When did you upgrade your Torch?

[jocaledesign]

Like many beginners I started making beads using a hot head torch. This has been my trusty friend for a few years now. I am just wondering at what point I will need to upgrade my torch?

Would love to know when you upgraded yours and what made you do it?

[Former_Member]

You never really HAVE to upgrade. Your beads are beautiful by the way.

I upgraded when I wanted to make larger, and be able to adjust to a pinpoint flame.

Then recently I bought another torch to be able to work small sculpture with Boro. (I want to learn)

[jocaledesign]

Thanks. That makes me feel like there's a lot more life in my current hot head set up :)

[Former_Member]

I just ordered an Alpha torch - I can't wait for it to arrive! I've been working with my hothead steadily for about a year, and am making the jump to boro now... wheeeeee!

[jocaledesign]

Christine - how exciting! I love getting new tools, but a new torch must be even better. Love to know how you get on with it.

[Former_Member]

i will probably never make the jump to a better torch system. I'm pretty happy doing the best i can with a Walmart propane torch. There are things i can't do with it, certain glasses i can't use, but that only makes me try harder to make something special with what i have to work with. Which is pretty much my philosophy of life, too. :-D

[classysassy]

I knew it was time to upgrade when the hardware store kept running out of map gas. The touch is cleaner and can be better controlled. I bought a minor, it does a great job on soft glass, but if you ever plan on doing boro think bigger. Just remember when you go bigger you suck up the oxygen. My oxygen concentrator will not put out enough O2 to keep up with a big tourch so I am happy with my Minor.

[Former_Member]

Karla I had that problem, there was some sort of recall because the bottles were leaking, and mapp gas was kinda scarce for a while last winter & spring... My dad is a plumber and helped me purchase a large bottle, and I got a hose to hook the large bottle to my hothead torch. i went though a 30 lb. bottle of Mapp gas in about a month, working 3-6 days a week for about an hour and a half each night.
UPS (finally) delivered my torch this past Monday, and I LOVE it. It was like Christmas at my house, hahaha!! I invested in an oxygen concentrator also (a used medical model my friend was selling) so I don't have to haul O2 bottles around... it seems to keep up with my torch OK at a good working temp... if I try to go too hot the flame pulses in time to the O2 gen but for what I am doing at the moment I don't need it that hot. :) I'm quite happy with the way the glass is behaving with the Alpha, and I'm psyched I can work boro again. :)

[Former_Member]

I began with a Nortel Minor and I still have it. I have been working with this torch for 7 years now. I must say it has been VERY good to me. I am now making big beads and could be much more efficient on a larger torch but I just don't have the financing for it at this time. It is on my wish list for now.

[Former_Member]

I started on a hothead, but because I work in a lot of copper colors (turquoise, teals, etc.), I kept having problems with it reducing to red/rust tones. I found a good deal on a National 8m with the SM-7 tip and picked up a M15 oxycon through Unlimited Oxygen, figuring that I'd probably want to go larger at some point. When I started doing larger beads, hollow forms & playing more seriously with boro, I picked up the SM-21 tip, which does everything up to basic boro on the oxycon, and REALLY opens up on tanked oxy. It doesn't get as fine a point on it as some, but I've been really happy with it's versatility. I'm thinking of picking up the SM-11 tip to have something more middle-of-the-road, but I'm pretty happy with it otherwise.

[Former_Member]

I used a hothead for 8 years. I upgraded to a Lynx with an oxy con about three months ago. Even though i am able to work bigger better and silver glasses are prettier, the hothead is still very versatile in my opinion.

[GabysGlassworks]

I've been on my Hot Head for almost 2 years now and have been extremely happy with it. That being said, I have been feeling like I want and upgrade. Mainly so that I can have more control over the size of the flame and of course I would like the option to make bigger beads. I am making beads in my Zuuzii's 1 1/4 lentil press fairly successfully but have to be very careful to keep the bead hot enough so it doesn't crack on me. Hopefully I will be able to upgrade soon.

[Former_Member]

I started off with a Nortel Midrange and used that for years. However I wanted to make beads AND pendants. I also wanted to make soft glass and boroscilicate. I also was looking for two main burner and a rider on top. So I upgraded to a NOrtel Midrange. It is perfect for me....not too big and not too small...for me at least. ;)