How long will my bobcat last on a tank of oxygen?

TabathaD · #1 2011-03-15, 5:35pm

Hi! I was wondering if any one could give me the approximate hours a 125 cubic inch tank of oxygen will last using a bobcat? Im trying to figure out how many hours I can get out of the tank to compare the cost to buying a oxygen concentrator or just renting oxygen tanks. I know that in the long run it would be better to run a concentrator however the set up cost is more pricey. Please help. I just need a guess. Thanks!

ArtcoInc · #2 2011-03-16, 8:06pm

I think you mean a 125 cubic FOOT tank ...

125 cubic feet = 3539 liters

If we assume an oxygen usage of 5 liters/minute ..

3539 liters / 5 lpm = 707.8 minutes = 11.79 hours

But, your oxygen consumption will vary depending on how large of a flame you are using.

Malcolm

Otter's Flame · #3 2011-03-20, 4:40am

I agree with Malcolm on the oxygen consumption varying part... I get no where close to 11 hours. I can and do easily burn through a tank in 8 hours... with no problem.

I have done the economic math and it DOES make sense to but one or two concentrators. Concentrators for me... easily pay for themselves. However, I am addicted to tanked O2 and I do own a concentrator... I ended up switching back to tanked O2 about a 8 months after I bought my concentrator.

TabathaD · #4 2011-03-20, 6:47pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otter's Flame

I agree with Malcolm on the oxygen consumption varying part... I get no where close to 11 hours. I can and do easily burn through a tank in 8 hours... with no problem.

I have done the economic math and it DOES make sense to but one or two concentrators. Concentrators for me... easily pay for themselves. However, I am addicted to tanked O2 and I do own a concentrator... I ended up switching back to tanked O2 about a 8 months after I bought my concentrator.

Can I ask why you switched form the concentrator back to the O2? I am new to lampworking. Well actually I ve only made a few beads in my lampworking class I took about a month ago. I am waiiting on my torch thata I purchased from GTT. So I really have no idea what the pros and cons are from using O2 vs the concentrator except the fact the concentrator new runs out.

Dragonharper · #5 2011-03-27, 12:45pm

I get about 16 hours out of a 125 CuFt tank, if I stick to the center fire of my Nortel Rocket. If I use the outer fire for any amount of time I don't get near that much time out if it. I'm guessing that if I opend the torch up full I'd probably something less than 6 hours. Big disadvantage of tanks is the tanks, they are quite heavy. Around here a 125CuFt tank can be purchased for about $250 then it's about $20 to swap for a full one. Disadvantage to OxyCons is that it takes several of them if you are using a medium to large torch. Advantage for tanked oxy is if you need to use the outer fire on your torch you can with no degradation in flame.

shawnette · #6 2011-03-27, 1:45pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by TabathaD

Can I ask why you switched form the concentrator back to the O2? I am new to lampworking. Well actually I ve only made a few beads in my lampworking class I took about a month ago. I am waiiting on my torch thata I purchased from GTT. So I really have no idea what the pros and cons are from using O2 vs the concentrator except the fact the concentrator new runs out.

Working on a concentrator doesn't compare to working on tanked. You can work much hotter and larger on tanked. If you've never or rarely worked with tanked, then definitely go with a concentrator. You haven't been spoiled, so you can't miss what you've never had. I work with liquid at work and concentrators at home. I started with concentrators, and I'm a cheap-@ss so I'll probably never pay for tanked. I did, however, invest in a Hurricane. (Which I don't even use. Go figure.)