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Propane versus mapp

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Danny71
Danny71 Posts: 108
in EggHead Forum
  I tried a propane torch to light my egg and the sparks resembled fireworks. My egg is on a wooden deck and it startled me pretty good. Now don't think I'm a pansy lol i am a volunteer fireman for 9years and a hazmat technician for 4years. When the torch hit the parkers mountain lump it started shooting sparks everywhere. So I immediately stopped and check the deck for embers all was good. Just curious if anyone has this problem or seen this before 
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  • bgebrent
    bgebrent Posts: 19,636
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    Try paper towel squares in vegetable oil. Not spark free but less.  
    Sandy Springs & Dawsonville Ga
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  • HeavyG
    HeavyG Posts: 10,346
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    I always use a torch to light lump. Sometimes there is a lot of sparks, sometimes...not so much.

    I've never really encountered any sparks that were any more concerning than what you get on the 4th of July from sparklers. Nothing I would be too concerned about burning up a deck

    I do wear a pair of safety goggles most of the time just in case a spark heads towards an eyeball but nothing else. In the summer when in a tshirt or shirtless the occasional spark will sting you but nothing worrisome enough that I would put on a welders cape or the like.
    “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




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  • Danny71
    Danny71 Posts: 108
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    I normally use the Weber starter cubes works great. I was out of them. I just pop it out of package and cut in half and light it and right away it's roaring but Walmart there almost $4 per pack. I have the torch and have had it for years when I mechanic for a living used to shrink the heat shrink protective tubing. 
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  • The Cen-Tex Smoker
    The Cen-Tex Smoker Posts: 22,961
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    stlcharcoal said:
    MAPP no longer exists....it's been gone for nearly 8 yrs now.  It burned at 5300F.

    Now there is MapPro which comes in a yellow bottle.  It burns at 3600F.  Guess what propane is?  3500F.  You're paying 3x more for an extra 100F.  MapPro is a total scam preying on people who think they're still buying MAPP.

    The problem with small torch is that you're hitting a very small piece of charcoal with 3500F.  It only needs 671F to light off.  If you go with a weed burner and hold is back about 10-12 inches, you'll hit a 6-8" diameter circle with a much cooler flame.  If it does spark or snap, it's a lot less.

    Either way, don't do on a deck or near dry leaves.......and always wear gloves and eye protection.
    Damn, you should do this for a living :)


    well said
    Keepin' It Weird in The ATX FBTX
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  • rifrench
    rifrench Posts: 469
    edited December 2016
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    Putting the used lump on top and lighting it does away with most or all the sparks.
     1 LBGE, 1 SBGE, 1 KBQ and a 26" Blackstone near Blackstone, Virginia
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  • Biggreenpharmacist
    Biggreenpharmacist Posts: 4,341
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    HeavyG said:
    I always use a torch to light lump. Sometimes there is a lot of sparks, sometimes...not so much.

    I've never really encountered any sparks that were any more concerning than what you get on the 4th of July from sparklers. Nothing I would be too concerned about burning up a deck

    I do wear a pair of safety goggles most of the time just in case a spark heads towards an eyeball but nothing else. In the summer when in a tshirt or shirtless the occasional spark will sting you but nothing worrisome enough that I would put on a welders cape or the like.
    We really need a picture of you shirtless with goggles while lighting your egg. 


    Jean shorts would be a plus (preferably acid washed). 

    Little Rock, AR

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  • HeavyG
    HeavyG Posts: 10,346
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    Biggreenpharmacist said:
    HeavyG said:
    I always use a torch to light lump. Sometimes there is a lot of sparks, sometimes...not so much.

    I've never really encountered any sparks that were any more concerning than what you get on the 4th of July from sparklers. Nothing I would be too concerned about burning up a deck

    I do wear a pair of safety goggles most of the time just in case a spark heads towards an eyeball but nothing else. In the summer when in a tshirt or shirtless the occasional spark will sting you but nothing worrisome enough that I would put on a welders cape or the like.
    We really need a picture of you shirtless with goggles while lighting your egg. 


    Jean shorts would be a plus (preferably acid washed). 
    I'll see what I can do. :)
    “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




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  • The_Stache
    The_Stache Posts: 1,153
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    stlcharcoal said:
    MAPP no longer exists....it's been gone for nearly 8 yrs now.  It burned at 5300F.

    Now there is MapPro which comes in a yellow bottle.  It burns at 3600F.  Guess what propane is?  3500F.  You're paying 3x more for an extra 100F.  MapPro is a total scam preying on people who think they're still buying MAPP.

    The problem with small torch is that you're hitting a very small piece of charcoal with 3500F.  It only needs 671F to light off.  If you go with a weed burner and hold is back about 10-12 inches, you'll hit a 6-8" diameter circle with a much cooler flame.  If it does spark or snap, it's a lot less.

    Either way, don't do on a deck or near dry leaves.......and always wear gloves and eye protection.
    Dang... I fell for it... So can I force oxygen mix with Propane to get the same results?   My (now new to me) MapPro with Oxygen makes a GREAT shop tool for heating parts during disassembly of things like bearing casings, etc. for my old cars!

    Kirkland, TN
    2 LBGE, 1 MM


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  • stlcharcoal
    stlcharcoal Posts: 4,684
    edited December 2016
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    The_Stache said:
     
    Dang... I fell for it... So can I force oxygen mix with Propane to get the same results?   My (now new to me) MapPro with Oxygen makes a GREAT shop tool for heating parts during disassembly of things like bearing casings, etc. for my old cars!

