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2010-06-20, 9:53am
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Bead Geek!
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Join Date: Apr 26, 2010
Location: East of here and West of there
Posts: 458
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Next step...
Hello all!
About 12 years ago, I became fascinated with glass beadmaking. Lucky for me, there was a stained glass shop in my town that offered lampworking classes. I took a few classes then got totally hooked! I made beads for a few years then quit when I was pregnant with my first child. A lot of time passed, one thing led to another, we moved across the country and I just never had time to go back to beadmaking.
Now, both of my kids are in school, we moved into a house that already had a studio in the back (previous owner was a painter and mosaic artist) and I want to start beadmaking again. After seeing all the great beads people are making now, I've gotten really inspired!
I have dug out my old Hot Head and wasted a couple of mapp cylinders practicing (I have a lot to relearn!) but I was wondering-
I always wanted to move up to a Oxygen/propane set up...and now since I have a studio space (its a 12x15 stand alone space with good ventilation but not hard wired for electricity-this is a problem for my kiln I know) I was wondering what would be a good next step up as far as torches go? Have there been improvements in the past 10 years or is a minor bench burner still a solid choice? I want to stay with soft glass (thats enough of a challenge for me), I have a used kiln I got from a friend (its a paragon PMC kiln, can be modded for a bead door which I plan to do), but I need a torch update.
Thanks in advance!
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2010-06-20, 10:10am
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Ass-kicking Cephalopod
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2006
Location: Duh, Squidville
Posts: 9,523
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I would get a cricket - I have both a minor and a cricket and the cricket is always my first choice.
It's also better on oxygen.
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Cricket w/two 5 lpm oxycons - and sometimes a Minor.
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2010-06-20, 1:59pm
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Alaska Boro
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Join Date: Dec 10, 2009
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Posts: 1,065
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A Cricket works very well with one 5 LPM 5 psi concentrator. A little slow for boro beads over 22 mm. A second concentrator really brings the Cricket to life. Then if more is needed, up grade to the Scorpion with a third concentrator.
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2010-06-20, 4:28pm
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Bead Geek!
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Join Date: Apr 26, 2010
Location: East of here and West of there
Posts: 458
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Thanks for the input! I'll look into the cricket for sure...I really like the idea of an oxycon too.
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2010-06-20, 5:13pm
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Ass-kicking Cephalopod
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2006
Location: Duh, Squidville
Posts: 9,523
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For the oxycon, I know a lot of people have purchased from this guy
http://hobbiesforus.com/
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DOG is my co-pilot
Cricket w/two 5 lpm oxycons - and sometimes a Minor.
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2010-06-21, 4:21am
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BeadsonCypress
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Join Date: Jan 05, 2007
Location: Jersey Shore - by AC
Posts: 2,662
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I got my first one from him...still going strong
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Beads on Cypress (Susan Boyce)
7+ years and growing - Mini-CC and O2 generator
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