Should it have a rest after a certain amount of time?
Just wondering as mine worked quite hard yesterday ;D
I've had two running since about noon today ... ;D
Mine runs as long as I can bead for which is max of 7 hours but most often 2-3 hours. I usually have a couple of breaks though but I don't turn oxycon off just the nozzel on the torch. I notice that sometimes it has an amber light but still works fine and doesn't appear to alter the flame. I thought it died not so long ago but after cleaning the filters it was just fine again.
I do like to open the shed door every now and again to make sure I am getting some fresh oxygen though :)
Mine have been on since about 9.00 this morning. I don't switch them off, just turn off the propane at the torch and leave the oxygen flowing through. Not sure it's good for the oxycon to switch off at the torch and leave the oxy running though?
Kazx
My oxycon cuts out if I leave it running with the tap off
All day !
Oh I'm not such a bad employer then
I feel better now - thanks everyone x
*blushing* I've been turning mine off every couple of hours to give it a rest LOL LOL
thats coz you are nice :D
Maybe I'm wrong but I think they are made to be run all the time? So you don't need to worry about it staying on for a few hours. :)
I've been told that oxycons are really designed to run 24/7 (after all that's what they're designed to do in hospitals!) also, that if you start your oxycon you should keep it running for a minimum of 30 minutes before turning off (even if you decide to stop torching - for some CRAZY reason!)
Just make sure that you keep the oxy value open on the torch (but propane closed and turned off at source!) if you take a break as a build up of pressure is harmful to the oxycon.
Some of the "ex-medical" oxycons have been "bastardised" so to speak, to provide a continuous flow of oxygen (not like in hospital where they provide oxygen "on demand" ie; when the patient breathes in!) so I've been advised to keep my oxycon running for long periods to prolong it's life - and that some of the problems encountered by lampworkers may actually be caused, not by "high working hours" on the counter, but by dirty filters and intermittent useage (you know, stored in cold, damp atmosphere - ie shed/garage and only used twice a week for instance?)
So my advice, is don't worry - use it for as long as the gas lasts - you may be prolonging it's life! ;D
I'm such a slow typer (mind you, did take a "comfort" break) but 5 replies where posted by the time I was really to post - hope it makes sense? Use it or lose it maybe! :o
My dad has an oxycon at home which he has to use at night - it provides a continuous flow (rather than on demand) for at least 8 hours at a stretch every night, plus odd sessions of a couple of hours or so during the day. Mind you, it's been replaced by a newer model at least twice over the last couple of years - don't know what the NHS criteria is for swapping it though, whether it's running hours or calendar-based. I keep asking Dad to ask the oxygen man what happens to the old ones ... ;)
Quote from: SallyR on May 10, 2010, 09:47:20 PM
I keep asking Dad to ask the oxygen man what happens to the old ones ... ;)
Sounds awful Sally, but keep asking.........everybody (not just lampworkers) need to know?......(where are the "cheap/used" oxy's going?) also - what are the NHS actually doing with our taxes...................?
I would be happy just to find a supplier for the internal filters on the things.
Emma
My usual sessions are about 3 hours long but my oxycon randomly cuts out on its own, usually after about 2 hours and sometimes if I have been doing a lot of reducing. I have opened it up to see which bits I'm meant to vacuum out (can't seem to screw it back together properly but closes together and stays there on its own) Have vacuumed the 'cyberman head' bit in the side door. My biggest concern is that the spongey bits have almost turned to dust and may be being sucked in somewhere. I also only get a green light for a short time, it usually runs on amber but I'm not really worried about that bit.
I thought maybe it was only meant to be on for about 3 hours (cos it's a recon).
So interesting to read this thread to see what others expectations are.
Btw My oxy is kept in doors and lives in a nice dry and warm environment.
Shelia
I run mine for about 10-20 mins at about 1ltr BEFORE I start working or I can never get my flame right, I think it needs time to fill up its tanks before asking it to work at full whack. When I start to use it straight away, I find that within the hour I get low pressure (amber light), and my flame is `breathing'.
