MAPP torch vs. starter sticks

No

Even if you did get your hands on real MAPP gas, which they stopped making years ago, it all burns cleanly away instantly.

Ktim said:

What about propane,is that ok.

Better off with the map. Propane torches tend to self-extinguish when inverted and don't perform well in cold weather.

Get a mapp torch head that you can turn upside down. Typical propane torch heads will extinguish when the LP gets to the top of the bottle. I just use mapp gas. It's cheap and lasts a long time. No flavor will be imparted on the food.

The torch is either designed to work upside down or not, doesn't have anything to do with the type of gas, unless it's in a canister that can work upside down. 

My torch has a hose. 

Propane pressure drops with temperature.

Shiff said:

I use 91% alcohol and it is clean and fairly quick.  Very safe to use.

91%...I'm in. Probably not for long though.

Just don't light your propane starter on fire like I did. But I expect your not an idiot like I am either.

nolaegghead said:

 I'm saving my last tank of MAPP gas for soldering.  I've been using propane for a long time.

You have a tank of real MAPP? Cool! Or hot, as it were.

I love the torch. It really get things going fast and I don't mind paying a little extra for that.

nolaegghead said:

Even if you did get your hands on real MAPP gas, which they stopped making years ago, it all burns cleanly away instantly.

:-? I get MAPP from HVAC/R parts supply on usually a bimonthly basis. Are you saying it's not "real" MAPP? It burns just as MAPP did ie:brazing up to 7/8" ref piping w/ 15% silver solder. But, honestly I use my oxygen/ acetylene more because it is much quicker and can pinpoint braze. But, lighting egg is NP with my little MAPP torch (w/ no flavor etc).

@NPHuskerFL - it will say "MAPP" on the bottle.   Not MAP/P or anything other than MAPP.

MAPP gas is a trademarked name belonging to Linde Group, previously to Dow, for a fuel gas based on a stabilized mixture of methylacetylene (propyne) and propadiene. The name comes from the original chemical composition: methylacetylene-propadiene propane. MAPP gas is also widely used as a generic name for UN 1060 stabilised methylacetylene-propadiene (unstabilised methylacetylene-propadiene is known as MAPD). MAPP gas is widely regarded as a safer and easier-to-use substitute for acetylene. In the spring of 2008, true MAPP gas production ended in North America when production was discontinued at the only remaining plant making it. Current products labeled "MAPP" are in fact MAPP substitutes. These versions are stabilized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with high levels of propylene.

+3 agree with ya @nolaegghead‌ :-). The "next generation" MAP is still pretty damn close to the original MAPP as far as brazing is concerned. My bad...I just realized this tank is next gen MAP. Well, lol oops. My regular supply house ran out of regular MAPP sometime in late 2010 after they ran out of stock (just left there and asked a guy I've been doing business with for close to 20+ yrs). I do have 2 "real" MAPP cylinders (dusty an old) at my shop and the cylinder before this was MAPP not next gen MAP. But, this next gen MAP is ok (like I said it will braze just fine).

nolaegghead said:

The old stuff supposedly was better, but it's splitting hairs.  Most plumbers and HVAC guys use oxygen-acetylene when they really need the heat (silver soldering).  MAPP took forever on big pipes.  I put in my HVAC system and ran a nitrogen purge through the pipe and used oxygen-acetylene - that's part of the reason I did it myself....most contractors take shortcuts and you don't get the best work.

Lump starts burning around 450-500F, so max heat isn't an issue.  Propane works fine.  So does hot air.  A faster way to start is just use a bigger torch, like Mickey does.

Ouch "MOST" contractors is a painting with a very broad brush. Fortunately I don't take offense as I am not one of these short cut guys. I and the company I work for get extra work from going behind these types to repair their shortcomings. And yes I primarily use O2/acetalene for ref pipework (much faster because gets up around 1,200℉-1,500℉ and yes one should use 7psig NO2 while brazing to ensure the dehydrated ref copper has minimal oxidation. I have used MAPP for up to 7/8" hardrawn copper w/ 15% silver solder and have done the same w/ the next generation MAP w/ excellent results.

NPHuskerFL said:

The old stuff supposedly was better, but it's splitting hairs.  Most plumbers and HVAC guys use oxygen-acetylene when they really need the heat (silver soldering).  MAPP took forever on big pipes.  I put in my HVAC system and ran a nitrogen purge through the pipe and used oxygen-acetylene - that's part of the reason I did it myself....most contractors take shortcuts and you don't get the best work.

Lump starts burning around 450-500F, so max heat isn't an issue.  Propane works fine.  So does hot air.  A faster way to start is just use a bigger torch, like Mickey does.

Ouch "MOST" contractors is a painting with a very broad brush. Fortunately I don't take offense as I am not one of these short cut guys. I and the company I work for get extra work from going behind these types to repair their shortcomings. And yes I primarily use O2/acetalene for ref pipework (much faster because gets up around 1,200℉-1,500℉ and yes one should use 7psig NO2 while brazing to ensure the dehydrated ref copper has minimal oxidation. I have used MAPP for up to 7/8" hardrawn copper w/ 15% silver solder and have done the same w/ the next generation MAP w/ excellent results.

"Most" may be an inaccurate statement, and I don't mean to insult any contractors out there, but in my limited experience in the New Orleans area, and through the 400 or so tons of AC I've seen installed at our labs, I've never seen anyone purge with nitrogen.  What I do see them do is put extra high and low pressure filters in to catch all the carbon residue and oxidation resulting inside the pipes by not purging.  Had I known that was the right way to do it at the time, I would have called them out on it. 

Anyway, since I started working for the corporate office, I'm not acting general contractor anymore on lab build-outs.  Our parish (where I work) is like Mexico as far as building inspections go.  The only inspections we get after a build out is for the sprinkler system.