At the store right now... Need help... MAP vs Propane

1move

hey guys, at the store looking at a new torch for the BGE. What's better MAP gas or propane gas for the torch??? I just don't want to add any chemicals into the BBQ.

Spaightlabs

either is fine.  MAP burns hotter.  Propane will work just dandy.

McStew

MAP

Tinyfish

From what I've read map is better.

Hotch

Propane works great and cheaper.
Been using it for years.

DoubleEgger

Buy a MAP torch and you can switch to propane if you want. I use MAP and the bottles last a long time. 8-9 months for me using it 5-6 times/week. 

jtcBoynton

For lighting lump, propane works fine.

Carolina Q

Mapp torch head with propane cylinder. You need the torch bec you need to use it upside down and the mapp head is better designed for that. You don't need mapp gas though. Propane is fine.

stlcharcoal

MAPP is 5300F, but they haven't made it since 2008.

You're seeing MAP-Pro, which is only about 5% hotter than propane.  Don't waste your money......the extra 150F isn't worth it.

Jeepster47

@stlcharcoal ... oh damn ... didn't know that ... and here I've been using up my old bottles of the good stuff.  Seriously, thanks for the enlightenment. 

Terrebandit

Mapp.  It will burn when torch is held upside down. 

HeavyG

Jeepster47 said:

@stlcharcoal ... oh damn ... didn't know that ... and here I've been using up my old bottles of the good stuff.  Seriously, thanks for the enlightenment. 

Read an article about that a few years ago. Apparently MAPP (the real deal) was only made by one company in Canada. The company had that facility up for sale for a long time but nobody was interested in buying it so they just shut it down. 

HeavyG

Terrebandit said:

Mapp.  It will burn when torch is held upside down. 

That's why I still pay the extra $$ for the yellow cans. The blue cans sputter too much when held upside down which is how I always hold mine.

Cm23

Got the yellow, no issues

nolaegghead

I have no problem with propane.  I used to have a case of real MAPP gas, still a little left.   I wouldn't waste that starting lump, works better than propane for sweating copper plumbing.  Just buy propane for starting your lump.

4Runner

I go through maybe 1 and 1/2 canisters a year....don't waste your time analyzing and pick one and get to cooking.  

stlcharcoal

I used light my lump with MAPP......got sacred of the stuff really quick and it went into storage.  You only need 670F to light charcoal.  5300F on a little piece caused some incredible popping, sparking etc.  So if you held it back and covered a larger area then it was less of a fireworks show.  Since volume for a larger coverage area was more important than heat, the weed burner made a lot more sense to me.  Hold that back about a foot from the lump and let her rip.  You'll heat a one square foot area in about 20-30 seconds without all the danger.

Being ex-EMS, I'm paranoid and keep my distance from anything remotely dangerous......fire being one of them.  You can flash yourself with a propane torch and be ok.  Make a mistake with a (real) MAPP torch and head to the ER because you're in for a painful recovery.  MAPP is freakin dangerous and should only be used when you really need it (sweating pipes you can't get all the water out.)  No need for it will charcoal.

 

DaveRichardson

Carolina Q said:

Mapp torch head with propane cylinder. You need the torch bec you need to use it upside down and the mapp head is better designed for that. You don't need mapp gas though. Propane is fine.

SPOT ON!!!!  I've gotten an extension hose for my propane tank so the tank stays upright, but the hot end can go all kinds of wonky directions!

The Cen-Tex Smoker

just get the nozzle with the hose attchment so you don't have to turn it upside down. There is no discernable difference for our uses between map pro and propane. It's 5x more expensive and it won't do anything that propane won't 

1move

Thanks everyone for your input. I ended up going with MAP as the first few posts suggested, I figured I already have propane bottles at home I can use and will try this for the time being. I found this little tidbit on google for those interested.

"The effective BTU output is a measurement of the quantity of BTUs that actually go into the work piece when heated," said Paul Minter, VP / General Manager, TurboTorch. "Our lab tests have revealed that MAP//PRO has approximately a 10% greater BTU output over Propane and a 14% less effective BTU output than MAPP." 

Carolina Q

You're fine. Just use propane when you run out of map pro. $3 vs $10 and plenty hot enough.

According to the guy I talked to at Bernzomatic, it's okay to use propane with a Map-Pro torch head, but you should not use Map-Pro gas with a propane torch head. True or false, I don't know, but that's what he told me.

stlcharcoal

1move said:

Thanks everyone for your input. I ended up going with MAP as the first few posts suggested, I figured I already have propane bottles at home I can use and will try this for the time being. I found this little tidbit on google for those interested.

"The effective BTU output is a measurement of the quantity of BTUs that actually go into the work piece when heated," said Paul Minter, VP / General Manager, TurboTorch. "Our lab tests have revealed that MAP//PRO has approximately a 10% greater BTU output over Propane and a 14% less effective BTU output than MAPP." 

I don't know if I buy that.......I'm an aerodyanamics guy, not a thermodynamics, but MAPP is 5300F, MAP-pro (propylene) is 3600F, and Propane is 3500F.

You sure they were not talking about combining MAP-pro with Oxygen??  That would raise the temp quite a bit.  But you can get an extra 1000F out of propane with an O2 tank.

SmokeyPitt

I have the MAP head but I tried it with the cheap green bottles of propane.  I can not tell a difference.  I am buying the cheap bottles now.  

Roadpuke0

Map all the way

kcw

I use propane it's so much cheaper than MAPP with the same results. Much better than running an electric cord with other options.

4Runner

Guys. We are talking about a price difference of $7 to $14 annually.  Go analyze your cell phone/cable/internet provider bill to save some real money.  Just pick one and go for it.  

DMW

SmokeyPitt said:

I have the MAP head but I tried it with the cheap green bottles of propane.  I can not tell a difference.  I am buying the cheap bottles now.  

And with the green bottles being shorter and wider, they are more stable when you set them down, less of a chance of falling over.

dihtn

Does using a propane torch cut down on the time it takes the lump to burn off the voc's vs using the electric starter or the cubes?

DMW

dihtn said:

Does using a propane torch cut down on the time it takes the lump to burn off the voc's vs using the electric starter or the cubes?

Not better than electric starter for that, but the cubes can put off nasty white smoke if they get snuffed out before completely burned up.

stlcharcoal

Best part about the torch is that you truly can light the top surface only.  If you're going low & slow, this could save you a lot of trouble since the lump will burn from the top down.  Otherwise if you start at the bottom the heat/fire spreads upward.  Also, leave your grate in and you can burn off anything left over from last time as you light it.  Best way to light fire, is with fire.

The Cen-Tex Smoker

I use the torch to light my oil soaked paper towels. i put 3-4 of those in various spots around the lump bed and they are lit in 5 seconds. That is the best way I've found so far to get it going fast and cheap.