Hello again and producing your own oxygen suggestions.

[SNYD]

Hey there everybody its been a minute since I have used the forum and basicly just took the past two years away from the torch. Finally getting back to it, just got a phantom and have been able to turn out some decent work the past few months.
Because I stay home with my kids and have chronic back pain I only work an hour or two a day on the torch maybe 4 or 5 hours on the weekend if im lucky. Tanks have become problematic because of a resent price raise and im just unable to keep hauling them to fill with my back pain.
So wondering what would be my best bet to make enough oxygen for my phantom? Also considering cost because like most glass artists with familys I don't have 10k to drop on a system, and am fairly handy so feel like I could do most of it myself. I may already have a line on 02 generators that I can refurbish, and I remember reading of people using a holding tank to have enough pressure for bigger torches?
Any help is much appreciated if you want to check out my work find me on instagram @withinasphere thats pretty much the only social media I use anymore.

[drew1492]

If you can nab a homefill off Craigslist for cheap they aren't a bad way to go. Pretty easy to find one for $300 or less. The high volume low pressure systems look cool too.

[SNYD]

Thanks Drew something like this? http://www.ksl.com/classifieds/listing/41447865

[drew1492]

Yeah something like that. Craigslist is a good place to look. I think they do wear out a bit quicker than HVLP systems though

[snoopdog6502]

It may take getting used to but a Phantom will run pretty damn good strait from oxygen concentrators. (See video)
Those F-ing homefils are garbage , buy concentrators with that money so you have something that runs long term.

The heat is not violent thrusty like on tanks, its more of a soaking heat that's more relaxing to to use and control. I had no problem making a 2.4 inch marble.
My Back is way messed up permanently so I cant deal with tanks.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmfymeMiJyk

Later when you have at least 20LPM in cons or more you can buy a compressor and tank and DYI a High volume system for less Then a homefil will cost.
My ghetto HVO system is decent, I can start with no oxygen and be raging my mirage in 5 minutes. I want to buy a couple more new cons and a little bigger compressor.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/381025034176

https://www.compressorworld.com/air-tanks/vertical-air-tanks-receivers/

I just went to your instagram, you work is beautiful but its all stuff that would lend itself to being made on a Concentrator powered torch.
If you were trying to make a living making 50MM ISO Spoons or pulling 75MM vac stacks you would want a tank or HVO setup.

[LowTideGlass]

I agree with snoop. I'd go with a high volume system. The home fills are more likely to breakdown and have a shorter lifespan if you are running them constantly. Although you do say that you only work a few hours here and there so perhaps the homefill would work out ok for you. I personally do not like the idea of compressing to 1000psi when there are other options.

For a phantom and mostly smaller work, I would say you could get by on just the concentrators to start and see how it goes.

If you have a clean air tank and an appropriate compressor you can use two 10lpm concentrators and run the phantom 100%

[Mute]

The homefill will be an adequate supply, they are much cheaper, and quiet.

While they can have issues, I've never had one that I couldn't fix. Probably over a dozen.

I've used both and prefer the homefill for single setups.

Much easier

[SNYD]

Thanks for all the help and replies. Most likely I will have to go the homefill route, mostly due to electrical limitations in my shop. When I have my kiln on it sucks up most of the power. Don't you worry about messing up your torch running such low amounts of oxygen? Also doesn't it effect your work, Dichro, fuming etc..... I'm almost wishing I would have gotten a scorpion vs the phantom as those are designed to run off of concentrators.
Anyway thanks for all the suggestions.

[snoopdog6502]

Thanks for all the help and replies. Most likely I will have to go the homefill route, mostly due to electrical limitations in my shop. When I have my kiln on it sucks up most of the power. Don't you worry about messing up your torch running such low amounts of oxygen? Also doesn't it effect your work, Dichro, fuming etc..... I'm almost wishing I would have gotten a scorpion vs the phantom as those are designed to run off of concentrators.
Anyway thanks for all the suggestions.

You have a much better torch then a Scorpion, the triple mix works, its not hype.
The Phantom rocks on concentrators. It is not a big torch. Use the blue knob to give the flame more thrust and push heat away from the face of the torch.
It dont mess up the torch unless you run it wrong, you physically have to run the torch wrong and ignore it. I think tweekers are the ones ruining torches.

I Run a Mirage on 23lpm but its less then thrilling on the outer fire so I use it intermittently. With the phantom I could fire up the outer fire balls out for hours and the torch barrel and face never get hot.

