i go thru a full sized bottle of oxy in 10 hours. i have 3 owner bottle i got off craigslist for cheap. when 2 are empty i run over and fill them. i am paying less than 20 a bottle. i have looked into liquid oxy. i use 3 bottles a week right now. at this point i think i'm cool with bottles. one heady spoon sale pays for my gas for the week.
i have never heard of anyone running anything more than a small bead torch on a concentrator. it will limit you if you ever upgrade. which you will if you enjoy this at all. i'm halfway to purchasing my GGT Mirage. if you do upgrade you will end up with a dusty concentrator sitting in the corner next to your liquid tank.
I'm glad to hear how much Oxy you go through, I wasnt sure what was "normal" or not. I keep the oxygen at 20psi and the Propane at 6psi. Still learning the temperature of the flame, neutral vs oxidizing etc......
Originally, Oxygen Geneartor-wise, I was referred to the OG-20 (
http://www.ogsi.com/og_20.php) -- so I called up the manufacturer and told them I'm a pipe maker that likes big heavy pieces, and use the Nortel Red Max. He said with my torch, the generator wasnt necessary, and that to run my torch at 85% of its heat (I typed 95% earlier, it isnt, it's 85%). I cant seem to locate the MODEL of the Oxygen Concentrator, but its on the website there and its price is $950 delivered.
Alternatively,
http://www.ogsi.com/glass_artist_og_15_with_microboost_o2_compressor.php this looked pretty interesting too.
Tank refills here are $40. Kinda in the middle of nowhere so we get the welding gougers.
I have two owner owned Oxy and one owner propane. Have a 500 gallon propane tank for the house too, figure I'll tap into that eventually but the tank lasts soooooooooooo long it isnt necessary yet...........
Whats your thoughts on lugging refill tanks around, tank filling compressors, and concentrators? Any torch larger than the Red Max wont work with the concentrator either, but I cant figure why I'd ever really need to upgrade the torch?
Thanks!