Frit-Happens !

Technical Forum => Studio/workspace/setup/equipment => Oxycon/Oxygen/Propane => Topic started by: Anthony on March 25, 2014, 07:35:54 PM

Title: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 25, 2014, 07:35:54 PM
Hi,

Just set up and running my oxy from Tuffnells, excellent service as usual !

Seems to be running fine ( still waiting for my torch ) but  its very noisy ?

I'm not sure what normal is ?
It sounds like about 5 fridges running at the same time and there is no way you could watch TV in the same room for example.
Is everyone else's this noisy ?

Also probably nothing but my one is 4 LPM and I thought 5 lpm was the lowest you could use?

Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Dragonfire Glass on March 25, 2014, 08:01:55 PM
I would ring Martin tomorrow
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: helbels on March 25, 2014, 08:04:31 PM
Mine is a 4lpm one too, and it works fine.
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 25, 2014, 08:14:18 PM
Thanks both,

Can't handle this noise level, I can  hear it from the next room and there is no way I could have two of these running together.

I though my hothead and extraction was noisy !
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Blue Box Studio on March 25, 2014, 08:20:24 PM
Definitely doesn't sound right.  My 4ltr oxy from Martin, Devilbis I think, is about the same noise as my fridge.  You certainly can't hear it if you stand outside my shedio.  Have no fear, Martin will sort it for you, perhaps just needs tweaking?
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 25, 2014, 08:30:38 PM
Mmmm, I've been reading the old threads.

It seems dropping it from about 3 inches is recommended for some things but best wait for martin's advice I think.

Oh well, no problemo !

It certainly looks at home in my studio ( kitchen, lol ).
Same color as my parrot ...
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Calico Cat on March 25, 2014, 08:49:41 PM
I believe that there is a large weight inside, that stabilises the oxycon, sort of held held in place by springs.

It can move in transit and might cause quite a racket if off centre - think a spin dryer when all the clothes are over to one side.

If that is the case, then dropping it, in theory, might jolt the weight back into place.
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Nammie on March 25, 2014, 08:55:44 PM
O
Quote from: Calico Cat on March 25, 2014, 08:49:41 PM
If that is the case, then dropping it, in theory, might jolt the weight back into place.

Or do for it completely :)
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for percussive maintenance but I'd wait for Martin to wake up in the morning and give him a ring, you never know he might even spot this thread before you call him....
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Shirley on March 25, 2014, 09:16:28 PM
I bet Martin tells you to pick it up and drop it :D
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 25, 2014, 10:06:20 PM
I live in first floor flat so can drop it from 20 feet if required.

Maybe I should give it a good thump.

Only kidding, I could never harm anything that breathes ..
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 25, 2014, 11:49:55 PM
Just a thought,

Should these be stored/transported upright as mine was delivered on it's back.

I've let it settle in the warm and will try again tomorrow, maybe I'll have my new torch as well.
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Calico Cat on March 26, 2014, 06:57:13 AM
Yep, they should be transported upright.

When I had a car, mine travelled on the back seat -wearing its seatbelt of course  ;)

If yours was on it's back, it probably is the weight (might be the motor that's held on "springs") that is the problem.
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Dragonfire Glass on March 26, 2014, 07:20:10 AM
Quote from: Calico Cat on March 26, 2014, 06:57:13 AM
Yep, they should be transported upright.

When I had a car, mine travelled on the back seat -wearing its seatbelt of course  ;)

If yours was on it's back, it probably is the weight (might be the motor that's held on "springs") that is the problem.


Mine gets :D the front seat (and seat belt of course)

I agree about the weight shifting, but Martin will know for sure :)
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 26, 2014, 09:54:11 PM
Martin agreed it didn't sound right and my replacement arrives Friday  😀

I tried dropping it ( after phone call ) but no luck.
Air was coming through fine it was just the noise level, sounded like I had a  generator running in my kitchen 👎
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: tuffnell glass on March 27, 2014, 11:33:07 AM
Hi Anthony,
                Glad to inform you your replacement oxy-con has been tested and is packed awaiting collection , delivery Friday .

Best wishes ,
Martin
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Sheena on March 27, 2014, 10:06:14 PM
Hi,
Really glad you posted this..... I also got my oxycon within the last few weeks from Tuffnells.  Hubby walked in and said " I thought you said this was quieter than the hothead!"
This being my 1st one I have no clue how loud it's supposed to be. I do know when it arrived it was on its side.
Sheena
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 27, 2014, 10:18:27 PM
Hi,

Martin will sort you out.

He's da man 💃
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Shirley on March 27, 2014, 10:27:20 PM
Sounds like he needs to sort out the courier!
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 28, 2014, 08:49:23 PM
Two goodies from postman today, my exchanged oxy and my new(ish) mini cc 🙌 😎 cool !
Top marks Tuffnells !

This one's named Divina and she's a lady don't you know 👸.

I downloaded a decimetre and Divina averages about 7-8 dB while the other one was 10-11 dB.
Certainly sounds a bit quieter though.

Now to set it all up and melt some glass 😷.

Wish me luck skipper, I'm going in ...... ✈
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 28, 2014, 11:21:07 PM
I didn't have time to light it but did attach the oxy so almost there.

Bit confused about the settings though ?

