Newbie interested in a torching kit

[Asterope]

Iv done bead and small pendent work for several months on a hot head. My buddy torches and went from a redmax to carlisle cc. I tested out both and made some stuff on the redmax, very exciting. I am interested in getting my own setup and was looking for some opinions on this kit: http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/ViewCart.aspx?mid=47BF3DAF-A2C9-4D74-94CA-0EBA5234BE11&sctoken=414c09c3fc2d45449a43c8f5134b629f&bhcp=1
I'm saving only $80 by getting the kit vs. buying everything separate from that site. For the most part, i know i need most of it, maybe not so many graphite rods and a bowl push would be nice. However, if i start subtracting what i dont really need from the original price of it all without the kit, i end up at the same price of the kit but without all the extra tools i just subtracted. :bangHead:
I was also wondering, what size of tubing i can efficiently melt with the Nortel midrange?
Any opinions, experiences and interesting info you could pass on would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

[sunray]

That kit looks to me to have to many things you really don't need to start and not enough
of what I see people buying to start,, not so many graphite rods for example.
Instead of the scoring pen get yourself a good cutter.
I just took in a bunch of used tools that would be good for a beginner, cutters, tweezers, mashers,
bead reamer,rod holder, little nippers, glasses, and some other things If your interested in used tools I could email you a picture
and the prices.

[gn0me]

Consider hanging out here a bit, and keep an eye on the classifieds section for a torch. The midrange is a poorly engineered piece of kit. Try to find an inner/outer burner if you can - there have been some barracudas for sale recently, and a sargent or two. There are often people cleaning out their studio willing to help a newbie get some basics covered, and Sunray's kit sounds tempting too. Make sure you get glasses with IR protection - didy's and flipdowns are okay but you'll want something better if you plan on sticking with it for long. Make yourself comfortable - we don't bite. Well, actually we do. But if you're getting into glass you'll have worse wounds to deal with soon :)

[Icarus]

I have "Sundance glass" only one bullet point lower than "the plague" on my list of things to avoid.

[Shatner]

I have "Sundance glass" only one bullet point lower than "the plague" on my list of things to avoid.

This!!!

Check out Winship or Mountain glass arts. They'll put a 'kit' together for you. A carbon rod can double as a bowl push, btw.

[dmas0n]

I agree with the suggestions for Mountain Glass Arts, I bought all of my beginner equipment from them and couldn't have been more pleased. I have ordered from them numerous times since and every single order has been correct and prompt.

[glassyeye]

+1 on that..Mountain Glass got me my stuff fast and were easy to deal with.

[nodice]

You can easily melt 38x4 on a midrange. +1 for mountain glass, but you could probably get a pretty good deal on a used one in the glassifieds.

[Asterope]

Thanks for all the great info! I have been in the progress of finding a better torch. My friend has a lot of tools plus we are going to make some out of graphite chunks. I missed out on a old Sargent just the other day sadly.

[StrawHat Art Glass]

Mountain glass for the win. But I bought my beginner setup new and sadly found out that I could have bought a similar setup in about 10 situations for half the cost by buying it from another glassworker. I would get important things and warrantied things new and everything else used if I could do it again. New regs would have been the shit, but if you buy a welfding kit for 175 dollars it include two regs that are 80$ apiece outside of the kit. I think getting gas stuff from gas guys and glass stuff from glass guys would save money. You can sell the welding torch and acetelyne hosing to recoup that investment

Never used a midrange.

Goodluck, enjoy!!!!