Cheap propane / maps torch

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I wanted a propane torch to do some water pipe work and found lots of these on ebay

**LINK**

Thought it was worth mentioning as they do work upside down – with a full can anyway but I would have thought that's the worst case. They are also stated as working with maps gas.

The only make that gets decent reviews seems to be Rothenberger. Personally for yorkshire fitting a larger diameter flame would be better but no one seems to do the old style ones.

I do have the usual propane butane mix type but it flares very easily which is a right pain at times.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 01/12/2016 16:05:11

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

John,

Although the current price seems ludicrous … the best burner I've found for Yorkshire fittings is the Sievert Cyclone.

**LINK**

http://www.ajreeves.com/8313.html

MichaelG.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Depends who you buy from, quite a bit cheaper here

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks, Jason

I'm on the bus … so just grabbed the easy link with the nice picture.

MichaelG.

.

https://goo.gl/images/i5Q7uj

 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 01/12/2016 17:29:57

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I started out with cheapie 'warehouse' (B&Q/Homebase/Wickes?) screw-on heads (got two different ones) and still use them for quickie jobs in the house – but then I saw this YouTube video about the Bullfinch 404 and persuaded Father Christmas to treat me. Not cheap but a really nice bit of kit that will last my life time.

Xynudu (recommended BTW) is using it here for bronze brazing (although SIF "bronze" is just a form of brass really):

I've used mine for SIF (brass) brazing laser cut steel parts and other small steel fabrications – and it works very well. Also just as good for silver soldering brass fabrications and parts. The propane refills work out a lot cheaper than using disposable bottles over time and (if the work is suitable) using SIF rods is also much cheaper than silver solder – especially if you wait for a dealer discount deal, which do pop up from time to time. Not a replacement for Oxy I'm afraid but much cheaper & safer for the hobbyist use I believe…

OK, looking at these photos, maybe not my prettiest work (note to self – needs more practice) but the joints are very strong and it's a useful capability for this kind of job.

Regards,

 

IanT

Edited By JasonB on 01/12/2016 18:22:49

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Posted by IanT on 01/12/2016 17:49:14:. . . . . . . maybe not my prettiest work . . . . . . .

Don't be so self critical. It's a darn sight better than some of my pigeon sh*t.

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I only have a large propane bottle so didn't fancy carrying it around to use my Sievert stuff, The "big middle sized one". It doesn't need refilling very often. I bought my torches from Cousins – all in cheapest at the time and they have always offered a good service.

It used to be possible to get a simple screw on torch for the 400 odd gm bottles. Maybe nearly a 1" dia nozzle that puts out a fairly gentle flame for it's size and didn't flare. I'm in no rush and some plumbers used them. They would cause a yorkshire fitting to melt in one go, no running a pencil flame round them which is what they seem to do these days with some risk of burning the solder due too much heat,

I went for this one due to amazon reviews on other makes. If it holds up as the name seems to suggest they are a bit of a bargain. Often it's cheaper to buy off amazon these days but the reviews are useful anyway.

The ability to run on MAP's might be useful for some other things. Seems to burn 25% hotter than propane.  I bought a bottle of that too from Toolstation – not sure what I will use it for other than quick hardening in the kitchen.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 01/12/2016 19:18:59

[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Bear in mind that what is sold as "MAP/Pro" gas these days is not true "MAPP" gas. Marketing slight of hand going on here, surprise surprise.

True MAPP gas used to be pretty good stuff but now the fake stuff it's only mildly hotter than propane. Doesn't stop them charging 20-30% extra for it of course….

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

Posted by Muzzer on 01/12/2016 19:40:34:

Bear in mind that what is sold as "MAP/Pro" gas these days is not true "MAPP" gas. Marketing slight of hand going on here, surprise surprise.

True MAPP gas used to be pretty good stuff but now the fake stuff it's only mildly hotter than propane. Doesn't stop them charging 20-30% extra for it of course….

Ahh this stuff is MAP's plus. I suspect it should be MAPP's plus but it's a mix of propane, dimethyl ether and propane. They can't use the two P's as it's a trade name. Some say that it has a much higher calorific value than propane. This particular brand states 25% hotter.

**LINK**

What they may really mean is heat content and a some what higher temperature.

John

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[MuzzerParticipant @muzzer]

Propane and propene mix with dimethyl ether is somewhat different to the original MAPP. Difficult to compare them due to the fact that there are so many different measures for energy content involving moles, kg, cubic feet, BTUs and erg slug poundals it seems. A lot of it is emperor's new clothes – and fine clothes they are too.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Consensus seems to be that 'Map pro' is not as hot as MAPP was.

Interesting that a tutorial on perspex said that if you flame polish edges, use MAPP not propane.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 01/12/2016 22:36:00

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I've thought about getting 2.5 to 51kw burner for heat treating. It needs 4 bar for max output and Cousins do a nice regulator for them which I already have.

That would speed up plumbing.

Might be worth mentioning that the regulator is a lot cheaper than the Sievert parts.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 01/12/2016 23:05:00

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

The 3.9kg calor propane cylinders are not that heavy and not too expensive, would save you buying a new torch and should have pretty good reach with a decent hose length.

Ps. Just make sure you get them from a pretty good caravanning dealer or somewhere like that, there are ones sold by other people on ebay as new but I suspect they are refuelled by people other than calor, so the quality and lifetime of the gas is probably suspect.

Michael W

 

Edited By Michael Walters on 01/12/2016 23:03:22

[AjohnwParticipant @ajohnw51620]

I already have the torch I linked to Michael. It will be of use for other things. I wouldn't have mentioned it unless I had quickly tried it out.

The one I usually use for small sliver steel parts where I can't be bothered to set the Sievert stuff up flares and I suspect that the new one will be a better option for small silver steel parts. If the map plus does what it says even better.

John

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