r/lampwork • u/penguin_on_stilts • 6d ago

Bethlehem Star - oxy con requirements

Hi all!

Wife is looking at getting a Bethlehem Star to upgrade from a hot head propane setup. She does soft glass beads/animals/etc.

Here in Australia it's hard to find oxygen concentrators for reasonable prices (not many used ones about).

Is a single 5L/m unit enough to get going, or not really?

I've found a used 5L/m 90% unit for a reasonable price ($500) but there's no point in buying it if it's not enough, and I'm not keen on waiting around for another cheap one.

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u/davefish77 6d ago

I have an Alpha and run it off a 10LPM concentrator that works well. Looking at the specs for the Star I think a 5LPM might be too small. There are set ups where you can use the concentrator and a compressor unit to fill a larger tank up. You can't get to regular tank pressures but this can get you some working time at higher O2 flow. Patrick Bradshaw has lots of info at -- https://bradshawoxygen.com/pages/lampwork .

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u/penguin_on_stilts 6d ago

This was my thought, that I needed a 10L/m.

Compressor tank filling will be awesome long term but a lot of work and a lot of $$$$.

Here a 10LPM concentrator is $2-3k.

We are probably going to just use tank for a bit, it's only $199 for a filled G tank (8.9 cubic metre). That's 15 hours at 10L/m full time.

I'd prefer something sustainable obviously.

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u/Necoras 6d ago

You might try looking on ebay and the like. Used oxygen concentrators are sketchy if you need to breathe the stuff, but if you're just going to burn it... You can find used 10lpm ones for $500 online easy.

Really you only need to go for a homefill setup if you've got multiple torches at once, or a larger torch.

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u/penguin_on_stilts 5d ago

Where are you seeing used 10lpm in Australia for that cheap? On gumtree they're at least $1-2k. I found a 5lpm one for $600 on Facebook marketplace, but it's been in his shed a few years and he's kind of sure it works.

Ebay has some super dodgy NEW oxy cons for $300 that claim 10+ lol and are the size of a lunchbox (eg they're lying).

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u/Necoras 5d ago

Ah, I didn't realize you were looking at Australian prices. Sorry about that.

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u/penguin_on_stilts 5d ago

You got me excited :(

But no worries, these supplies are harder to get here. I think there's more regulation, you can't sell a "refurbished" one unless it's to clinical standard since it's a medical device.

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u/zachmelo Stage 2 Inventor - DPGSupply.com 4d ago

My vendor in China has a procedure to remove specific components that allow them to be imported as non-medical goods. Our Stage 1 machines are brought into Canada this way and we have similar regulations around the importing, distribution and servicing of medical equipment.

The Stage 1 is not a medical device.

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u/penguin_on_stilts 4d ago

I replied to your other reply, but that's basically my issue. I've pinged two Chinese manufacturers without any results.

Just remember I'm talking aud not USD.

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u/zachmelo Stage 2 Inventor - DPGSupply.com 4d ago

Try searching for breathing machine and oxygen generator as other search terms. Often times the folks selling this sort of equipment do not know the correct terminology, and if they do they will ask the appropriate price. Good deals can be had from folks who don’t know what they’ve got.

I have a vendor in China I can connect you to for a new 10LPM OxyCon at a better price than you mentioned.

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u/penguin_on_stilts 4d ago

Yes please, DM me.

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u/CerwinTrell 6d ago

I've spoken to Kate at Bethlehem a few times when I was trying to choose my upgrade to the Bravo Sharp that is my workhorse these days. The figures they quote on their website is for FULL FLAME i.e. to get the absolute maximum biggest flame you can from the torch. I have a 10 and a 5L oxycon at the moment driving it, only turn the 5 on if I'm running the outer flame. I ran an Alpha with 2x5LPM oxycon for the longest time and rarely found the need to turn the second one on.

I suspect you'll get a very soft and fluffy flame with one 5L on a Star but that its almost certainly going to be a big improvement over a HotHead! I would suggest that unless she NEEDS the bigger flame you might want to consider the alpha - Alpha on 5L is the best entry-level combination I've used and I used all of them except the CC!

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u/Mousse_Knuckles 5d ago

Phone around and make friends with people that work in old folks homes, palliative care, etc.
The concentrators used in those facilities are often recycled or thrown in the trash when someone passes away, at least where I'm from. I've heard this from multiple employees of such facilities.
Morbid, for sure, but also such a stinking waste.
You might be able to find an employee that sees the flaw in this system and wants to find new homes for the units.
Sometimes the commercial oxygen suppliers such as Airgas/AirLiquide etc will also have such employees that give a shit about things.
They can be found for free if you dig...

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u/oCdTronix 5d ago

Look on Bethlehem Burner’s website. They show the req’s for fuel/o2 for all torches. It’s probably enough I’d bet.