mapp torches may explode

I don't think so. I think what is relevant is where he was holding the torch since that is where the force is being applied. If he was holding it by the torch and not the tank, he only have a lever arm of 6". (No jokes :laugh: )

 
Fishlessman, I have forgotten to thank you for bringing this to our attention. MAPP torches are not to be taken lightly and they ARE dangerous. All of us are better off with a good reminder of that and that we can not use to much caution. Thank You.


Blair


 

they aren't clear where that force needs tobe applied, so it's not possible givn their information to say where the force needs to be applied and how much that force needs to be.

they mention a force applied at the tip, by a person holding the bottle. but they don't say whether the 15 foot-lbs is the force required at the tip to break the neck of the bottle, or whether the force at the tip needs to generate 15 foot-pounds AT the neck of the bottle (which would be a 30 foot pound force at the tip).

either way, my point is that it is a not very large force. it's either a five pound or ten pound force from a three foot distance (arm).

tach18k wrote:

In over 30 years of plumbing and using Mapp gas, never had one problem. Propane torches have flooding propane and poured flame everywhere.

What does that mean? Is there an increased hazard with these things? I'll throw mine away if there is a risk to my house and family. I know there is a risk with most anything, but I mean an increased measurable risk.

let's let the lawyers decide that, shall we?

but in my mind, and i could very well be on a jury, hitting a pipe isn't negligent...

and if the can breaks before the designed fracture joint, then something's wrong.

Fear of holding the tank upside down over a hot burning flame is why I bought this style with the 3 foot hose.


OTOH I only used it 2 or 3 times at most as it still bothered me!

You are confusing force and torque. By definition the torque is measured at the point of rotation, while the force applied is measured at the point where the force is applied. So, 30 pounds (not foot-pounds) would have to be applied at the tip (assuming a 6-inch lever arm) to result if 15 foot-pounds of torque being applied at the neck. I'd say a 30 pound force is quite substantial if the torch is used as intended and not as a fire poker. But I suppose a dropped torch landing at the appropriate angle on the tip might be problematic. But I never drop things, cough cough.....

No, I don't think so. If you assume the tip is being held rigidly, the lever arm is from the tip to the point where the force is being applied to torch, i.e., where the hand is holding the torch.

And there's the difference. The torch could be held by the end of the bottle and not rigidly by the tip/trigger housing. That is one of the complaints on that web site, that the lock button creates that ability.

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter. But if you swing it from the shoulder for a 12" arc and strike the tip on a hard surface that impact will create more shock to the tip/bottle junction than if it were swung on a 12" arc from the wrist at the same speed.

I'm not sure I buy their argument about holding the tank. Regardless of where you hold the tank, the torque applied to the neck is always going to be the force applied to the tip multiplied by the distance from the tip to the neck. The placement of the nad on the tank would only matter if the tip were being held rigidly and the force was being applied to the tank. Obviously this is more complicated than we can comprehend as the whole system of arm and tank is a compound lever and neither end of the lever is actually being held rigid. Whatever....

didn't mean to get into a debate.

just saying, the force at the tip doesn't need to be anything outside the range of reasonable possibility for the break at the shoulder to occur. lots of force created by a three foot arm hitting the tip of the bottle.

doesn't even take that.
i have a propane bottle ten feet away from me with a bent shoulder, and nothing happened other than the thing fell off the work bench and the head hit the floor first.

find me your thirty foot pounds of torque in that equation

hard to see, but she is bent.



i actually emailed fishless earlier and asked what he thinks. coupla cheap yankees are inclined to use it. hasn't exploded yet :laugh:

wow... I don't use the torch... either bge starter cubes or oil/paper towel.

I have been thinking about going the torch route. maybe not anymore

Think I will continue to stick with the BGE electric starter. Cooking on an egg is not meant to be instant and I can wait 5-10 minutes for a good fire. Scary pics.