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Category: Business
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How Unlimited Oxygen Transformed the Way I Learned to Blow Glass
My journey as a lampworker—and eventually the creation of Dylan Chris Glass—began in an unconventional way. I never once cracked open a tank of oxygen. From the very start, I built a DIY oxygen compression and control system based on an early Stage 2 prototype. That decision changed everything about how I learned, created, and grew as an artist..
Breaking Free from the Oxygen Tank
For many glassblowers, oxygen is one of the steepest recurring costs of the craft. A single K tank might only last a day at the torch, and refills can run over $70 each. Imagine trying to hone your skills or experiment creatively while watching those costs stack up day after day. It’s stressful, and it forces artists to ration their torch time.
I never had to face that pressure. I didn’t need to count hours, worry about deliveries, or compromise my learning. Instead of carefully budgeting my time, I could fully invest it into my craft.
Unlimited Time at the Torch
Because my oxygen supply was functionally endless, I spent days on end practicing with cheap clear glass, building muscle memory, and experimenting without hesitation.
“Every mistake became a lesson instead of an expensive setback. Every spark of inspiration could be followed instantly.” – Dylan Chris Glass
That freedom to explore gave me the confidence needed to accelerate my growth as an artist.
Creativity Without Limits
When you don’t have to weigh the cost of every flame, you take more risks. I pushed myself to try new techniques, test ambitious designs, and refine my skills relentlessly. That freedom nurtured my creativity and allowed me to develop a style that wasn’t held back by the fear of burning through expensive tanks.
The Business Advantage
This didn’t just impact my artistry—it shaped my business. For over three years I worked full-time at the torch, supported by generated oxygen alone. Without constant oxygen bills cutting into my margins, I could price my work competitively without undervaluing my time or effort. The consistency of having oxygen on demand made my workflow predictable, efficient, and profitable.
Dylan Chris Glass Section of Booth at the wholesale By-Hand Gift Show in Missisauga, ON. Always Ready for Inspiration
The best part? Inspiration doesn’t follow a schedule. Whether it’s early morning or late at night, with a Stage 2 system, oxygen is always ready. There’s no waiting on deliveries, no stress about running low—just freedom to create whenever the spark strikes.
In Conlusion
“By starting with generated oxygen instead of tanks, I gave myself the chance to focus entirely on the craft. And that freedom changed everything.” – Dylan Chris Glass
If you want to spend less time stressing about oxygen and more time building your skills and pushing your creativity, the Stage 2 System is the perfect addition to your studio!
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Scaling Challenges and Sustainable Solutions in Stage 2 ETL Certification
As we continue refining our machines and processes, the recent ETL inspection of our Stage 2 unit reminded us of two important truths: scaling up comes with greater complexity, and every challenge is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to sustainability.
Scaling Up Means Scaling the Risks
When production moves from single units to batch manufacturing, the stakes rise accordingly. A minor adjustment at a small scale can become a significant disruption when applied across multiple machines.
During our inspection, it became necessary to relocate two grounds within the Stage 2 machine. While the task itself was straightforward, the implications were not. To accommodate the changes, every power cord needed to be shortened and re-terminated. Across five machines, that meant 45 individual wires with crimped connectors had to be reworked. What could have been a simple adjustment in a prototype environment became a complex, time-consuming process at production scale.
This experience highlights a reality that any manufacturing team faces: scaling magnifies both the risks and the remedies. What matters is how you handle those challenges.
Commitment to Low-Waste Solutions
For us, the answer lies in smart design and sustainable thinking. Although the rework created 45 shortened wires with connectors already attached, none of that material will go to waste. That’s not by chance—it’s by design.
From the start, we’ve standardized our machines to use common connector types throughout. This means that the wires and connectors we removed can be reused seamlessly in other areas of future units. Instead of becoming scrap, every piece will find a new purpose.
Different Types of Quick-Connect Spade Receptacles Used in a Stage 2 By taking this approach, we not only reduce waste but also reaffirm our broader commitment to an eco-friendly, low-waste manufacturing process. The lesson here is simple: thoughtful design doesn’t just improve performance—it ensures sustainability is built into every step.
Looking Ahead
This ETL inspection tested our ability to adapt under pressure, but it also reinforced the values that guide our work. Scaling production will always introduce challenges, but by combining technical rigor with sustainable design, we’re proving that setbacks can be turned into opportunities for innovation and responsibility.
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How Much Oxygen Does a Borosilicate Pipe Artist Use in a Day?
For glass artists working with borosilicate, especially those creating functional art like pipes, managing fuel and oxygen usage is critical—not just for cost efficiency, but also for studio safety and planning. One of the most common questions among lampworkers is: How much oxygen do I actually use in a typical day at the torch?
In this article, we break down daily oxygen consumption based on real-world torch settings and work habits of borosilicate artists.
