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  #1  
Old 2016-11-17, 5:44am
shtayim shtayim is offline
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Join Date: Nov 17, 2016
Posts: 11
Smile help, which torch should I choose ?

Hello everyone
As said in the tittle, I really need your help to choose the right torch !
I work little pieces (about 1/2 inch) with a lot of details, but I would like to make murrini too.
So, I've made researches, and finally I've taken the Mini CC and the Bethlehem Alpha on... Between these ones, which one do you think I should buy ?

Ps: sorry for my poor english, but french aren't known for being very good at foreign languages
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  #2  
Old 2016-11-17, 9:09am
Trish915 Trish915 is offline
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I can't speak to the mini cc, but I have a Bethlehem Alpha and love it! Have had no problems with it, and to be honest, I don't clean it very often and never had an issue. I've been using it about three years now.
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  #3  
Old 2016-11-17, 9:14am
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bshelle bshelle is offline
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Location: Cincinnati, OH
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Buy the biggest torch you can right now. You will want to upgrade eventually!

What is your oxygen source?
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  #4  
Old 2016-11-17, 11:40am
shtayim shtayim is offline
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Thank you very much for your answer Trish915 and bshelle
Well, so far I'm using a hot head (so I don't have chosen my oxygen source yet) but now I would like more precision and power.
Does the Bethlehem alpha allow you to make murrini and little details of about 3mm ?
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  #5  
Old 2016-11-17, 12:27pm
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MagpieGlass MagpieGlass is offline
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I learned on a mini cc and the knobs would get hot while working ... not sure if that situation was ever corrected on subsequent models ... so I would stay away from the mini.

If you want to make murrini gathers ... I would snag the Beth Bravo. That's my planned upgrade. My understanding is that the Beth's got from nice pinpoint flames to nice radiant heat flames on very low psi for gas and oxygen.
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Last edited by MagpieGlass; 2016-11-17 at 9:05pm.
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  #6  
Old 2016-11-17, 9:03pm
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ozarkcat ozarkcat is offline
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Join Date: Jul 24, 2009
Location: Southwest Missouri Ozarks
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Personally, I love my National 8M because I can change out the tips, so it's like I've got at least 4-5 different torches just by making a quick swap. I've done everything from tiny 6mm beads to 3" blown pieces on it that way.
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  #7  
Old 2016-11-17, 9:53pm
snoopdog6502 snoopdog6502 is offline
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When I got a Bethlehem Alpha for the wife I hooked it up for Natural gas and oxygen concentrators.

It cost nothing to run. It has real threads on the torch to have a hose screw right on, the base is nice, the valves are very fine, big and stays cool. Built tough no doubt.

worth the $209 I paid for it.

I have a video of mine running on natural gas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7uBTg5Zd04
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  #8  
Old 2016-11-18, 12:48pm
shtayim shtayim is offline
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Thanks you all for your responses so I choose the alpha !!! I can't wait to try it !!
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  #9  
Old 2016-12-21, 11:17am
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bshelle bshelle is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shtayim View Post
Thanks you all for your responses so I choose the alpha !!! I can't wait to try it !!
How's your progress? Please share!
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  #10  
Old 2016-12-21, 12:19pm
Mesnik Mesnik is offline
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Another vote for Alpha.

And do show your progress!
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  #11  
Old 2016-12-22, 8:27am
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bbisker bbisker is offline
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Love my GTT Lynx!
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  #12  
Old 2016-12-22, 2:13pm
kansassky kansassky is offline
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Alpha, alpha, alpha.
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  #13  
Old 2016-12-23, 3:42pm
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echeveria echeveria is offline
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The answer might be - all of them! I think the Alpha is a good choice. But I also love my Bobcat and Midrange. I don't like Minors. They seem too slow to me.
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  #14  
Old 2016-12-27, 11:09am
Bentley Bentley is offline
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I love my GTT Phantom. I've been using it for over 15 years.
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  #15  
Old 2017-01-03, 3:53pm
Lampwork49 Lampwork49 is offline
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Location: Alaska
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I'd defiantly consider the GTT Lynx. It's an awesome torch! I have one but a few years ago upgraded to a phantom which you know still has the Lynx center fire. They really are a good choice. Unless you really go big you'll never need any more than the Phantom. And you can still do what you want with the Lynx
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  #16  
Old 2017-01-24, 7:11pm
karrina310 karrina310 is offline
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Posts: 115
Default lynx

I've used my lynx for 9 years and loved it!!! the only problem is there is no radiant heat so if you eventually want to make large or long beads, it's a problem... but reducing and striking DH colors are so easy to get gorgeous colors out of.
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  #17  
Old 2017-01-25, 11:36pm
Ravenesque Ravenesque is offline
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Now you have to wait 9 years to get a new GTT

They chose the alpha btw
Quote:
Originally Posted by shtayim View Post
Thanks you all for your responses so I choose the alpha !!! I can't wait to try it !!

I'm considering an Alpha, a dear friend has been waiting since June for a new GTT, meanwhile I see on their page a dealer posting tons of new torches all the time that they 'just got in'.
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  #18  
Old 2017-01-27, 10:39am
shtayim shtayim is offline
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So, the alpha is a good torch, but not perfect (nothing's perfect ). I mean, it does a very good job for simple beads and murrini, but for sculpture it doesn't make enough radiant heat, so it's very hard not to crack them...
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  #19  
Old 2017-01-29, 8:39am
dusty dusty is offline
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Red face

Quote:
Originally Posted by shtayim View Post
So, the alpha is a good torch, but not perfect (nothing's perfect ). I mean, it does a very good job for simple beads and murrini, but for sculpture it doesn't make enough radiant heat, so it's very hard not to crack them...
The Mini CC, Hellcat, or Lucio might be a better choice. I really like my Mini CC and Hellcat - they've got a very soft "edge" to the flame that helps with that, but makes them worse for other things.

I went on a quest for the perfect torch and have about 10 now. Except for a few, they're each best for something.
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