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2008-10-13, 7:53am
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PyronamixK
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Join Date: Jun 24, 2005
Location: Spatula City
Posts: 4,196
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Torch Comparisons on 5 LPM Oxygen Concentrator
I have posted this elsewhere, but thought it would be helpful here, too...
Many people who are going to a fuel/oxygen set-up are opting to use oxygen concentrators instead of tanked oxygen. My husband and I ran several torches on a 5 LPM Invacare - a pretty common concentrator with a moderate psi output of 5 psi - to see how they performed. We set the torch to the largest neutral flame (before distortion) that we could and measured the length of the candles, the width of the flame, and the overall length of the flame. We then tried to dial in the smallest pin point flame and commented on that.
We had them running off of a Y connector, so we could test one torch right after the other more quickly and so that we could also test two torches running on the single concentrator.
Here is what we found:
Flame Measurements of Torches Running on 5 LPM, 5 psi concentrator (Invacare)
Nortel Minor
candle length: 0.330”
shoulder width: 0.850-0.860”
flame length: 11”
small pinpoint flame: fairly small flame
Nortel Mega Minor
candle length: 0.350”
shoulder width: 0.850”
flame length: 10”
small pinpoint flame: carrot shaped, not enough thrust to get a sharp hot needle
Carlisle Mini CC
candle length: 0.25”
shoulder width: 0.925”
flame length: 9”
small pinpoint flame: carrot shaped, no thrust
GTT Cricket
candle length: 0.500”
shoulder width: 0.750”
flame length: 13”
small pinpoint flame: hot needle flame can get very tight
straight off concentrator, not through Y connector:
candle length: 0.550”
shoulder width: 0.850-0.880”
flame length: 13”
small pinpoint flame: hot needle flame can get very tight
Knight Bullet centerfire (same as Knight Little Dragon 7 jet)
candle length: 0.250”
shoulder width: 0.700”
flame length: 11”
small pinpoint flame: small carrot shape
Bethlehem Barracuda centerfire (same as Beth Bead Burner/Pirhana/Betta)
candle length: 0.330”
shoulder width: 0.780”
flame length: 12”
small pinpoint flame: good needle flame
Bethlehem Minnow
candle length: 0.25”
shoulder width: 0.600”
flame length: 10”
small pinpoint flame: carrot shaped, no thrust
Wale Firebird
candle length: 0.280”
shoulder width: 0.960”
flame length: 11”
small pinpoint flame: cannot get pinpoint flame, wide carrot shape that fades to nothing when you get low, 2.5” – 4” before carrot comes to point
Multiple Torches on Single 5 LPM Concentrator
Two GTT Crickets
candle length: 0.250” each torch
shoulder width: 0.400” each torch
flame length: 8” each torch
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Kimberly
working glass since 1990 - melting it on a torch since 2002
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2008-10-13, 8:12am
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burnin' glass just becuz
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Join Date: Apr 16, 2006
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 1,251
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this might be dumb question but i honestly don't know...
What do these stats actually mean in terms of working the glass? and how do i use them to determine what kind of torch/concentrator i want?
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Give ideas away - there are new ones underneath... Diane Vreeland
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2008-10-13, 8:20am
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PyronamixK
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Join Date: Jun 24, 2005
Location: Spatula City
Posts: 4,196
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Candle lengths determine a lot. The longer your candles, the bigger/hotter your flame and the more adjustability you should have. 3/8" candles are pretty standard for working soft glass, although some people like working with a smaller flame, and 3/8" or longer for boro. You really should not run candles shorter than 1/4" on most torches (3/8" on a Mini CC) or you can overheat the torch.
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Kimberly
working glass since 1990 - melting it on a torch since 2002
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2008-10-22, 1:08pm
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jul 13, 2008
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 601
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Hi,
I'm a newbie and have a Nortel Minor along with a oxy concentrator (5 psi). From your research, would that work or am I setting myself up for a fall? Is there anything that I should do in particular to get the most out of my torch and concentrator?
Thanks,
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Minor
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2008-10-22, 1:41pm
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PyronamixK
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Join Date: Jun 24, 2005
Location: Spatula City
Posts: 4,196
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It all depends on what you want to do with it.
I think that the Minor on a 5 LPM concentrator is great for making soft glass beads. It isn't the hottest combination, but it works just fine for lots of people. If you want to work boro, you can work small boro on that set-up. Pipyr has a tutorial on working small boro on a 5 LPM concentrator. I think she used a Minor for that tutorial.
If you want to work larger or hotter (soft glass or boro), you can always add a second concentrator to your set-up on down the road. Just make sure that it matches the pressure output of the one you have for best results.
To get the most out of what you have now, the first thing to do is make sure that your concentrator and torch are in good working order. Make sure that the torch is cleaned and has no carbon build-up that could block any of the ports. Also, filter maintenance on your concentrator is important to keep it putting out good flow and purity. Flow and purity are more important for a hot flame than pressure is with a Minor.
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Kimberly
working glass since 1990 - melting it on a torch since 2002
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2008-10-27, 4:06pm
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Molten Glass Addict
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Join Date: Sep 25, 2007
Location: Northwestern Wisconsin
Posts: 490
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Very helpful information. Thank you.
I have a Mega Minor, my first dual fuel. And I wasn't sure what size my flame should even be. I was using a hothead, that that flame seems like the size of the titanic now!!
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Just Jamie
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2008-12-16, 8:43am
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Pyromaniac
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Join Date: Aug 12, 2006
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 1,868
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I'm digging up this old thread to ask if I can power two Crickets on one Devilbiss MC4490 concentrators (5LPM, 8psi concentrator)? If so then I am good to go with my four Crickets and I can switch my big torch to liquid Oxy.
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Lana
Sexy Barracuda and Mirage
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2008-12-16, 11:07am
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PyronamixK
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Join Date: Jun 24, 2005
Location: Spatula City
Posts: 4,196
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When I tested, I could make very small soft glass beads when I had two Crickets hooked up to a single 5 LPM machine. I preferred having the bigger flame that 5 LPM provided. Whether you would be happy with that is entirely up to you. You could hook up one Cricket to one DeVilbiss and dial it to 2.5 LPM and see what kind of flame you get and see whether or not you like it.
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Kimberly
working glass since 1990 - melting it on a torch since 2002
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2008-12-18, 9:07am
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Pyromaniac
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Join Date: Aug 12, 2006
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 1,868
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Ok Thanks Kimberly. Looks like I would be better off running each cricket on its own concentrator.
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Lana
Sexy Barracuda and Mirage
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2011-01-14, 3:01pm
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Hot Glass Neophyte
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Join Date: Aug 06, 2009
Location: Mt. Pleasant, SC
Posts: 3,293
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This is so useful. Thank you for the research and info.
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2011-07-12, 7:27pm
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The Harbinger of Cuteness
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Join Date: Dec 11, 2007
Location: Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, California
Posts: 1,465
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bump, it's great info
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Aimee Moisa
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