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Studio -- Show us your studio setup |
2009-01-15, 1:01pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 258
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I'm looking for a torch
Hi,
I'm not sure if its the right place here to question...
I'm looking for a torch; and it is not my first - I'm a kind of torch hopper...
My start torch was a german Isiheat - good torch, but the flame was too narrow and too sharp for my taste.
My second ones were a Bobcat and a Lynx - I really love the Bobcat, and work 95% with that torch; the Lynx and me - was'nt love at first sight, and at second neither. I ran him (and also sometimes the Bobcat) with two medical oxycons; with a good pressure, nearly 8 or 9 psi.
The setup is ok, but when I regulate the Lynx flame to narrow, it holds the flow of the oxycons back, and with opening again, the flame "blows" like a hairdryer for a moment. And - the Lynx flame is nearly as narrow as the bobcats one, so I'm still looking for something with a wider flame, but to run with oxycons.
So I changed the Lynx against a national 8M, with a 21SM-Tip. Wow... A huuuuge flame - good for melting 10ft (edit: ok, maybe inches ) of glass in 5 minutes, for big Lentils, but - no precise detail... And after every big bead I have to stop - cooling the knobs.... First, I thougt it could be a problem of the oxycons, but now I tried with tanked oxygen, and the knobs are'nt really cooler.
I have the possibility to change the big tip against the smaller one, but since the Carlisle Mini CC has the same issue with hot knobs, I guess it is the problem of torches with a brass body.
So - im still looking for a torch who can do a fairly wide flame (2cm would be ok, a bit more is not bad), the possibility to regulate narrow for details, knobs in a normal range of temperature, also for longer work than 20 minutes, and - to run with two oxycons, they bring together 10 lt/min.
Has anyone an idea? (well, IF I'm right here with that question...)
Does anyone run a barracuda with two oxys? Is that possible?
Thank you for looking - and - sorry for the long text, but it is a bit difficult for me to explain that in english...
Greetings from switzerland
Angela
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2009-01-15, 1:51pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 18, 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 1,528
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So, you want a two stage torch, inner on oxycon and the outer on tanked O2? With a foot pedal. Sounds great to me.
I want a bar torch that will sit under my cricket torch that you can turn on and off with a foot pedal. This is so I can warm a long bead quickly and return to the detail work, over and over. Keeping long beads warm is a pain.
Kym
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2009-01-15, 2:03pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 258
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Hi Kym,
no tanked oxygen - I would have to carry the tank to the second floor, over a corkscrew stair.... no way to do that every now and then.
Yes, keeping beads warm is tricky; thats why I'm up to a bigger torch. But the problem for me is the oxygen.
Greets an thanks for answering
Angela
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2009-01-15, 6:29pm
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 18, 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 1,528
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Mmmm. What about two crickets run on concentrators, clamped to the table side by side, angled towards each other? There is a video clip of Scott using one of his tools and he has (I think) three torches set up like this?
regards
Kym
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2009-01-15, 6:33pm
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<---RamboPatootieSuperbun
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Join Date: Apr 27, 2007
Location: Sonoma County
Posts: 1,694
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I wonder why your National has hot knobs. I am running mine with the same tip on tanks and the knobs are never hot.
I run it at 12 psi for oxy and 5 psi propane.
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2009-01-15, 6:43pm
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da General
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Join Date: Oct 05, 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 13,002
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Which oxycons do you have, Angela? I run my Barracuda with two M-15s (8 lpm, 15 psi each) but I think it works that well on two 5 lpm oxycons.
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Hayley
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2009-01-16, 1:46am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 258
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Good morning (well, it is morning here )
@Kelly: I asked National directly, and the told me, when I run the torch with a smaller flame, the heat will - öhm - be pressed back, in some way. I even reduced the propane back to about two psi, works very well for the flame, but same issue.
The flame is as big, as I can run it for my room situation - bigger would burn my roof away... And I'm not sure if I would ever do things, for which I need a flame like this
@Hayley: Two Devilbiss Compact 5; 5lt with 9-10psi. Is the lower psi a problem? What do you think?
Thank you both
Angela
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2009-01-19, 5:32am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 15, 2007
Location: Powell Ohio
Posts: 423
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What are melting soft or hard. The lynx should have been enough for you if you are doing beads. Thats the problem you run into when you can't use tanks. Can you run lines to the second floor? I think if you had someone that has used the Lynx for along time with out tanks to show you the setting it would work great. You can get so many different flames with that torch. My friend Pam W. has used one for years with out tanks and does great work.
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2009-01-19, 7:22am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 258
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Hi Dan,
because I didn't know where is the best place to start this question, there is a second thread http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...79#post2329679
And I think, I found maybe one possible solution for me.
It seems like the Arnold-torch BigArni is - typicalliy german - working very effective and economical with lower pressure and flow of oxygen.
Now I save my money, and give him a try. He's a little bit costly
Bye
Angela
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2009-01-20, 5:32am
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 15, 2007
Location: Powell Ohio
Posts: 423
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For those torches don't you need to have and air compressor also? You may want to check that out before you go getting on of those. I think if you already have a lynx if you give it time you will love it. How long have you been doing glass? Good luck DanG
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2009-01-20, 7:44am
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 14, 2005
Posts: 34
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Angela,
I can respond to two parts of your question:
I have a Bethlehem Barracuda and run it on two medical oxycons linked together. It works well for me, though I'm not using the torch to it's full capacity. It could give me a hotter, larger flame with tanked O2, but I have all the heat I need. Tanked O2 is too troublesome and expensive to justify the few times I would really use that potential heat. (I do have an air-carry tank in the line that I can use to build up some pressure for when I know I'm going to need it, but I've never used it yet!)
