I'm upgrading from a Hot Head to a real torch - I don't want anything overboard because I just want to make things like pendants, rings, goblets, pipes, mini-tubes and small oil rigs... essentially, more precision work than large amounts of heat.

After discussions with more experienced lampworkers, everyone is pushing me towards tank oxy rather than an oxycon for my needs. Before I was thinking I only needed maybe a Lynx or mega-minor but now....

maybe I'm not looking at the right torches for my purposes (you guys let me know) but it seems like a GTT Cheetah or a RedMax (with a premix top) might be about the right size torch for me - and right around my $500 price limit too.

Are these two torches considered "peers" or direct competitors as far as features? Should I be comparing others in this range?

EDIT: thanks for all the good info, it sounds more and more like a Lynx is going to meet my immediate needs better than a Cheetah will and I'll probably have more luck actually finding one to purchase.