When you step up to a mirage with 33 jets on the outer fire you will want to have a way to compress oxygen, I have both the Mirage and Phantom so to run both I had to build a compressor system.

If power is an issue you can always do a bunch of prep and the small hunks up on the cons bench cooled, hook to a tank, fire up the kiln with prep inside and work quick and efficiently with hot prep that saves gas.

[misticglass]

I have been using 2 homefills filling into 3 k tanks for around 3 years since I moved to a new house and set up in the basement where there was no good place for a liquid tank. It works well even with my delta ( I don't work huge) and lathe (hand torches). Unfortunately They break. I got a good few years out of them running around 5 days a week but had both of the ones I was using break on me recently. Luckily I had an extra almost new one I found on craigslist laying around as a backup! Curently browsing the forum figuring out how to fix them or build a new system like low tides. Definatelly watch his video on youtube if you haven't yet!! I am seriously considering trashing my homefills and going that route since I have stockpiled a few generators at this point.....

morgan

[loydb]

I ran a Phantom for years off of a Psyclone and an Onyx+.

[dustyg]

Limited power is the only reason I'd consider using a homefill instead of an HVLP system. I was surprised that my studio's power had no problem with 2 concentrators and a Gast m100x - all three components are pretty low-draw.

[Mute]

Limited power is the only reason I'd consider using a homefill instead of an HVLP system. I was surprised that my studio's power had no problem with 2 concentrators and a Gast m100x - all three components are pretty low-draw.

There's no way that would run a delta....

A home fill would tho.

[Mute]

I have been using 2 homefills filling into 3 k tanks for around 3 years since I moved to a new house and set up in the basement where there was no good place for a liquid tank. It works well even with my delta ( I don't work huge) and lathe (hand torches). Unfortunately They break. I got a good few years out of them running around 5 days a week but had both of the ones I was using break on me recently. Luckily I had an extra almost new one I found on craigslist laying around as a backup! Curently browsing the forum figuring out how to fix them or build a new system like low tides. Definatelly watch his video on youtube if you haven't yet!! I am seriously considering trashing my homefills and going that route since I have stockpiled a few generators at this point.....

morgan

I'll add that the fix on these homefills is easy.

The seals can loose there sealing ability due to the nature of there configuration, but they can be respread giving them them there ability to get a good seal. Last machine I fixed had over 5,000hrs, and worked perfect after spreading the seals.

Tools required; small crescent wrench, and a pencil. Once you take off the brass square head remove the sleeve(slides off). You see the black seal on the end of the rod? That's the seal. Use the pencil to insert into the U shaped cup and work in a circular motion spreading the seal open wider. When you slide the sleeve back over the seal, it should be snug.

The bearing fix is about the only other issue, and is a 12$ bearing. Remove it and there is a part # on the bearing, use it to get a replacement.

[SNYD]

Thanks guys for all the info and suggestions. Finally talked to the right person and got a tank delivered for a reasonable price considering what I can get out of it. Going to start buying concentrators as I find them for a good deal. for now I will just have to put up with the gas man.

[LowTideGlass]

Thanks guys for all the info and suggestions. Finally talked to the right person and got a tank delivered for a reasonable price considering what I can get out of it. Going to start buying concentrators as I find them for a good deal. for now I will just have to put up with the gas man.

nice. At least you are getting an ok deal on tanked until you figure out your oxy setup.

Try calling local medical supply places and ask if they have any concentrators that are no longer rated for medical use, you may get lucky and find somewhere that is actually looking to get rid of them.

[Kovacs Glass]

I'll add that the fix on these homefills is easy.

The seals can loose there sealing ability due to the nature of there configuration, but they can be respread giving them them there ability to get a good seal. Last machine I fixed had over 5,000hrs, and worked perfect after spreading the seals.

Tools required; small crescent wrench, and a pencil. Once you take off the brass square head remove the sleeve(slides off). You see the black seal on the end of the rod? That's the seal. Use the pencil to insert into the U shaped cup and work in a circular motion spreading the seal open wider. When you slide the sleeve back over the seal, it should be snug.

The bearing fix is about the only other issue, and is a 12$ bearing. Remove it and there is a part # on the bearing, use it to get a replacement.

You must not have had a machine totally wear out the seals. Once that happens, you will not be able to find a replacement for piston seal #4.

[Mute]

You must not have had a machine totally wear out the seals. Once that happens, you will not be able to find a replacement for piston seal #4.

There are dozens of places that make custom seals.

Its not a problem to find

Any decent machinist can verify this