If it runs one turn back from full ( as per instructions ) with torch controlling flow to 4.5 LPM the red light comes on and stays on ?
2.5 turns back and the red light stays off ( amber is always on ).

Shouldn't the oxycon itself be set at 4.5 and torch wide open ?
The oxycons a lot quieter this way and the amber light stays off.

Or am I missing something ? Maybe pressure related ?
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Shirley on March 29, 2014, 07:24:42 AM
It's a bit of a juggling act, I find, and everybody's set up is different. If your oxycon is quiet and you are getting a good working flame then go with that. Some of the reconditioned machines run with the light at amber a lot of the time, but if the oxygen coming through is doing the job then that's the main thing. If there is a problem the machine will cut out.

Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Dragonfire Glass on March 29, 2014, 08:23:42 AM
I *think* the knob that's a turn back from full is the concentration of oxygen and what you control through the torch is the rate of flow, therefore turning the knob further back reduces the percentage of oxygen and you'll get a dirtier flame.

The red, amber and green lights are indicators for when the oxycon is used as a medical unit and indicates if it's safe to breathe for patients, so you don't have to worry about that.

People set their rate of flow at where they feel comfortable, some at 3, some at 4.5 - it varies depending on how hot or cool you like working.

Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Glass by Trisha on March 29, 2014, 10:43:23 AM
Thanks for posting this Collette. I set my touch to give just under 4 and short bursts at 4.5 if I need to as for  the amber light comes on if I keep it at that for any length of time. I use to worry about the dials but I think the more you get use to it the more you just adjust the mix to whatever you need to make magic ;). Good to know I'm not gonna do any damage if it dose go amber for a while though.   

Trisha   
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Blue Box Studio on March 29, 2014, 12:40:59 PM
Mine often goes amber, if I turn it low and go off for coffee, if it's too hot outside, if there's an R in the month; apparently it's not a problem unless you expect the thing to keep you alive.  I run my 4ltr at 4.5 most of the time and it's pretty quiet.
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: tuffnell glass on March 29, 2014, 04:02:31 PM
Hi ,
      I have just caught sight of this , had a morning off shopping.
Most if not all of the points made are correct but I will go over some again to make them clear .
The red , amber and green light are purely for medical use . The amount of time it would take us to disable them would not be warranted so we have always left them on . Amber warns of oxygen purity lower than 94% but this is only important if you are breathing the oxygen which we are not, the alarm is normally disabled again by us but only because every time you switch the oxy-con on and off it would alarm and really get on your nerves so its better we do that. Purity for torch use is still o.k even around the 90% mark so worry not about the amber and green light . Some units run always on amber , some on green and some jump about between the two, I know that Anthonys oxy-con was tested on a minor burner and ran on green all the time. Now that brings me to another point . I remember pointing out on a previous thread that the Mini CC torch is incredibly oxygen hungry(in my view) and that most 5ltr oxy-cons will only run a mini CC at maybe 80-90% of its potential so this could explain the erratic behaviour jumping from green to amber as the purity is compromised while the oxy-con is trying to keep up with the Mini CC .

Remember as well that your Mini CC is not meant to have a flame that looks or sounds like the hot head you previously used , this is a real common complaint when we upgrade customers to a minor or Alpha . The call us and say the flame is very small and not powerful enough but it doesn't need to look or sound like a hot head to melt glass , you have the oxygen to help do that for you .
The Mini CC torch is slightly different in the cone positions as well so don't go off the picture on our leaflet as that was a minor  torch that showed small clean white cones , the Mini CC has a bush like area around the cone area and looks very different.

I would recommend setting the oxy-con back to full , turn back one revolution as explained on the leaflet and turn on your Mini CC and increase your oxygen until the black ball sits at 4-4.5ltr per minute. Look at your flame and see if the flame needs any propane reducing , then try melting some white or crystal clear rods and see what reaction you get on the glass, remember you have two gases to juggle with and a bit of fine tuning to play with to get the perfect torch , the Hot Head has always been a on/off torch with very little thing to get it burning .

Thanks to all of you who have chipped in with the correct advice while I was away shopping and if I can offer anymore advice please call me .

Chees ,
martin
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 29, 2014, 04:13:02 PM
Thanks guys, and Cheers Martin, that must have took some typing !

Still haven't had time to light the torch yet but will definitely play later.

T-minus 4hrs ..... for blast off.
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Blue Box Studio on March 29, 2014, 04:16:33 PM
Quote from: Anthony on March 29, 2014, 04:13:02 PM

T-minus 4hrs ..... for blast off.

(If you get blast off, your flame's probably a bit big for making beads ;) just turn down gas and oxygen on the torch)
Title: Re: new oxycon, very loud ?
Post by: Anthony on March 29, 2014, 08:31:38 PM
WOW !!!

AMAZING !!!

I can't believe how hot and quiet it is. Its so hot ! and so quiet !
And so calm.
I always seemed to be rushing on my hothead due to the noise and fierce flame, not to mention it seemed to waste a ridiculous amount of gas.

My flames about 8.5"  long with candles about 3/8" and seems to be neutral.

I didn't make any beads just melted different glass rods to experiment.
My transparent was melting quicker than opaque on my hh.
Clear actually gets runny and workable ( if I knew how, lol ).

Thanks again everyone for all the advice setting up, got there in the end 😀.