Understanding the Tools: Torches and Flow Rates
Most borosilicate artists use surface-mix torches like the GTT Phantom, Carlisle CC, or Nortel Red Max. These torches vary in oxygen demand, but they generally operate in the following range:
- Small flame (detail work): 5–10 liters per minute (LPM)
- Medium flame (marbles, medium tubing): 15–25 LPM
- Large flame (heavy prep, large tubing or tubing seals): 30–50+ LPM
Let’s take an average working flame of 25 LPM as a baseline. This is typical for medium-sized work, such as pipe-making, with some variation during the day for fine detail or heavy seals.
Daily Burn Time: Realistic Torch Usage
Although a glassblower might be in the studio for 6–10 hours a day, the torch isn’t necessarily running continuously. Allowing for prep, annealing, cleaning, and breaks, let’s assume 5 hours of active flame time in an 8-hour workday. This is a conservative and realistic estimate.
Daily Oxygen Consumption Estimate
Here’s how the math works out:
- Flow rate: 25 LPM
- Time: 5 hours = 300 minutes
- Total Oxygen Used:
25 LPM × 300 minutes = 7,500 liters of oxygen per day
That’s 7.5 cubic meters, or approximately:
- 265 cubic feet (cf) if you’re measuring in standard US units
Various sizes of high pressure gas cylinders commonly available for rent For reference, a common K-size oxygen cylinder holds about 244 cubic feet, meaning one tank may not last a full day of work at this usage level. That’s why many artists switch to oxygen generation systems for cost and convenience.
Real-World Tips from Experienced Glassblowers
- Use a flowmeter to measure your actual usage if you want precise data for your studio setup.
- Optimize torch efficiency by avoiding unnecessary large flames and keeping your torch clean.
- If you’re on bottled oxygen, plan for multiple cylinders per week or invest in an oxygen concentrator or LOX dewar.
- Batch your work—do prep work like tube cutting and shaping with lower flames or during times when oxygen usage can be minimized.
- Invest in a generated oxygen system—whether its or Stage 2 system or not, a controlled concentrated oxygen system is a no brainer for most if not all borosilicate lampworkers. Once you try one, you’ll never go back!
Summary
Factor Typical Value Torch Flame Rate ~25 LPM Burn Time per Day ~5 hours (300 minutes) Daily O₂ Consumption ~7,500 L (265 cf) Equivalent to ~1 full K-cylinder per day Whether you’re a seasoned lampworker or just setting up your studio, understanding your oxygen needs is crucial for both safety and efficiency. Keeping tabs on your torch usage and optimizing your setup can help keep your studio running smoothly—and your art flowing freely.
Ready to Step-Up Your Oxygen?
The Stage 2 is the perfect solution to save borosilicate glass artists huge on their oxygen bills. By cutting costly deliveries and refills you can also focus more on what matters.
Learn more about our Oxygen Systems here.Curious how long your torch can run on concentrated oxygen?
Check out our Oxygen Runtime Calculator to know how long your torch could run on a Stage 2 paired with as few as one Stage 1 and a Storage Tank.
- Small flame (detail work): 5–10 liters per minute (LPM)
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How Much Oxygen Does a Soft Glass Bead Artist Use in a Day?
If you’re a lampworker using soft glass to create beautiful beads, pendants, or ornaments, chances are you’ve wondered: How much oxygen am I actually burning through each day?
Whether you’re using bottled oxygen, a concentrator, or a liquid oxygen setup, knowing your consumption helps with budgeting, studio planning, and maximizing your time at the torch.
Let’s break it down.
The Basics: Torches and Flow Rates for Beadmaking
Soft-glass artists typically use mid-range torches like the Nortel Minor, Bethlehem Bravo, GTT Lynx, or National 8M. These torches require much less oxygen than the heavy hitters used for borosilicate work.
Here’s a breakdown of typical flow rates:
- Small flame (fine detail, stringer work): 2–4 liters per minute (LPM)
- Medium flame (normal beadmaking): 5–7 LPM
- Larger flame (larger beads or small sculpture): 8–12 LPM
A common working flame is around 6 LPM for beadmaking.
Example of medium to large soft glass lampwork, various beautiful colorful animal shapes.
Burn Time: Real-World Studio Usage
Most bead artists spend 2 to 5 hours at the torch in a session. Let’s assume 4 hours of active flame time during a day. You might spend time prepping rods, cleaning mandrels, or working at the kiln—but your oxygen is only used when the flame is lit.
Oxygen Use in a Typical Day
Let’s do the math using an average usage rate:
- Flow rate: 6 LPM
- Torch time: 4 hours = 240 minutes
- Total oxygen used:
6 LPM × 240 minutes = 1,440 liters of oxygen per day
That equals 1.44 cubic meters, or about:
- 50.9 cubic feet (cf) in standard U.S. units
For comparison, a K-size oxygen cylinder holds about 244 cf, so one tank could theoretically last 4–5 days of beadmaking under typical conditions.
