DIYbanter - View Single Post - Is map gas compat with propane for sweating?

Don Klipstein

In article .com,
wrote:

Someone mentioned ruining a joint due to too much heat. What exactly
happens? Does the copper just turn black and not adhere to the solder?

MAPP burns leaner than propane in a given torch due to lower given
volume of air needed to burn a given volume of gas fuel. MAPP can cause
bad oxidation, especially if used with a torch not rated/intended for use
with MAPP.

Also, it is possible to overheat a torch with MAPP if the torch is not
rated for use with MAPP.

Just to make things a bit more confusing, there is even an "intermediate
fuel" (my words), less common, sold with a few torches and known as
propylene. It burns leaner and typically hotter in a given torch than
propane, but richer and typically less hot than MAPP in a given torch than
MAPP. A few torches are rated for both propane and propylene but not
MAPP. Torches rated for both propane and MAPP should handle propylene
just fine, just don't go kablooey when using propylene with a torch rated
for MAPP and propane but not certified for propylene if a big legal budget
is stacked against you.
Keep in mind that in the USA the usual retail-available torches tend to
be subject to UL approval, and such approval is conditional upon use with
specific fuels that the torches are approved for use with.

- Don Klipstein )