A session for me can be anything from a couple of hours or so to 8 hours, depending on how I feel. Usually its around 4-5 hours at the moment. If I stop for the loo or to stretch my legs, I turn of the oxy at the torch, turn of the gas at the torch and then turn the oxy back on to about 1-2lt and just leave it running until I'm good to go again. At the end of a session I turn of the oxy at the oxycon and the torch, then turn off the gas at the tank. once the gas has burned off, I turn the oxy back on at the torch and use the remaining oxy in the oxycon tank to run through the torch as I clean it. I just leave the valve open at the torch - but ALWAYS turn off the gas valve, just in case of a leak.
Only problem I have at the moment with my oxycon is that its smelly! Its a new one from Martin, I've probably done about 25-30 hours on it but the previous owner was obviously a very heavy smoker and as soon as you turn it on the smell of ald fags is unbearable! Lavender oil on the outside filter masks it a little but my god its flippin' rank! Good job I have great ventilation because a small room with no fresh air smelling like that would be unbearable... :o
Anyone have any idea how much these cost to run - I tend to just leave my running all day!
Emma - wouldn't it be good if we could just order those filters - I feel like a lost voice in the wilderness, I have been asking for them for soooooooo loooooooooong now!
Kazx
Kaz, I think you can get some filters from Quinton at www.glassworks.be
I don't know how much they are, but last year my oxycon suddenly stopped working (and made me cry!) and he suggested changing the filter ( before changing the oxycon...) sent me a few and it worked fine.
You are supposed to change this filter once in a year or so, cannot remember exactly. Super easy, just open your oxycon and it's white fluffy piece on the side (towards the top, as far as I can remember, you cannot miss it)
Anyway, I work with boro with two oxycons and so far so good ;D
Quote from: Kaz on May 12, 2010, 08:32:26 PM
Anyone have any idea how much these cost to run - I tend to just leave my running all day!
Emma - wouldn't it be good if we could just order those filters - I feel like a lost voice in the wilderness, I have been asking for them for soooooooo loooooooooong now!
Kazx
Well mine doesn't seem to cost much. We've got an electric usage monitor on at the moment. Today, other than the usual fridge, freezer, lights etc, we had 2 laptops on and off throughout the day, 1 load of washing, an xbox (they use loads!), kettle about 4 times, oxycon for 5 hours, tv, and digibox recorder thingy, laminator for about an hour, 2 phones charged, and a full kiln cycle for 99p on a standard tarrif! We almost never hit the average usage, except when I bake, and today was no exception - even with the kiln.... :o Surprised me too...
Gosh Sam hope the smoke smell clears quickly for you, maybe you should leave it running for a bit when you not using it to see if it helps clear it!!!
How about putting a piece of one of those tumble dryer sheets on the filter?
Kazx
AAAgh - its done it again - my oxycon was only running for about 2 hours and cut out just as I was encasing a floral!!. Turned it off, vacuumed out the filter - it starts up but no green light, tried this 3 times - is it fatal? :-[
Shelia
Quote from: mrumruglass on May 13, 2010, 11:58:19 PM
Kaz, I think you can get some filters from Quinton at www.glassworks.be
I don't know how much they are, but last year my oxycon suddenly stopped working (and made me cry!) and he suggested changing the filter ( before changing the oxycon...) sent me a few and it worked fine.
You are supposed to change this filter once in a year or so, cannot remember exactly. Super easy, just open your oxycon and it's white fluffy piece on the side (towards the top, as far as I can remember, you cannot miss it)
Anyway, I work with boro with two oxycons and so far so good ;D
we did ask Quinton about this. I even offered for us to pay for them and he could send them all to me and I would send them out to people here who wanted them. Nothing came of it though. Will have to try and get in touch with him and see if we can re-open negotiations on that front!
Emma