MAP-Pro Flareup

[tomherrick]

Was doing some soldering and my old bottle of MAP-Pro gas ran out. Got a new bottle, threaded on the nozzle and lit it. After about 10-15 seconds there was an orange ball of fire surrounding my hand; no pressure, apparently just leaking fuel on fire. It appeared to be coming from the bottle-nozzle connection. I turned off the nozzle, took it outside the shop, and it went out. I assumed I didn't have the nozzle tightened sufficiently, so I took it off, looked for dirt or debris, found none, put it back on, lit it, and got the same flareup.

I'm not terribly experienced with using gas or the nozzles. The nozzle was one my wife bought to use MAPP gas for glass bead making and could handle the more intense heat. I didn't know that MAPP gas had been discontinued. The propane torch I started with just didn't put out the heat required to solder the heavy copper fittings. The bigger torch nozzle worked fine - with the old bottle.

Since the nozzle worked with the old bottle it seems likely that I got a defective Map-Pro bottle. On the flip side, I kinda doubt that Worthington Industries puts these out without some QC. Ideas??? Suggestions???

 

[FuzzyTiger]

MAPP gas was discontinued and it burned quite a bit hotter than propane. MAP-Pro is still available and is essentially just propane that burns a tiny bit hotter (not much).

I -think- the heads aren't compatible between the two. I'm not 100% sure though.

Edit: To be fair to MAP-Pro - the heat of the flame is pretty similar to regular propane but I think the torches burn more fuel so they put more heat into a piece faster. Bigger flame but similar temperature from what I understand.

 

[Bogie1632]

Which model torch head do you have?

Reattach it and spray the whole thing down with soapy water while the gas valve is off. No bubbles then turn the valve on and spray it again. If you have a leak you should see where easily enough. Try again with the bottle you say isn't leaking. Maybe it's a cylinder issue, but I'd guess you have a seal (oring) internally going bad. The manuals state you should remove the tank after use but like many others I never have.

Also, save yourself a couple bucks and just use propane. MAP-Pro is right about the same heat temp. -Pro is nothing like the MAPP of old (production ended like 2008 IIRC). Ideally it may get ~130° hotter, but that is dependent on the exact comp/purity of the gas, torch head used, ect. Some.g good reading on line if interested.

V/R
Bogie

 

[Bogie1632]

MAPP gas was discontinued and it burned quite a bit hotter than propane. MAP-Pro is still available and is essentially just propane that burns a tiny bit hotter (not much).

I -think- the heads aren't compatible between the two. I'm not 100% sure though.

Depends on the head. My Bernz TS8000 runs both as designed. Others won't.

V/R
Bogie

 

[tomherrick]

Just off the phone with Worthington Industries, the maker of the gas cylinder, and sent him pics of my torch nozzle. I may be using the wrong type, but it did work with the end of another Map-Pro bottle the day before. I will do the soapy water thing after lunch. Probably won't be lighting it up anytime soon...

 

[rlitman]

You have a leak somewhere. Last time I've had this happen, it was at the torch valve stem. But it could also be on the cylinder seat. Either way, it's almost always a problem with the torch, unless the cylinder is really rusty.

 

[tomherrick]

The guy from Worthington Industries said that the gasket on the torch appeared to be shot. Bought a new Bernzomatic T8000 that seems to be doing the job - without all the added excitement.

Thanks all for your suggestions.