Cutting/welding torch
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
Cutting/welding torch
Greetings all,
I'm looking at getting a small (12" tall cylinders) cutting torch and have a few questions. I searched this forum and didn't find the answers. I have a wire feed welder that works for what I need (welds up to 3/16" material) so the torch doesn't neet to weld.
Questions:
Is MAPP the same as Acetylene (the 'A' in MAPP stands for Acetylene, right?)
Are there specific things I should look for in a torch?
Any brands I should stick with or stay away from?
I saw a kit in a TrueValue hardware store today for $60.00. It even came with the oxy. & MAPP cylinders. Seems kinda inexpensive to me but I've never priced them before.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kevin K.
I'm looking at getting a small (12" tall cylinders) cutting torch and have a few questions. I searched this forum and didn't find the answers. I have a wire feed welder that works for what I need (welds up to 3/16" material) so the torch doesn't neet to weld.
Questions:
Is MAPP the same as Acetylene (the 'A' in MAPP stands for Acetylene, right?)
Are there specific things I should look for in a torch?
Any brands I should stick with or stay away from?
I saw a kit in a TrueValue hardware store today for $60.00. It even came with the oxy. & MAPP cylinders. Seems kinda inexpensive to me but I've never priced them before.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kevin K.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: WEEDSPORT NY
Cutting/welding torch
MAPP = Methyl Acetylene Propadiene. My understanding is that it burns hotter than propane, and can be used with or without oxygen. Lowe's has a small MAPP/Oxygen kit available. I think its around $40.00us.
They also have a acetylene/oxygen welding/cutting kit for about $170.00us with larger tanks,hose,regulator,tips,etc. I don't really know to much about welding so I can't offer any other insight.
They also have a acetylene/oxygen welding/cutting kit for about $170.00us with larger tanks,hose,regulator,tips,etc. I don't really know to much about welding so I can't offer any other insight.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
Cutting/welding torch
>MAPP = Methyl Acetylene Propadiene. My understanding is
>that it burns hotter than propane, and can be used with or
>without oxygen.
Thanks for the quick reply. That would explain why the oxy/MAPP kit says it'll cut up to 5/8" thick and the oxy/acet only says 1/2".
K.
>that it burns hotter than propane, and can be used with or
>without oxygen.
Thanks for the quick reply. That would explain why the oxy/MAPP kit says it'll cut up to 5/8" thick and the oxy/acet only says 1/2".
K.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Cutting/welding torch
For cutting you will need oxygen. The oxygen actually burns the steel itself.
I don't understand how you figure the 1/2 vs 5/8...
Oxy-Acetylene burns much hotter than MAPP gas. MAPP gas burns hotter than a propane torch if they are used alone without oxygen.
Acetylene usually is not used without oxygen.
I use Oxy-Acetylene for both cutting, welding, and brazing. The thickness that you can cut depends upon the tip used and the amount of oxygen that you can deliver to the cutting area. The Acetylene is only used to bring the metal to combustion temperature.
I don't understand how you figure the 1/2 vs 5/8...
Oxy-Acetylene burns much hotter than MAPP gas. MAPP gas burns hotter than a propane torch if they are used alone without oxygen.
Acetylene usually is not used without oxygen.
I use Oxy-Acetylene for both cutting, welding, and brazing. The thickness that you can cut depends upon the tip used and the amount of oxygen that you can deliver to the cutting area. The Acetylene is only used to bring the metal to combustion temperature.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 845
Likes: 2
From: Bakersfield Ca.
Cutting/welding torch
I have an oxygen/Mapp gas set up I received as a gift form Sears. It's useful for heating up frozen bolts and nuts, small brazing jobs, and general use. The hose and torch can get into small places where a propane torch wont fit and of course it's hotter. I wouldn't use it for doing a lot of cutting. The oxygen goes fast and it's expensive. If your not going to need a torch very often this might suit your needs. My Sears brand is ok, but the oxygen shut off valve is realy sensitive. I've tried two different ones and they are the same.
For doing lot of cutting, welding/brazing or alot of heating, I would suggest getting an oxygen/acetylene set up. With the regulators and different size cutting and heating tips, you can fine tune your flame to suit your needs. You can get a small set up called a "plumers torch". There is a thread on this subject and a search will provide you with some additional information. Good luck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,404
Likes: 3
From: Cleveland, WI USA
Cutting/welding torch
>I don't understand how you figure the 1/2 vs 5/8...
I didn't figure that myself. The two kits I saw had the info in their descriptions. The oxygen/acetylene kit said 1/2" and the oxygen/MAPP kit said 5/8".
