I'm about to up grade from my HH to another, it will be one from Tuffnels either a Minor, Bobcat or a Cricket. If remember correctly the Bobcat is the most expensive? anyone know why?
I have no experience with other torches and am unable to get to do that, so all input is welcome.
I like the idea of making big focal beads, so this is my bench mark.
also want to make small beads.
Well, all comments are welcome
thank you, you are a friendly bunch
;D
Hi Batty, I started with a minor and it was a really good torch, but I was tempted by the scorpion and gave my minor up. I have never used the other 2, but I have heard lots of people say that they like them. The scorpion is based on the cricket, they were especially designed to work more efficiently using concentrators. You should try to get a shot of one or more and see which you prefer. I know this isn't particularly helpful, but most of the torches are pretty good. Janet
If you want to do big focals I'd go for either the Minor or Bobcat. Much as I love my Cricket, it has a skinny flame which makes keeping large beads hot rather tricky.
I have a mega minor which has a somewhat bushier flame - and bought it because I do tend to work larger. Although I'm trying to down size a little at the moment ... :P
Ha!
My Cricket won't work silver glass but it NEVAH cracks large focals on me ;D
Linda x
loving my bobcat - you could come and have a go if you are near Rutland?
Kirsty
The bobcat always strikes me as a more sophisticated and better finished torch, which might account for some of the price difference.
I love mine.
I'm another big supporter of the bobcat, I adore mine, and it runs hotter than any minor I have tried :)
I have just changed from HH to Mega Minor and love it!
Bobcat :)
Thank you ladies, all welcome and helpful replies.
Kirsty, what a lovely offer and if I was up to travelling, I may have taken you up on it. But I live down south, in East Sussex near to Hastings.
Think its a Bobcat then.
Cheers Darlinks
Batty
Quote from: Batty on October 17, 2011, 11:40:02 AM
Thank you ladies, all welcome and helpful replies.
Kirsty, what a lovely offer and if I was up to travelling, I may have taken you up on it. But I live down south, in East Sussex near to Hastings.
Think its a Bobcat then.
Cheers Darlinks
Batty
Good choice. Hastings is a way, but if you're ever travelling...
K
Ok, sent an email to Martin @ Tuffnels and he thinks that I should go with the Minor.
As the Bobcat is a thinner flame and a little more difficult to achieve big focals and cigar beads.
And that the Minor will allow a little bit of boro tube blowing too.
Blimey, I thought i had it sorted and now, well, bugger! hey ho.
;D
I did the exact same thing! Was convinced I needed a Bobcat and after a discussion about what I wanted to do, was advised to get the Mega Minor - must say I couldn't be happier....and wow, is it hot! ;D
You will be please to Know the purchase has just taken place, Ladies and Gentlemen it's a Minor, Yepeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
I can't wait.
Thanks once more for all your input
:-*
right. one of these days I am going to do a proper comparative test. I own both a bobcat and a minor and I really dont agree with this
Quote from: Batty on October 17, 2011, 06:12:59 PM
a little more difficult to achieve big focals and cigar beads.
And that the Minor will allow a little bit of boro tube blowing too.
the way thats said makes the bobcat sound like it can't cope with those things...well codswallop! it can do all of those things, just as well if not better than a minor.
and yes, I have owned the bobcat for longer, and I use it most. I think theres really not that much between them, but its down to personal taste.
you will get used to whichever torch you have, and probably dislike other torches when you try them.
I've seen a mini cc owner try out and hate a cricket, I personally hated the minor until I used one more extensively, and then got my own, I invited Sue, who thought she had made up her mind to get a bobcat, try out my torches and then she decided the minor was for her and bought that instead.
you will love your minor I'm sure. just thought I'd write this for any of the other about to upgrade people out there.
oh dear, thanks for that Madeline.
well it's done now and as I couldn't get anywhere to try out torches, well, like you said, I'll get used to it no doubt.
;D
I'm back on my minor for the last couple of torch sessions.
the only problem I'm having? the knobs are the other way round to the bobcat so I keep twiddling the oxy when I want propane and vice versa!
For what it's worth you have made and excellent choice, the minor was around before many of the other torches and has proved itself to be a reliable workhorse, no doubt the other torches are just as fab with lots more melty capability because they are created for optimum performance on oxy cons.
BUT.......there are a lot of people who started years ago on a minor and are creating gorgeousness on that same torch so top choice there missus ;)
Quote from: Madam Steph on October 16, 2011, 08:20:42 PM
Ha!
My Cricket won't work silver glass but it NEVAH cracks large focals on me ;D
Linda x
Linda, what do you mean, it won't work silver glass??
Quote from: MadelineBunyan on October 18, 2011, 12:41:32 PM
right. one of these days I am going to do a proper comparative test. I own both a bobcat and a minor and I really dont agree with this
Quote from: Batty on October 17, 2011, 06:12:59 PM
a little more difficult to achieve big focals and cigar beads.
And that the Minor will allow a little bit of boro tube blowing too.
the way thats said makes the bobcat sound like it can't cope with those things...well codswallop! it can do all of those things, just as well if not better than a minor.
and yes, I have owned the bobcat for longer, and I use it most. I think theres really not that much between them, but its down to personal taste.
you will get used to whichever torch you have, and probably dislike other torches when you try them.
I've seen a mini cc owner try out and hate a cricket, I personally hated the minor until I used one more extensively, and then got my own, I invited Sue, who thought she had made up her mind to get a bobcat, try out my torches and then she decided the minor was for her and bought that instead.
you will love your minor I'm sure. just thought I'd write this for any of the other about to upgrade people out there.
Yep, I've got a Bobcat and Minors. Because I've worked with Minors for years and years I just naturally prefer them. I don't like the Bobcat nearly as much - and I find the Bobcat is much harder to control than the Minors. Plus, it cokes up a lot quicker. On the other hand the Bobcat seems to make more efficient use of the oxycon than the minors do.
At the end of the day if you want to make big focals then look to the amount of oxygen you have, because no torch in the world is going to help you if your oxycon is not working at its optimum.