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| Tips, Techniques, and Questions -- Technical questions or tips |
2008-06-25, 1:54pm
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Does that shed?
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Join Date: Jul 08, 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 610
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New torch?
I am looking at purchasing a new mixed fuel torch and graduating from my hot head after almost a year of playing with fire. What would you experts recommend? I don't think I really want to work with boro much and my SG studio is in the process of a reno so I can have a lovely new torching station complete with good ventilation. So what do you guys think is a good graduating torch?
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2008-06-25, 2:30pm
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Covered in glitter
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Join Date: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 15,680
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I don't have one yet but I'd get a Betta. I currently have HH, a Minor and a Bobcat (none of which are hooked up right now) but I'd love a Betta. It will give you the capability to do boro if you ever choose to do so. I think Ron has them for $300 in the garage.
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~Deb~
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And those who were seen dancing were thought insane by those who couldn't hear the music. --Nietzsche
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2008-06-25, 3:30pm
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Smooches!
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2006
Location: 4,993 miles SE of Dutch Harbor
Posts: 4,362
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I'd go with a GTT torch. I graduated up to the Lynx when I was done with my hothead. Then just recently graduated to the Cheetah! I have loved both my torches, and could do boro with both torches if I wanted to.
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cocktail napkins available at:
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Now running my Cheetah on 2 Regalia's - pure heaven!
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2008-06-25, 3:37pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 22, 2005
Location: west of Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 5,371
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I have a Lynx and don't like the noise. Have a Cheetah and do like it. But I have heard bang for the buck the mini cc is great for everything.
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2008-06-25, 5:03pm
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Facebook addict
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Join Date: Oct 16, 2005
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,858
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When I switched over from the HH, I went with the Mini cc because the flame is bushier than the minor. I also like Kate's Cheetah!
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~Teri
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Mini cc w/2, 5 lpm concentrators
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2008-06-25, 5:27pm
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Smooches!
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Join Date: Jun 17, 2006
Location: 4,993 miles SE of Dutch Harbor
Posts: 4,362
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pat
I have a Lynx and don't like the noise. Have a Cheetah and do like it. But I have heard bang for the buck the mini cc is great for everything.
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Pat, I don't think your Lynx should've been noisy. At least mine isn't.
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cocktail napkins available at:
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Now running my Cheetah on 2 Regalia's - pure heaven!
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2008-06-25, 5:30pm
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They see me rollin'...
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Join Date: Aug 28, 2005
Location: Pompey's Pillar, MT
Posts: 2,033
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My Lynx isn't noisy, either! Not sure why yours was. I love mine! I haven't seen your cheetah yet, Kate, but I'm sure it's very nice too. 
-Patti
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-Patti
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2008-06-25, 6:03pm
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Scientific Glass Girl
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Join Date: Oct 30, 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 5,138
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mini cc.
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Ali VandeGrift
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2008-06-25, 6:35pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: Yarmouth, Maine...home of the Clamfest
Posts: 7,693
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I tried a minor & didn't like it nearly as much as I do the mini cc.
(I'm still on a hothead @ home!)
(of course I don't ever plan to do any boro--I don't like it--so...take my opinion with that in mind!  )
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And if I laugh at any mortal thing, ‘Tis that I may not weep...” ~Lord Byron
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new purple cricket @ home! minicc @ playing with fire in rockland! Sue & Nikki fighting over who gets to anneal the wonkies
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2008-06-25, 6:47pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 07, 2005
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,135
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I love my Lynx! I just started using it this month after using a HotHead since 2005. It's great for sculptural work because it has a 2nd oxy knob and can get a really tiny, pinpoint flame. Plus you can work boro if you choose to at a later date. It may cost more than some of the others mentioned but the Lynx is pretty versatile.
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~*Tracy*~
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2008-06-25, 6:50pm
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Covered in glitter
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Join Date: Jun 16, 2005
Posts: 15,680
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I've mostly used a mini cc and a minor. The mini is definitely hotter and has a lot more radiant heat. If you want to do a lot of little dots and things that take a lot of control, I think the minor is better for that. I'd still get the Betta though.
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~Deb~
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And those who were seen dancing were thought insane by those who couldn't hear the music. --Nietzsche
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2008-06-26, 11:26am
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MacGalver
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Join Date: Oct 15, 2006
Posts: 9,927
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I started on a Minor and graduated to a Lynx after several years. The Lynx is light years ahead of the Minor for my purposes! I was concerned about the extra expense, but I doubt I will upgrading from the Lynx for a long time, it does everything I need to do and then some.
p.s. My Lynx is not loud at all!
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Jo
Frit Diva website
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2008-06-26, 11:29am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 26, 2006
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 420
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I really love my mini cc!
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Smiles, Trish
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2008-06-26, 11:58am
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Virginia.
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Join Date: Jun 14, 2005
Location: Beautiful Palouse, Washington
Posts: 1,874
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I love my betta - since I got it, I don't have any desire to upgrade or change - it does everything I want it to do. Virginia
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If you have a chance, choose to dance!! If you are sick - stay home - you too can personally start a Pandemic!!! - Virginia
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2008-06-26, 12:02pm
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I speak Murrini!
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Join Date: Oct 12, 2006
Location: In a Glass House, CA
Posts: 9,170
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I'm with the Mini cc too!!! If you want to PM me, I'll give you the benefit of my tireless research and link you with the best price anywhere!