>Oxy-Acetylene burns much hotter than MAPP gas
I guess I wans't clear enough on that. I meant oxy/acet vs. oxy/mapp. I didn't know you could use just the acet. or mapp without the oxygen.
>I use Oxy-Acetylene for both cutting, welding, and brazing.
>The thickness that you can cut depends upon the tip used and
>the amount of oxygen that you can deliver to the cutting
>area. The Acetylene is only used to bring the metal to
>combustion temperature.
I see. A least now I know a little about torches. I've used a propane torch for plumbing and heating up parts, but never used a oxy/acet setup. All I knew about them is that they get REALLY hot. I just hate hacksaws and need something to cut steel.
Thanks for all the info!
BTW, how do you weld with a torch? Do you just melt the two surfaces together or do you use some kind of stick/wire?
Kevin K.
I didn't figure that myself. The two kits I saw had the info in their descriptions. The oxygen/acetylene kit said 1/2" and the oxygen/MAPP kit said 5/8".
>Oxy-Acetylene burns much hotter than MAPP gas
I guess I wans't clear enough on that. I meant oxy/acet vs. oxy/mapp. I didn't know you could use just the acet. or mapp without the oxygen.
>I use Oxy-Acetylene for both cutting, welding, and brazing.
>The thickness that you can cut depends upon the tip used and
>the amount of oxygen that you can deliver to the cutting
>area. The Acetylene is only used to bring the metal to
>combustion temperature.
I see. A least now I know a little about torches. I've used a propane torch for plumbing and heating up parts, but never used a oxy/acet setup. All I knew about them is that they get REALLY hot. I just hate hacksaws and need something to cut steel.
Thanks for all the info!
BTW, how do you weld with a torch? Do you just melt the two surfaces together or do you use some kind of stick/wire?
Kevin K.
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Cutting/welding torch
Torch welding is fairly easy, just a LOT slower than arc welding. While you can just fusion weld parts we usually use a filler rod of copper covered steel (like mig wire but thicker) purchased at a welding shop. You can weld sheet metal if you are good but the flame warps it pretty bad.
Brazing is like high temperature soldering and it is very strong. I have brazed some sheet metal with good results and minimul warping but you have to be carefull (and lucky). I believe you can braze with a MAPP torch but I don't know for sure. I have brazed with an oxy-propane unit. Cast iron is easily brazed, better than welding "attempts".
I will be brazing my replacement cab top back on. The joints are short enough that warping will not be a problem. It will also fill the seams, -just like lead:-)
Brazing is like high temperature soldering and it is very strong. I have brazed some sheet metal with good results and minimul warping but you have to be carefull (and lucky). I believe you can braze with a MAPP torch but I don't know for sure. I have brazed with an oxy-propane unit. Cast iron is easily brazed, better than welding "attempts".
I will be brazing my replacement cab top back on. The joints are short enough that warping will not be a problem. It will also fill the seams, -just like lead:-)
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown US
Cutting/welding torch
My 2 cents worth...I have a Lowes MAPP torch set and though I love it for small heating and brazing jobs it is NOT a true torch or welder...It just doesnt have enough "guts" to cut anything bigger than sheet metal and there is no oxygen "blast" to blow thru something thick. If you are doing some serious cutting and welding go with the "real" stuff.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 467
Likes: 0
From: WEEDSPORT NY
Cutting/welding torch
>My 2 cents worth...I have a Lowes MAPP torch set and though
>I love it for small heating and brazing jobs it is NOT a
>true torch or welder...It just doesnt have enough "guts" to
>cut anything bigger than sheet metal and there is no oxygen
>"blast" to blow thru something thick. If you are doing some
>serious cutting and welding go with the "real" stuff.
Thank you for this post. I've worked at Lowes for about 5 months. I've seen these "torch kits" on the shelf but never really knew how good they were. This is the first feedback I've heard on it, and will file it in my mind for future reference. Thanks again.
>I love it for small heating and brazing jobs it is NOT a
>true torch or welder...It just doesnt have enough "guts" to
>cut anything bigger than sheet metal and there is no oxygen
>"blast" to blow thru something thick. If you are doing some
>serious cutting and welding go with the "real" stuff.
Thank you for this post. I've worked at Lowes for about 5 months. I've seen these "torch kits" on the shelf but never really knew how good they were. This is the first feedback I've heard on it, and will file it in my mind for future reference. Thanks again.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
From: New York
Cutting/welding torch
I went to school for HVAC years ago they told me that MAPP gas was Methane, Acetylene, Propane and Propene. Its does burn hotter than Propane but its used with a turbo torch. We used it for Phos-copper brazing- high pressure refrigerant lines and on copper / brass joints larger than 1&1/2"
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