If you're sick and tired of dragging weighty tanks to the gas supplier every week, switching for an oxygen concentrator for torch work might be the particular most liberating update you ever create for your facilities. Honestly, there is certainly something incredibly satisfying about just flipping some sort of switch and knowing you have an endless supply of oxygen without having to worry about operating out in the middle of a project. It changes the way a person work, removing that will constant "mental clock" that ticks straight down every time you notice your tank gauge dropping.
For a lot associated with glass artists, bead makers, and also some small-scale steel workers, the changeover from compressed containers to a concentrator is a complete game-changer. But this isn't always as simple as insert it in plus going to city. There are a few quirks plus technical bits you need to realize to ensure your flame stays hot plus your machine stays happy.
Obtaining Rid of the particular Tank Shuffle
Let's be real: oxygen tanks are usually a massive discomfort. They are large, they are possibly dangerous if they tip, and the "tank shuffle"—that process of launching them to the back end of a car and driving to a welding supply shop—is nobody's idea associated with a good time. Not forgetting, if you're focusing on a deadline and run away of O2 upon a Saturday mid-day when the store is closed, you're basically stuck.
Using an oxygen concentrator for torch use solves almost all of these logistical headaches. These machines were originally developed for medical make use of, helping people breathe in, but the glass community figured out there pretty quickly that they are perfect for small torches. Instead of storing high-pressure gas, these types of units pull within room air, scrub out the nitrogen using something called a molecular filter, and spit out concentrated oxygen. It's a continuous procedure, meaning as lengthy as you have got electricity, you have got oxygen.
How Does an Oxygen Concentrator Actually Function?
You don't need an education in chemistry to use one, but it helps to know what's happening beneath the hood. Many of these devices use a process called Pressure Swing Adsorption. Inside the particular box, you can find storage containers filled with zeolite. This material works like a magnet for nitrogen. The particular machine pumps atmosphere through, the zeolite grabs the nitrogen, and the oxygen passes through to your torch. After that, the machine "exhales" the particular nitrogen back straight into the room plus starts the period again.
Because of this cycle, you'll see a distinct rhythmic "whoosh" sound whilst the machine is running. It's a bit like the heartbeat of your own studio. Some people find it soothing; others find it a bit noisy. In the event that you're the type which likes a silent workspace, you may finish up wanting in order to put the unit in a closet or even an adjacent area and operate a long hose to your seat. Just make certain wherever you put it has lots of ventilation, because these machines generate the fair quantity of warmth and they require fresh air to function properly.
Figuring Out the particular LPM and POUND-FORCE PER SQUARE INCH Puzzle
This is how things can get a little confusing for beginners. When you're looking for an oxygen concentrator for torch setups, you'll see two main specs: LPM (Liters Per Minute) and PSI (Pounds Per Square Inch).
Most professional medical concentrators are ranked at 5 LPM or 10 LPM. A 5-liter device is usually plenty for small bead-making torches like the Devardi or even the Nortel Small, especially if you're working with soft glass. However, in case you're moving in to borosilicate (hard glass) or utilizing a slightly larger torch like a Mega Small or a Midrange, you're almost certainly going to need 10 LPM unit, or even 2 5-liter units connected together.
The particular PSI is the other half from the story. Standard professional medical units usually put out between 7 plus 10 PSI. In comparison to a tank, which could push much higher pressures, this feels really low. If your torch requires high pressure to accomplish a certain type of sharp, needle-thin flame, you might find a single concentrator feels a little "soft. " It will take a small while to obtain used to the various pressure, but for 90% of amateur work, it's even more than enough.
Can Your Torch Handle It?
Not every torch is usually a perfect fit for a concentrator. Smaller torches that can be "surface mix" usually work superbly. Surface mix torches blend the fuel (propane or natural gas) and the particular oxygen right from the face from the torch, which is much safer plus works best for the decrease pressure appearing out of a concentrator.
In case you have the "pre-mix" torch, you might run into several issues. These need higher pressures to prevent the fire from popping or "backfiring" into the torch body. In the event that you're dead-set upon utilizing an oxygen concentrator for torch work with a pre-mix setup, you'll likely need a dedicated high-pressure concentrator or even a program that uses a compressor to boost the particular pressure, which gets a bit more expensive and complicated.
For many people starting away with glass beads or small marbles, a Nortel Minor or even a Bethlehem Burning Cricket paired along with a 10 LPM concentrator is the "Goldilocks" setup—it's perfect. It gives you enough heat to function efficiently without the headache of storage containers.
Buying Utilized vs. Buying Brand new
Since these machines are made for the medical industry, right now there is a huge secondary market for them. You can often find refurbished units that have been maintained and had their particular "sieves" replaced. Buying an used oxygen concentrator for torch work can save you a ton associated with money, but you have to be careful.
Check the particular hour meter. These types of machines are ranked for hundreds or even thousands of hours, yet if you purchase one with 30, 000 hours on it, it may be approaching the end of its life. Also, examine the purity. A healthful machine should become putting out regarding 93% to 95% pure oxygen. When the sieve bedrooms are old, that purity drops, and your flame will start to look yellow or "dirty, " which can ruin the color of your glass.
If you may afford it, buying an unit specifically refurbished for glasswork will be the way in order to go. These sellers often remove the particular "low oxygen" alerts that are required for medical use but are incredibly irritating in the studio placing where you might be pushing the machine to its limit.
Maintenance Ideas to Maintain the Flame Burning
One associated with the best reasons for an oxygen concentrator for torch use is that will they are relatively low maintenance, yet you can't just ignore them permanently. The biggest fantastic of these machines will be dust. Most devices have a foam pre-filter that catches locks, dust, and cup bits. You need to pull that filter out every week or two, wash it with comfortable soapy water, let it dry totally, and pop it back in.
If the inner filters get blocked, the machine has in order to work harder, it runs hotter, plus eventually, the air compressor will give upward the ghost. It's also a good idea in order to keep the machine off the floor when your studio is definitely dusty. Putting it on a little rolling cart or even a shelf can extend its life significantly.
Is This Well worth It?
At the end of the day, the option to move for an oxygen concentrator for torch function depends on how much you work. If you only fire up your own torch once each few months, the cost of a concentrator might not create sense in comparison to the $20 tank refill. But if you're in the facility three or four times a week, the device generally pays for by itself within a couple of years.
Beyond the money, there's the peace of mind. A person don't have to the particular gas shop being closed on holidays. You don't have got to lift large objects. You just walk into your work area, flip the switch, wait a few of minutes for the purity in order to stabilize, and start creating. For most of us, that's worth every penny.