Hugs!
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~DeAnne~
I've got a murrini for that,'ya know!
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"Only a fool rushes to his own demise..." ~Zorro
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2008-06-26, 12:04pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 28, 2008
Location: OH/WV/KY
Posts: 262
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Mini CC here too!
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2008-06-26, 12:10pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 16, 2008
Posts: 166
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Mini CC! I tried the Hot Head and ended up with a bunch of burnt blobs. I bit the bullet and went to the Mini on the recommendation of a dear friend and mentor. Let me tell you, I haven't looked back. There hasn't been that much of a learning curve either. Contrary to what I feared most, I haven't melted a single mandrel! Yet.
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2008-06-26, 12:55pm
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Present tense
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Join Date: Mar 21, 2006
Location: NW AR
Posts: 956
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I've used a Minor for the past couple of years, and tried out a Mini CC a few months ago. Granted, it was on tanked oxy (my Minor is on a 5LPM oxycon), but it was significantly hotter and I loved the radiant heat.
I'd been wanting a big big girl torch so I bought a HellCat, which essentially has a Mini CC as the inner fire. It's only been set up for a few days, but I'm loving it so far.
I think a lot depends on your style. My beads have gotten significantly larger in the last several months, and the Minor with 5LPM oxycon was either an exercise in Zen or frustration, depending on my mood.  If you like little detailed beads with stringer and florals, you'll likely be happier with something direct and focused like a Minor. If you really want to melt a mass of glass, the Mini CC will be a nice step up.
The Minor (and the Bobcat too, I think) will be fine on a 5LPM oxycon, but the Mini CC will want more oxy, FYI in case oxygen is a consideration.
(Just as an aside, the M-15s for my HellCat came in last week and I promptly unpacked one and hooked it up to my Minor and it gave that poor torch brand new life! So, don't cheat yourself in the oxy department - you won't have nearly as much fun with the glass if things just don't "work"!)
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Tiffany
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- non-glassy de-stash (shoes, books, yarn, Coach)
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2008-06-26, 1:40pm
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Butterfly Rancher
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Join Date: May 08, 2006
Location: Colorado newbie
Posts: 5,827
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The MiniCC is definitely happier with more O2. I went from a 5LPM to 10 LPM last summer and it was amazingly different. With just one oxycon, the torch seemed to reduce everything!
BTW anyone know of any other great deals on a Betta? I know about the R4 thread, I'm just not sure he has more of them and I'm thinking about changing to a Betta. I want a more focused flame than the MiniCC has.
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Torch connected to NG December 2005 and disconnected March 2013
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May 2014 -- Good-bye Florida and Hello Colorado
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2008-06-26, 2:11pm
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one day at a time
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
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Bobcat if you are into dots and fine stringer design details, it's also good for boro later. Mini CC if you are into sculpturals and long barrel beads. 
These two torches are in the small torch bracket, but their type of heat works differently. I'm glad I have both, and they say you can never have too many torches!
I also tried the Betta with my oxy generator, but the Bobcat blew it out of the water when it comes to the heat level of my other two. The Mini is hot too, but the Bobcat flame is sharper and more focused so it melts boro faster.
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You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
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2008-06-27, 7:20am
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one day at a time
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
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ACK!! I stand corrected!! It wasn't the Betta my friend brought over for me to try out and I said my torches blew it out of the water! It was the 8M he brought over, and later he got the Betta, but I didn't have the right connections, so I could not try it out.
I know notta thing about the Betta! 
Except that my friend said that it was a lot better than his 8M!
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You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
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2008-06-27, 7:36am
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one day at a time
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Join Date: Jun 27, 2005
Location: We are MOVING!!!
Posts: 8,319
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I just started this thread over in "Torch Questions" to discuss the comparisons of the Betta and others in the small torches class. To eliminate any confusion brought on by my silly mistake in the above post from yesterday!
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...97#post1931497
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You live in a world of money. Money means choices. No money, no choices. Welcome to reality.
Melody (Marlee Matlin) from Switched at Birth
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2008-06-28, 3:17am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 19, 2007
Posts: 306
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just bought the lynx and tried it out. its great. i have a mega minor and although its a great torch i think the lynx is better. more finite control for doing detail work with stringers. that is due to pinpointing the flame with the the extra blue knob. when working with a larger flame it seems hotter than the minor. i am using it on an m15 concentrator.
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"Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."
Langston Hughes
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2008-06-28, 4:03am
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3 times the burn
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Join Date: Oct 27, 2005
Location: Ann Arbor MI
Posts: 164
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I have the Betta. I began lampworking in late 2005, had my first lesson on a Piranha and used the Piranha torch exclusively for over 2 years as that was the torch at the studio where I would rent time.
When I began planning my home studio, the Betta was introduced and I decided that would be the best bet for me. My original plan was to have my studio in my basement, and to use my current natural gas lines. The low pressure gas requirement for the Betta was one of the reasons I chose this torch. I also am interested in boro, but have done little with that glass.
My home studio is in my detached garage and I use propane for my Betta. While I am not as experienced, nor have I used a variety of torches (just the aforementioned Piranaha, and a hot head briefly), I am pleased with the Betta, propane and oxygen concentrator set up I have.
Good luck with your choice! You've gotten a lot of feedback and information here.
Wendy H.
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