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
The manufacturer claims it is good for small boro work. I suppose we need to define "small". I have the major burner and it seems necessary for marbles over an inch. But I'm not very good at it.
I work on a Minor and they are perfect for beads and pendants. I see that the other guy that replied is using a major and they have good size flames but are oxy-hogs. You might also want to consider a Glass Torch Technologies Bobcat or one of their other models. If you decide to go with the minor, I've got a BARELY used one for sale for $125 so you could save yourself $45 off retail. Let me know and good luck with the torch...as I said, the minor is great and I am currently using one. I don't make big things, just pendants, and the efficiency of the torch is a plus.
I think "small scale" needs definition, especially with boro, which stiffens quickly with changes in temp. I would suggest that you need to keep most of the working area of the piece in the flame when you work boro, so using a Minor to actually blow something beyond an inch (25mm) in diameter will quickly get outside the small diameter flame. Further expansion of an even shape may be difficult.
If you still have a minor torch for sale,,,please e mail me at snipped-for-privacy@aol.com.
Thank wnm
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