concentrator is a problem at all. Even if you use tanked oxy, the danger is the high pressure coming out of the tank, not the oxygen itself. I'm not sure at what level people can get too much oxygen, but this certainly wouldn't be too much.
Kathy

MikeAurelius · #7 2006-10-24, 8:20am

Leave the concentrator running. The "extra" oxygen isn't a problem...

Also, if you leave your bench, the torch should *ALWAYS* be turned off. Never leave a lit torch. Rule #5. (There is no rule #6.)

Heather/Ericaceae · #8 2006-10-24, 8:42am

You can't fill a room up with oxygen using an oxygen concentrator. No worries.

It doesn't add any oxygen to the room, it just concentrates the oxygen that is already there. If you have the torch off and leave the oxy valve on, the O2 (which was sucked out of the air by the concentrator) will just mix back into the air and the O2 levels in the room will remain the same.

EstherD · #9 2006-10-24, 10:59am

Thanks for the information, you all are a great help for this newbie.