Studio Tips for Oxygen Efficiency
- Use a low, efficient flame for most beadmaking tasks. Soft glass melts at lower temperatures, so you rarely need large flames.
- An oxygen concentrator (oxycon) is often ideal for bead artists. A unit producing ~10 LPM can keep up with most single-torch setups.
- Check your flame balance—running a neutral or slightly reducing flame uses less oxygen than a roaring oxidizing flame.
- Turn the torch off during breaks instead of leaving it idling.
Summary
Factor Typical Value Torch Flame Rate ~6 LPM Burn Time per Day ~4 hours (240 minutes) Daily O₂ Consumption ~1,440 L (50.9 cf) Tank Usage Estimate 1 K-tank = ~4–5 workdays Soft-glass beadmaking is a relatively low-demand discipline when it comes to oxygen, but understanding your usage can help you optimize costs and ensure you’re never caught without enough fuel to finish a project.
Whether you’re just getting started or running a full-fledged lampworking business, knowing your oxygen footprint is a key step toward a smoother and more efficient studio experience.
Ready to step-up your oxygen?
Check out our Oxygen Runtime Calculator to know how long your torch could run on a Stage 2 paired with as few as one Stage 1 and a Storage Tank.
- Small flame (fine detail, stringer work): 2–4 liters per minute (LPM)
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How Much Oxygen Do You Use as a Glass Artist?
Whether you’re melting soft glass into delicate beads or crafting heavy borosilicate pipes, knowing your daily oxygen consumption is critical. It affects your bottom line, informs studio setup decisions, and helps you avoid mid-project surprises. This guide breaks down typical oxygen usage for both soft glass and borosilicate artists, so you can plan with confidence. If you’re ready to crunch numbers, check out the interactive tool below:
Torch Types and Typical Oxygen Flow Rates
Your oxygen usage depends largely on the type of glass you’re working with and the torch you use.
Soft Glass Beadmaking (Low Oxygen Demand)
Used for: beads, pendants, small ornaments
Common torches: Nortel Minor, Bethlehem Bravo, GTT Lynx, National 8MFlame Size Flow Rate (LPM) Fine detail / stringer 2–4 LPM Standard beadmaking 5–7 LPM (avg: 6) Larger beads/small sculpts 8–12 LPM Borosilicate Work (High Oxygen Demand)
Used for: pipes, marbles, large tubes
Common torches: GTT Phantom, Carlisle CC, Nortel Red MaxFlame Size Flow Rate (LPM) Detail work 5–10 LPM Medium tubing/marbles 15–25 LPM (avg: 25) Large tubing/seals 30–50+ LPM Daily Burn Time: Realistic Studio Usage
Even in a long studio day, your torch won’t run nonstop. Artists often break up their time with prep work, annealing, cleaning, and rest.
Artist Type Avg Torch Time per Day Soft Glass Beadmaker ~4 hours (240 minutes) Borosilicate Artist ~5 hours (300 minutes) Oxygen Usage Estimates
Soft Glass Example
- Flow rate: 6 LPM
- Torch time: 4 hours
- Daily oxygen use:
6 LPM × 240 min = 1,440 liters = ~50.9 cubic feet
A standard K-size cylinder (244 cf) lasts ~4–5 days at this rate.
Borosilicate Example
- Flow rate: 25 LPM
- Torch time: 5 hours
- Daily oxygen use:
25 LPM × 300 min = 7,500 liters = ~265 cubic feet
A single K-cylinder may not cover a full day. Many boro artists use oxygen concentrators or LOX dewars for this reason.
Tips to Optimize Oxygen Efficiency
- Use the right flame for the job – Don’t over-flame. Most tasks can be done with a smaller, more efficient flame.
- Run a neutral or slightly reducing flame – Oxidizing flames burn more oxygen.
- Turn off your torch during breaks – Idle flames = wasted fuel.
- Use a flowmeter – Track actual usage and spot inefficiencies.
- Batch your work – Group prep tasks to minimize high-flame time.
- Invest in an oxygen generator – Especially useful for high-consumption setups.
Summary Table
Factor Soft Glass Beadmaking Borosilicate Pipework Typical Flame Rate ~6 LPM ~25 LPM Torch Time per Day ~4 hours ~5 hours Daily O₂ Consumption ~1,440 L / 50.9 cf ~7,500 L / 265 cf Tank Use Estimate 1 K-tank = ~4–5 days 1 K-tank = <1 day Understanding your oxygen usage isn’t just about numbers—it’s about creating a safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective studio. Whether you’re just starting out or refining a pro setup, estimating your oxygen footprint is the first step toward better planning.