[TheForge] MAPP gas vs. acetylene

[Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer]

Here's the thermal gas torch hierarchy for function with economy as i see it.
Jerry has about nailed it as usual..but...
Compressed air/ natural gas torches are fine for all sorts of soldering and some brazing...Cheapest to run.
I've been torch welding a long time, and have become quite opinionated.
If you are going to do much more than hard solder..You are going to want a torch with adjustable oxygen plus fuel. Propane is more easily available, has more equipment options is and probably cheaper than mapp gas.

For bulk heating, heavy steel cutting, and less precise  brazing; Oxy propane is quite good and pretty economical. It uses more oxy, but propane is pretty cheap and ubiquitous. To use oxy propane most efficiently a specialized torch seems to help. Special propane hoses are necessary and more modern regulator materials often are gas specific. 

For gas  welding Oxy acet wins hands down. The heat is more focused, hotter and thus heats faster. For small, precise steel cutting and brazing, oxy acet is similarly superior. It's also more expensive to run but more versatile.

In any case, buy a current major brand torch, ( used can be fine) with adult sized components, that you will be able to get parts for later.
There is a learning curve, but if you get good, you can  do amazing stuff.

On Sep 21, 2014, at 6:42 PM, Bruce . wrote:

I've just started thinking (again) how convenient it would be to have a
hotter torch.  Currently I have a Bernzomatic-type propane torch which I
can use with MAPP gas.  I also have some sort of swirling/mixing ambient
air-propane torch which puts out a lot more heat than a standared propane
torch; a good torch, but not a really well-designed one.

I've thought of getting an acetylene rosebud torch, but also was thinking
of getting a propane-oxygen torch.  I just inquired about the latter at a
local gas supply retailer and was told the same equipment can be used for
propane as for acetylene, except that an adapter was needed for the propane
cylinder. (I knew that.)

Just as I'm mulling this over in my usual slow fashion, I stumbled upon an
article from 1992 in "The Powerhammer" by "H&K Publishing".  There's no
by-line on the article itself, but the publisher was Richard R. Kern, who
apparently also wrote a book on the Little Giant Power Hammer.

Anyway, the author of this 3-part article makes a strong case for MAPP gas
in lieu of acetylene.  He asserts that MAPP gas is (in my words), better,
cheaper, and safer than acetylene. This may be a considerable
oversimplification of his assertions, which I haven't fully digested yet,
but if his assertions are correct, it makes me wonder why anyone still uses
acetylene.

I'd be interested in other opinions on the subject.

Bruce
NJ
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