its about that time :)

So i was working for a shop in san diego and they finally shut the doors, i was in a pickle with no place to work and no tools or torches of my own ( the shop supplied glass gas and torches etc) after worring to death about how i was going to pay rent, i lucked out and got a seasonal job opportunity, this has givin me a chance to get some money together to finally buy all of my own equipment,
now i havent purchaced anything yet but ive been looking at a bravo start up kit on mountain glass (i was using a redmax) , and i plan on scooping up 1-2 15x oxy cons from my old shop, if he wont sell them them my back up plan is to get 1 20x oxy cocon,
Now my only concern is that im told that ill out grown the bravo pretty quickly, on the other hand from what i jave read and seen in videos it looks aa if it can keep up with the red max while using less oxygen, (which would be nice concidering my budget, ) if that so then ill be just fine i dont make big vessels just med size concemtrate rigs, pendants and dabbers n such.
Ive got about $1600 or so as a budget sp i guess what im asking you guys is does this seem like a good rout or is there a better option out there that i haven't thought of yet.
Thnks bandicuss
I hope this wasnt confusing, lol.

Ps misha $40donation is on the way via snailmail , i didnt forget :-P

Is 1600 ur total bufget or just ur torch budget

I ask because ive used a bravo and dont get me wrong its an awsome torch but if ur torch budget is 1600 you could get a really nice gtt but if its ur whole budget then u wont be able to afford the bravo after glass tools a kiln and thoes oxy cons

Its about my whole budget, for glass and torch possibly more (im still travling back home at the moment ) but i wont be needing a kiln luckly,that already takem care of. I would love to just go ahead and get gtt mirage or phantom but im working with what i got. Lol

1600 does not include the oxycon money.

does that budget include a bench, fire proofing and ventilation or is that already covered also? if those things are already taken care of that budget should be fine. from what I've heard the starter packs aren't really worth it and you can find most of the stuff like hoses and regs cheaper and possible better quality other places.

you can make the majority of the tools you will need at the beginning if you buy some graphite which is pretty cheap.

check out the classifieds here and craigslist you might be able to find a bulk deal for tools or random pieces of glass, or even a used bravo. this will help stretch your budget.

you said the oxycons aren't included in the budget but don't forget to account for a holding tank and compressor or home fill system. also if you can't afford everything you want you can buy the bare minimum to start making pendents and dabbers ect. and as you sell it buy more of the tools and glass that was not in the original budget. since you already have experience and will most likely be able to sell the majority of what you make at the beginning the turn around time should be quick

Wow, hard to believe you made a living in glass and did not own your torch or at least a torch?

I hope you get your gear all lined out and never work for anyone unless they ask and you want to.

Yea , i was lucky,or unlucky how ever you want to look at it, there was no start up cost for me, just show up and pump out prodos. i was just glad to ne behind a torch, now im looking to do my own thing and see how it works out, so im in the market for a used bethlehem bravo if anybody knows where to get one or knows of someone that has one they are willing to sell, that would be awesome. Also if anybody is willing to part with some graphite rods or paddles or any other misc. Tools and supplies give me a shout.

Thanks bandicuss

Yea , i was lucky,or unlucky how ever you want to look at it, there was no start up cost for me, just show up and pump out prodos. i was just glad to ne behind a torch, now im looking to do my own thing and see how it works out, so im in the market for a used bethlehem bravo if anybody knows where to get one or knows of someone that has one they are willing to sell, that would be awesome. Also if anybody is willing to part with some graphite rods or paddles or any other misc. Tools and supplies give me a shout.

Thanks bandicuss

I would get a lynx. I had a bravo and the lynx on my phantom kicks its ass.

I have a bravo, bigger flame than a lynx. The bravo kicks ass for under $1000, I have no problems after getting used to it. Low pressure, soft flame but it puts out a lot of heat that just surrounds the glass. It really is a great torch. Good luck


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Get the Bravo it uses less oxygen then the Nortel. But I would use tanked oxygen and not the oxy cons.
I have a Bravo and I love it.

I use an ex20 for my center fire which is an alpha. outer fire is tanked oxy. I have a tank last me about a week and I am at my studio between 15-20 hrs a week usually.you can see what I am making on my bravo in my progression thread. it does the job.

I use a Bravo. It's great for the price and if you're just doing prodo work you'll never really need anything larger than it. I've been able to work fairly large on the bravo, maxing out at 50mm extra heavy wall. My shopmate uses a mirage though and there is no comparison between the two. I'll eventually upgrade to a herbie or one of the more expensive GTT's but for now the bravo is fine.

Ah its good to hear that almost all of the people i have talked to like the bravo, and have good things to say about it, my main worrie was how big of projects i would be able to make, but if you are working 50mm tube thats plenty for me hah, way more powerful than i orginally thought.
I cant wait to get my hands on one and to switch from this redmax to something a little nicer.
On that note i know im probably gettin annoying asking every other post, but if anyone has a bravo that they ould like to sell me please let me know, thanks you
Bandicuss