One bottle vs two

[adileo]

Working on my two flattys, i have more than a few bolts break or freeze in place. I've been lucky in getting them out using a propane torch and a lube. I really want to get a hotter flame.

I am not a welder. So will just using one bottle of acetylene be good? How much hotter than propane? Or do I have to invest in both acetylene and oxygen?

[flatheadmurre]

You need an oxy/acetylene or oxy/propane setup to get some serious heat.
Acetylene only is not in any way better then what you have.

[adileo]

Originally Posted by flatheadmurre

You need an oxy/acetylene or oxy/propane setup to get some serious heat.
Acetylene only is not in any way better then what you have.

TY for the quick reply.

[tubman]

You could try "MAPP" gas; it's supposed to be hotter than propane. I have a small "Jewelers" welding outfit that uses propane-sized bottles of oxygen and gas. It works fine when using MAPP gas, not so well on propane.

[adileo]

Thanks I'm obviously new to this. Can you post a link or a picture?

[tubman]

Of what? A MAPP gas cylinder looks just like a regular "Bernzo-matic" propane cylinder; there are probably a bunch of them on the hardware store shelf right next to the propane. I can take some pics if you still need them.

Here's a picture of a "Jewelers Torch". (The cylinder pictured is MAPP gas; propane cylinders are blue, while MAPP gas cylinders are yellow. Oxygen cylinder are red and expensive.)

[adileo]

Perfect thanks.

[jrhaelig]

Home Depot sells the MAPP kits.

So much hotter than propane & has done everything I needed it to. Not a brazing tool - but neither am I!

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bernzomat...00KC/203368730

[rotorwrench]

If you plan on brazing or welding, oxy-acetylene will work since it will make enough heat to melt most things but it is not cheap to get set up now days. A person can spend a lot of money on the torch components and regulators.

[adileo]

I wish I had the skill/knowledge to weld.

Base on the feedback here, I think this is the right approach & reasonable price, for my purpose - heating/extracting.

You guys agree?

[corvette8n]

Harbor Freight has those small oxygen/acetylene sets and so does eBay but you need to be careful as many tanks are not dot approved and some places will not fill them.

[rotorwrench]

A person can't really go cheap with Oxy/Acetylene. Acetylene is some touchy stuff. I've used Smith, Victor, and Harris and all are usable and regulators from one brand will work fine for others. I'd be scared to use some of the off shore stuff for O/A. All it takes is a bad o-ring to get in trouble. At least those three companies generally try to keep their equipment safe even if it's manufactured off shore.

A person can silver solder with methylacetylene propadiene gas (MAPP) but that's about as hot as it gets. MAPP is more stable than straight acetylene so it won't blow up on you unless you try to make it do that. I used it for making jewelry for a while but went back to O/A using a micro torch. Adding the oxygen in the mix is why O/A works so well. The others just use the ambient air to operate.

[robert dick]

take look at you local vocational school-many have night classes to teach welding

[Ross F-1]

Supposedly (from what I've read on the Garage Journal), true MAPP gas is no longer produced. What is sold now is a substitute that is not as hot, many dissatisfied users.

From Wiki: "In the spring of 2008, true MAPP gas production ended in North America when production was discontinued at the only remaining plant in North America that still manufactured it. Current products labeled "MAPP" are, in fact, MAPP substitutes. These versions are stabilized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with high levels of propylene."