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#1
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Small Scale Glassblowing with Nortel Minor Burner?
I am contemplating the purchase of the Nortel Minor Burner - however, I have
done a glassblowing course (the _real_ glassblowing with furnace and all) and I know I can do small scale at home with a torch. However, I am not sure that the Minor will fit the task. Any opinions? I mostly want to work with borosilicate. jf |
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#2
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I would recommend going with something larger than a minor.
The National brand torches are supposed to be REALLY good for boro. I have a midrange that does boro great. Working on Boro with a minor is like working with a hothead.... (NOTE NOT DISSING HOTHEADS) It can be done... It can be done well, just takes a hellofa long time -- Hugs, Lynda http://www.thebeadgoddess.com It's never easy reaching for your dreams, but those who reach, walk in stardust. "Jean-Francois Theoret" wrote in message . .. I am contemplating the purchase of the Nortel Minor Burner - however, I have done a glassblowing course (the _real_ glassblowing with furnace and all) and I know I can do small scale at home with a torch. However, I am not sure that the Minor will fit the task. Any opinions? I mostly want to work with borosilicate. jf |
#3
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For small-scale boro I don't think a Minor is going to give you enough heat.
It's a fairly small soft flame. I used my Minor for boro beadmaking but found it difficult to make anything larger than about 20 x 20 mm without being immensely patient. I'm currently using a Nortel Midrange Plus with a topmounted premix and find it to me very satisfactory for working solid rod up to 1" in diameter (even 1-1/4" but the patience factor kicks in again) and standard-wall tubing is very simple. I got a 19-hole hush tip for my premix this Christmas and it adds significantly to the heat. It's the equivalent of a National 3A and is so hot I burn through standard 3/32" stainless mandrels if I'm not VERY careful. For the price I think this is a very good torch. I think Tink should chime in about her Bethlehem Barracuda, though. I gather it's as good, if not better. The one frustration I have with the Midrange is that the main torch is a fairly soft flame. I don't do any glassblowing other than pulling points for beads (only about a dozen so far) but I believe she has some experience in this. I'm not at all sure whether a soft but full flame is better than a hotter, more focused flame for blowing. Good luck in your search! -- KarenK www.desertdreameraz.com Ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/id=62631780&ssPageName=L2 Justbeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer "Jean-Francois Theoret" wrote in message . .. I am contemplating the purchase of the Nortel Minor Burner - however, I have done a glassblowing course (the _real_ glassblowing with furnace and all) and I know I can do small scale at home with a torch. However, I am not sure that the Minor will fit the task. Any opinions? I mostly want to work with borosilicate. jf |
#4
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I am not sure
that the Minor will fit the task. Any opinions? I mostly want to work with borosilicate. No - a Minor won't do if you are planning on borosilicate - you need a hotter torch. Cheryl last semester of lawschool! yipee! A HREF="http://www.dragonbeads.com" DRAGON BEADS /A Flameworked beads and glass http://www.dragonbeads.com/ |
#5
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On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 18:55:19 -0500, "Jean-Francois Theoret"
wrote: I am contemplating the purchase of the Nortel Minor Burner - however, I have done a glassblowing course (the _real_ glassblowing with furnace and all) and I know I can do small scale at home with a torch. However, I am not sure that the Minor will fit the task. Any opinions? I mostly want to work with borosilicate. A minor burner won't put out the heat you will need. The national torch is an inexpensive option, but I don't think you will be happy with it in the long run. I use a major burner and am very satisfied with it. It's what the school had for students in the one and only class I ever took. It has a minor burner on top for small stuff, and the bigger burner on the bottom for boro. Barbara Dream Master www.dreamweaverstudio.com If you want to make God laugh, tell him your future plans. Woody Allen |
#6
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On Fri, 27 Feb 2004 17:27:12 -0700, "Karen_AZ"
wrote: I think Tink should chime in about her Bethlehem Barracuda, though. I gather it's as good, if not better. The one frustration I have with the Midrange is that the main torch is a fairly soft flame. I don't do any glassblowing other than pulling points for beads (only about a dozen so far) but I believe she has some experience in this. I'm not at all sure whether a soft but full flame is better than a hotter, more focused flame for blowing. I am thoroughly thrilled with my Barracuda! I have, in fact, packed up my GTT Lynx in favor of the Barracuda. It will provide a pinpoint flame (2mm) up to a nice 30mm flame. I am not a fan of the over/under style of torch (such as the Red Max, which I had briefly and sold). The Barracuda's center fire design is much more to my liking. Another somewhat important point is that it's very efficient and doesn't hog fuel or oxygen. Oh, and it's a nice quiet torch, in case that matters. I highly recommend it for both soft and hard glass. And I'm a picky sonofagun. Tink the Brutal |
#7
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Because the color palette is very different from most soft glass.
I guess the easier question is....why not??? G -- KarenK www.desertdreameraz.com Ebay: http://stores.ebay.com/id=62631780&ssPageName=L2 Justbeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer "TheHotterTheBetter" wrote in message k.net... Stoopid question perhaps, but what's the attraction of using boro for decorative stuff (beads, marbles) that doesn't need boro's heat tolerance? What I'm trying to ask is that if you're making a pipe, testtube, trivet, of course you'd use boro. But why do you use boro for a bead? Thanks. -FurnaceGal |
#8
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Stoopid question perhaps, but what's the attraction of using boro for
decorative stuff (beads, marbles) that doesn't need boro's heat tolerance? Because it's gorgeous. It's different from soft glass. ~~ Sooz ------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html |
#9
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Stoopid question perhaps, but what's the attraction of using boro for decorative stuff (beads, marbles) that doesn't need boro's heat tolerance? different color pallette --and different reflective qualities... Some people like the colors of boro more than the bright colors of the soft glass. Cheryl last semester of lawschool! yipee! A HREF="http://www.dragonbeads.com" DRAGON BEADS /A Flameworked beads and glass http://www.dragonbeads.com/ |
#10
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Plus, for "blown" beads, Effetre tubing is difficult to find and
rather frustrating to work with. Tink On 29 Feb 2004 01:28:24 GMT, eads (Cheryl) wrote: different color pallette --and different reflective qualities... Some people like the colors of boro more than the bright colors of the soft glass. |
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