Mapp gas

Bill Douglas · 02-14-2009, 08:51 PM

Hi guys.

I'm thinking a mapp gas setup might be handy to have around. Mainly for small jobs like brazing copper plumbing pipes and I've heard you can braze pinholes in car bodies. Plus the occassional creme brulees I guess

Do you have any experiance with these? An ad I read for TurboTorch said their flame is hotter than the other brands - do you think this is sales talk or could the tip put out a hotter flame than another torch like Benzomatic? Any other brands to look for or are they all the same and the gas is what makes it hot?

Mr.Puff · 02-14-2009, 10:08 PM

I have a Benzomatic torch that I picked up from Home Depot. This one:

http://www.thegreathardwarestore.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=743353&click=2744

Haven't had a chance to use it... So I guess my post is pointless.

Bill Douglas · 02-14-2009, 11:27 PM

Well it sure looks good. And that's what counts!

I've got a Primus brand propane torch but it can't braze, and I thought the hotter flame of a mapp gas torch could lead to more fun fixing pin holes in car bodies and for brazing copper pipes.

onewhippedpuppy · 02-15-2009, 04:29 AM

It's much quicker to solder with MAPP gas than propane, at least copper water pipe. I wouldn't buy propane.

VINMAN · 02-15-2009, 06:11 AM

Ive had that same Bernzomatic setup for yrs. I love it. Works great. MAPP burns much hotter than propane. It will even cut through 1/6 " sheet metal.

SLO-BOB · 02-15-2009, 06:57 AM

If you're going to go as far as a Turbo-torch, skip Mapp and get Oxy-Acetylene. Much hotter and has more versatility for not a lot more money. If you just want Mapp, go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy one of their cheapy set-ups. They work fine for sweating copper up to 1 inch. Propane is worthless except for the smallest of jobs.

sammyg2 · 02-15-2009, 08:25 AM

I've got one and use it all the time. Much better than propane.

Vipergrün · 02-15-2009, 09:38 AM

I've got a Mapp torch.....use it last night on the Creme Brulee I made wifey

TWork · 02-15-2009, 05:13 PM

I have the Benzomatic MAPP setup. Had it for several years now. I got the one with the built in ignitor. Great little torch. I used it to lots of stubborn bolts and when I did torsion bars, etc. Highly recommend.

legion · 02-15-2009, 05:19 PM

Skip the oxy-acetylene, and go straight for Gas Tungsten Arc Welder. Much more versatile than oxy-acetylene.

Scratch that, just go straight for the Plasma Arc Welder.

TimT · 02-15-2009, 05:24 PM

Three of you get to go back to school...

"Bernzomatic"

Is the name brand of the torch...

Not benzomatic

TimT · 02-15-2009, 05:25 PM

Propane has worked great for sweating pipes for many years... MAPP does it a bit quicker

Bill Douglas · 02-15-2009, 06:07 PM

I've just bought a BeRnzomatic. I think I need to experiment a bit with brazing rods that have a lower melting point and fluxes. The pre-fluxed rods seemed to burn the flux off before the brazing rod melted. Then it sat in bubbles on the copper pipe

Still, it's the learning that is the fun part I guess.

And thanks for the good advice guys

trekkor · 02-15-2009, 08:57 PM

I've done more copper plumbing than I care to admit.

I've found that MAPP is only good for the big fittings. 1" and bigger. Or just turn up the knob on the propane.
On 1/2" and 3/4" I've found that you'll more easliy overheat the pipe/flux with MAPP and that causes problems ( leaks ).

Once you've got the whole run dry-fit, just use your propane torch ( on low ) and sweat it together.

Most plumbing contractors use propane in a bigger tank with a long hose to the torch.
Ask them...

MAPP is hype. Bigger, better, hotter, faster...

KT

Bill Douglas · 02-15-2009, 09:53 PM

Around here we don't use solder on copper pipes, we always braze them, and I can't get enough heat from propane to melt the brazing rods. Are you using solder or brazing rods?

trekkor · 02-15-2009, 10:18 PM

Solder.

I'm not familiar with brazing the copper fittings. Where do you live?

KT

trekkor · 02-15-2009, 10:56 PM

I think brazing and 'sweating' with solder is the same thing.

My quickie wiki research finds that most solder melts below 450°C and propane torches will heat up to 1995°C.

I apply flux to the inside of the fittings and the outside of the pipe, fit them together, heat the fitting until the flux starts to steam. At that point you just touches the edge of the fitting with the solder and it draws into the fitting and takes the place of the flux.

It should take about 15-20 seconds per fitting.

KT

look 171 · 02-15-2009, 11:31 PM

I am with Trekkor on this one. I have done enough copper pipe to last 2 life time when my plumber is stuck on another job somewhere. We all have use Turbo- Torchs and Mapp gas only. No propane. many people tends to over heat and burn the pipe and they stick the torch too close.

Bill Douglas · 02-16-2009, 12:59 AM

New Zealand. We only use solder for electrical wires in cars LOL. Maybe it's all the earthquakes we get here; our plumbing joints need to be extra strong. All the plumbers I've seen on the job have used oxt acetlene (spelling) for any copper work. Regulations here say it must be copper for one meter either side of the hot water cylinder then polybutalene is ok from that point on.

trekkor · 02-16-2009, 01:17 AM

I only know one way to get a soldered joint to separate...

Heat!

Best to you!

KT