I like the Barracuda for it's versatility and control. In fact, I just bought a second one for my student station.
Secondly, about the problem of dialing back the O2 on your torch for fine work, and then having a blast when the pressure is released: it's hard on the oxycon's seals to do that, plus it's a hassle when you're trying to work. I got around the problem by inserting a "Y" in the hose near my torch (under the bench, in easy reach.) One side of the "Y" goes to the torch, unobstructed, the other side of the "Y" goes into the room, with a valve. To adjust the flow to the torch I use that valve, either directing the flow to the torch by closing the valve for a big flame, or opening the valve, allowing the O2 to flow into the room, thereby not reaching the torch. The default positions of the O2 valves on the torch itself are: inner ring wide open, outer ring closed. In this configuration, there is always an outlet for the flow of O2 from the oxycons, overcoming the problem of back pressure. When I want a very small flame, I can turn down the O2 valve on the torch.
It sounds complicated, but it's actually easy to use and simple to set up.
I run the ventilation any time the oxycons are running, so there's no danger of the oxygen level becoming volatile in the room. (I actually don't know if that is a legitimate concern, perhaps someone else here knows.)
Hope this helps,
Terri Budrow-Nelson
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2009-01-20, 10:20am
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Join Date: Feb 28, 2008
Location: Cardiff, UK
Posts: 625
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Angela have you thought about the mid-range plus, I run mine on 1 medical oxycon although I would probably need a second oxycon if I was using boro regularly. Here's a pic for you
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2009-01-20, 12:18pm
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2006
Location: Switzerland
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Hi Terri,
that sounds very interesting! so you just turn that little valve open, to minimize the flame? (the moment you turn the propane down?)
I don't have the Lynx any more (at least at the moment) and anyway: after the numerous advices here to spend more time with the Lynx - maybe I'll try that valve-solution first, before I buy another torch sounds cheaper....
@Debb: no, I didn't - because everyone says, he needs the bottle....
@Dan: no, not this one. I guess its the Zenith, with aircooling mode, which needs a compressor. At end of march I can probably go and do a test; Arnold is located near Frankfurt, and I teach two classes there that time. And my "glasstime" is a bit over four years.
Greetings
Angela
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2009-01-20, 1:54pm
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Junior Member
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Join Date: Jan 09, 2009
Location: Iowa
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I have a mid-range I've used for years, with tanks. You can get a small flame to do stringer work, and a fairly wide one to melt a chunk of sheet glass. I also have a minor. It is better for very fine detail. You might consider the nortels that have a minor mounted on a larger torch, so you can do both.
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2009-01-20, 2:06pm
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Join Date: Feb 28, 2008
Location: Cardiff, UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angel
@Debb: no, I didn't - because everyone says, he needs the bottle....
Greetings
Angela
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Angela, it definitely doesn't need bottled oxygen, thats the torch I use every day
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2009-01-20, 2:07pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by glassgardener
I have a mid-range I've used for years, with tanks. You can get a small flame to do stringer work, and a fairly wide one to melt a chunk of sheet glass. I also have a minor. It is better for very fine detail. You might consider the nortels that have a minor mounted on a larger torch, so you can do both.
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Hi, the nortel with minor mounted onto the midrange is the midrange plus
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2009-01-21, 7:04am
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Member
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Join Date: Sep 14, 2005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Angel
that sounds very interesting! so you just turn that little valve open, to minimize the flame? (the moment you turn the propane down?)
I don't have the Lynx any more (at least at the moment) and anyway: after the numerous advices here to spend more time with the Lynx - maybe I'll try that valve-solution first, before I buy another torch sounds cheaper....
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Angela,
To get a small flame: The oxygen valve on the torch is wide open, the propane valve on the torch is set as low as you want, the "bleed off" valve or "Y" is mostly open. There is no hurry to adjust the knobs.
Let me describe it as if you were lighting up the torch to begin with: Open the oxygen valve on the torch all the way, and leave it there forever. Open the side of the "Y" that runs to the torch and leave it there forever. Open the side of the "Y" that runs into the room, known as the "bleed off" all the way, to allow the oxygen to bleed into the room. In effect, this turns off the oxygen to the torch. Turn on your concentrator(s) and let them run a few minutes to purge. OK, now your oxygen is flowing into the room, not through the torch. Light the propane, set it to as low as you want, then turn up the oxygen by adjusting the "bleed off" valve.
It's just like controlling the oxygen with the torch knob, except you are using the "bleed off" to do it. In this way, there is no back-pressure built up against your concentrator(s) and you have perfect control of your oxygen.
You are right that it will be a lot cheaper to put a "bleed off" valve in your oxygen line than trying another torch.
I would like to make another suggestion for those moments that you are doing larger work on a small torch and need more heat, but don't really want to invest in a big torch: Add a tool to your workbench...or more likely, steal this tool from your kitchen. A soup ladle. I know, it sounds odd! When you have a big gather of glass to get hot, or a really big bead to get reheated, hold the ladle behind the glass to capture and reflect the heat back into the work zone. This also speeds up hollow bead making. (A great tip I learned from Michael Barley. He's a really generous guy, I don't think he'd mind my sharing it here.)
Be Well,
Terri
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2009-01-21, 12:22pm
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Join Date: Aug 09, 2006
Location: Switzerland
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Terri, I think, I would buy even a new one soup ladle, thats so cool!!!! And a pretty simple, but obvious idea... and really worth a try.
I found a valve and y-piece in an aquarium shop; but they had to order the right diameter for me; and I can have my Lynx back in march; so I'll really try that.
Thanks a lot and kind regards
Angela
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