    Not sure......they make a oxy / map-pro set up.  I'm not sure if it's better than oxy / propane.  MAP-pro is propylene.  Not sure the differences when combining with O2.  MAPP was some sort of "methylacetylene" mix with propane or propylene.
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  • The_Stache
    The_Stache Posts: 1,153
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    @stlcharcoal, Thanks for the heads up!
    Kirkland, TN
    2 LBGE, 1 MM


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  • DoubleEgger
    DoubleEgger Posts: 17,171
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    The value proposition for Mapp is that you can flip the bottle in any direction and it'll stay lit.
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  • danv23
    danv23 Posts: 953
    edited December 2016
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    stlcharcoal said:
    MAPP no longer exists....it's been gone for nearly 8 yrs now.  It burned at 5300F.

    Now there is MapPro which comes in a yellow bottle.  It burns at 3600F.  Guess what propane is?  3500F.  You're paying 3x more for an extra 100F.  MapPro is a total scam preying on people who think they're still buying MAPP.

    The problem with small torch is that you're hitting a very small piece of charcoal with 3500F.  It only needs 671F to light off.  If you go with a weed burner and hold is back about 10-12 inches, you'll hit a 6-8" diameter circle with a much cooler flame.  If it does spark or snap, it's a lot less.

    Either way, don't do on a deck or near dry leaves.......and always wear gloves and eye protection.
    And I bought the berzomatic mapp torch 3 weeks ago. Figures. Well, i guess i can get the $3 bottles of propane vs. the $10 fake mapp bottles.

    The Dude: This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-you's. And, uh, lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Duder's head. Luckily I'm adhering to a pretty strict, uh, drug regimen to keep my mind, you know, limber.

    Walter Sobchak: Nihilists! *uck me. I mean, say what you want about the tenets of National Socialism, Dude, at least it's an ethos. 

    Cumming, GA

    Eggs - XL, L, Small

    Gasser - Weber Summit 6 Burner

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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
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    Carolina Q said:
    DoubleEgger said:
    The value proposition for Mapp is that you can flip the bottle in any direction and it'll stay lit.
    It's not the bottle or the fuel, it's the torch head. It's designed differently than a standard propane torch and will stay lit upside down regardless of the fuel being burned. I originally bought a map pro "kit" (torch and two map pro bottles), but started using propane when I ran out of map pro. Works great at 1/3 the cost. I imagine you can buy the map pro torch alone and start out with propane without getting the kit. 
    This is what I did. The torch head was 30 bucks or so, if I recall. I did get MAP-Pro at the time but have been using propane since. The tanks last a long time; I am on my second tank total since getting the kit 2 years ago.
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  • HeavyG
    HeavyG Posts: 10,346
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    DoubleEgger said:
    The value proposition for Mapp is that you can flip the bottle in any direction and it'll stay lit.
    If you get one of the pricier Bernzomatic regulated heads the blue bottles will work in any position.
    “Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.” ― Philip K. Diçk




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  • nolaegghead
    nolaegghead Posts: 42,102
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    Oxygen in disposable bottles is expensive, and it's expensive to maintain a commercial refillable bottle of O2.  But if you happen to have one, all you need is a match.  throw that in the lump, hit it with oxygen only, and you will have an inferno in no time that will rival anything you can do with propane, propylene or MAPP.

    I know this because I've done it before and it's dangerous.  The heat will melt steel.
    ______________________________________________
    I love lamp..
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  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
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    nolaegghead said:
    Oxygen in disposable bottles is expensive, and it's expensive to maintain a commercial refillable bottle of O2.  But if you happen to have one, all you need is a match.  throw that in the lump, hit it with oxygen only, and you will have an inferno in no time that will rival anything you can do with propane, propylene or MAPP.

    I know this because I've done it before and it's dangerous.  The heat will melt steel.
    I melts grandma's eyebrows too when she does it in bed with a cigarette.
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  • Dyal_SC
    Dyal_SC Posts: 6,052
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    Good to know about being able to use a propane tank with the MAPP torch head. Didn't know that. I went with MAPP for the purpose of being able to invert it. 
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  • td66snrf
    td66snrf Posts: 1,822
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    To keep the sparks down bury the nozzle into the pile of lump. 
    XLBGE, LBGE, MBGE, SMALL, MINI, 2 Kubs, Fire Magic Gasser
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  • smokeyw
    smokeyw Posts: 367
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    rifrench said:
    Putting the used lump on top and lighting it does away with most or all the sparks.

    ^^^^ I always do this. It does away with 98% of the sparks.
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  • 19Sunny45
    19Sunny45 Posts: 19
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    I have found that the amount of sparking depends on the charcoal. Royol,Oak seems to spark,quite a bit. Recently I got a deal on  Char-Broil Center Cut that made it compatible in price to,Royal Oak. It sparks very little, but doesn't have the long burn time as Royal Oak. However, is starts fast for roasting or grilling.
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  • CheeseheadinAZ
    CheeseheadinAZ Posts: 315
    edited January 2017
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    I've been using a looflighter but it's now on its last leg. Been thinking about replacing with propane setup instead. Any thoughts on propane vs looflighter?
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  • rifrench
    rifrench Posts: 469
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    If you decide on the propane, here is a hint- Buy the Map Pro head by itself (I found mine at Home Depot) and just buy the blue propane bottles where you find them. I use propane because there is no electricity (yet) at my cooking spot, plus I use a propane torch for many things in my shop.
     1 LBGE, 1 SBGE, 1 KBQ and a 26" Blackstone near Blackstone, Virginia
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