Nortel Mega Minor: a hotter, more oxygen-efficient take on the Minor
Nortel Mega Minor · Bench torch · Surface mix
The Nortel Mega Minor is a 7-port surface-mix bench burner like the Minor but with slightly larger ports for hotter temperatures and more efficient oxygen use — a forgiving, versatile small-to-medium torch for beads, soft glass, and small boro that also serves as the Red Max top fire.
Specs
- Mix type
- Surface mix
- Mount
- Bench
- Oxygen
- —
- Fuel
- Propane, Natural gas
- Skill level
- Beginner, Intermediate
- Glass
- Soft, Boro
- Best for
- Beads, Soft glass, Small boro
- Price
- Mid ($$) $$
- Jets
- 7
Overview
The Nortel Mega Minor is, essentially, a Minor turned up a notch. It uses the same 7-port stainless surface-mix layout but with slightly larger ports, which gives it hotter temperatures and more efficient oxygen use — and a flame that runs from a needle point up to about 7/8 inch. The result is a forgiving, versatile small-to-medium torch that’s good for small boro while staying great on soft glass, and that also pulls double duty as the Red Max top fire.
What the Mega Minor gives you
If you know the Minor, you know most of the Mega Minor: it’s surface mix, so fuel and oxygen meet at the face for a clean, quiet, color-friendly flame, and it learns and behaves the same way. The larger ports are the difference — they let it run hotter and lean on oxygen more efficiently, nudging it a step toward boro without losing the easy soft-glass character. For the background on surface-mix flames, see surface mix vs premix torches.
Who the Mega Minor is for
This is a beginner-to-intermediate torch for beads, soft glass, and small boro — a good pick for someone who likes the Minor’s simplicity but wants a bit more heat and efficiency. It handles beads, small sculpture, and marbles up to roughly 3 inches, and it’s a sensible name on our best beginner glass torch shortlist for makers leaning slightly toward boro. Choosing between the small Nortels and a Carlisle? See Nortel Minor vs Carlisle Mini CC.
Glass, fuel, and oxygen
The Mega Minor runs soft glass and small boro, burning propane or natural gas with bottled oxygen or a concentrator. Its more efficient oxygen use is a selling point, but Nortel doesn’t publish an exact LPM figure, so size your oxygen supply against your work; see how many LPM does my torch need.
Where it sits in the Nortel line
The Mega Minor sits just above the Minor and frequently rides on top of the Red Max as its top fire, so the flame behavior carries across the line. When you want a larger main flame, look at the Mid Range or Major; coming from a Minor, our Red Max vs Minor comparison frames the upgrade path.
Before you buy
Budget for the whole system, not just the torch: oxygen (a concentrator or tanks), the correct propane or natural-gas regulator, flashback arrestors on both lines, didymium eyewear, and ventilation. New to plumbing a torch? Start with the fittings, hoses & connectors guide and the glass torch safety setup guide.
Editor’s note: spec details reflect Nortel’s own materials for the Mega Minor (the 7-port head, flame size, and its role as the Red Max top fire). Nortel doesn’t publish the Mega Minor’s exact oxygen flow (LPM) or current pricing, so confirm those specifics with Nortel before purchasing.
Best for: Beginners and intermediates who want a Minor-style flame with a bit more heat and oxygen efficiency for beads, soft glass, and small boro.
Not for: Large boro tubes, thick solid work, or production — step up to a Major, Red Max, or Rocket for serious heat.
Pros
- + 7-port surface-mix flame with slightly larger ports for hotter temps than the Minor
- + More efficient oxygen use than the standard Minor
- + Flame from a needle point up to about 7/8in
- + Good for small boro while staying great on soft glass
- + Doubles as the Red Max top fire, so skills and parts carry over
Cons
- − Still a single small head — not built for large boro or production heat
- − Exact oxygen LPM isn't published — confirm with Nortel before sizing a supply
- − Practical rather than luxurious fit and finish
Flame notes
Surface mix, 7-port stainless burner like the Minor but with slightly larger ports for hotter temperatures and more efficient oxygen use; flame from a needle point to 7/8in. Good for boro while still great on soft glass; beads, small sculpture, marbles up to ~3in. Often paired as the Red Max top fire.
Maker
Nortel Manufacturing
Canada
Focus: Soft, Boro, Beginner
Minor/Mid Range/Major/Red Max/Rocket bench burners plus Ranger/Twin Fuel/Multimix hand torches; the core bench line is surface mix (premix tops/accessories optional); ubiquitous, affordable, easy to learn on.
Related reading
- Nortel Minor vs Carlisle Mini CC: Which Beginner Torch Wins?
- Nortel Red Max vs Minor: Which Affordable Torch to Buy?
- Best Beginner Glass Torch: Forgiving First Torches That Won't Hold You Back
- Surface Mix vs Premix Torches: Which Is Right for You?
- How to Choose a Glass Torch: The Complete Buyer's Guide
FAQ
- How is the Mega Minor different from the Minor?
- It's the same 7-port surface-mix layout as the Minor but with slightly larger ports, which gives it hotter temperatures and more efficient oxygen use. The flame runs from a needle point up to about 7/8 inch, a touch larger than the Minor's 3/4 inch.
- Is the Mega Minor good for boro?
- Nortel describes it as good for boro while still being great on soft glass — beads, small sculpture, and marbles up to about 3 inches. For large boro tubes or thick solid work, step up to a Major or Rocket.
- Can the Mega Minor be a Red Max top fire?
- Yes — Nortel often pairs the Mega Minor as the top burner on the Red Max. It works as a standalone bench torch too, so it pulls double duty.
- Is the Mega Minor surface-mix or premix?
- It's a surface-mix burner: fuel and oxygen meet at the 7-port face rather than premixing inside, for a clean, quiet, color-friendly flame.