acetylene vs MAPP??? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tp85 · 01-08-2003, 05:13 PM

I have a small portable oxy-acetylene setup, but sometimes this setup is too small cut large amounts of material or heat/bend solid bar stock.

I called my gas supplier to find out about getting bigger tanks, and he was encouraging me to consider MAPP as an alternative. He said the only advantage acetylene had was for brazing.

What are the pros and cons? I pretty much only use the oxy-acetylene setup for cutting and heating....not welding or brazing. I usually hear about people using acetylene, so is there disadvantage in using MAPP? Maybe MAPP is newer, and acetylene is old school. Is there a cost issue?

Mixup · 01-08-2003, 05:30 PM

I used Mapp 20 years ago. It seems to be big on the east coast. Nobody here in Las Vegas has heard about it. From what I remember it was cheaper but you had to use more of it to do the same job as acetylene.

Southpa · 01-08-2003, 05:56 PM

MAPP (Methylacetylene-propadiene), can't believe I remembered it off the top of my head, lol, Is the way to go.

It has a narrower explosive range (I'm in the books now) 3.4 to 10.8% in air compared to a range of 2.5 to 80% for acetylene.

Oxyacetylene cutting torches can be used but you will need special tips for using MAPP gas. You can use your usual acetylene regulator as MAPP gas cylinders have the same thread as acetylene cylinders. You can also own your MAPP cylinder so there is no extra cost in re-supply.

Its faster cutting and leaves a very liquified slag, so its cleaner.

MAPP is in liquid form so a cylinder of MAPP fuel contains many more cubic feet of gas than an acetylene cylinder of the same size.

They use it for underwater cutting since it can be used at pressures of over 15 psig while acetylene cannot.

All around, its safer and more efficient and could likely be cheaper in the long run if you do lots of burning.

**GMCPaul** · 01-09-2003, 04:05 AM

Forget both the MAPP and acetylene as far as I am concerned and go with Propane, with the correct propane tips you can cut through thicker steel than when using acetylene, it lasts as long or longer than acetylene, costs far less. Try it out its only a $15-$20 tip investment & the cost of a full propane bottle around $10, then if you like it you can get larger portable cylinders or plumb your shop to run off a big 300gallon tank.
GMCPaul

tp85 · 01-09-2003, 09:50 AM

Is there anything that MAPP or propane can't do, but acetylene can? I pretty sure acetylene is needed for brazing.
Thanks.

imaindianoutlaw · 01-09-2003, 05:58 PM

I use acetylene every day for brazing! But I am going to a oxy set up for more heat and a turbo torch head!

steves1967 · 01-09-2003, 07:12 PM

MAPP and oxy/acetylene. are both useful gases- for brazing though oxy/acetylene has a hotter flame. MAPP gas cylinders just can't put out enough heat, I'm a union pipefitter in northern california and all we use is oxy/acetylene....

ChevLoRay · 01-09-2003, 09:57 PM

My plumber says MAPP gas is hotter than propane. I know that an old plumber used acetylene for brazing/soldering on copper. I personnally used propane to sweat some copper joints and it worked fine for me.

I need to learn how to use this MIG welder I have, tho.

imdarren · 01-09-2003, 11:44 PM

Someone may correct me.... But..
Acetylene bottles have some funky "media" stuff inside them, and they are not as safe as mapp gas.
You do get much more cubic feet of gas in a mapp bottle.
I used to cut up train cars, and we used propane. It was a bunch cheaper, and worked great! We cut through those solid steel train axles like butter, and they were about 6 or 8" solid!
I think propane burns dirtier than others.
I would go with MAPP (1st choice)
Propane (second choice)

Just my .02
Darren

steves1967 · 01-10-2003, 01:29 AM

Acetylene is dissolved in acetone inside the cylinder- because acetlyene is very unstable by itself. You should never lay an acetylene cylinder on ot's side becasue the acetylene will dissolve from the acetone and that's not good.... If you do lay one on it's side let it stand up right for about half an hour before use. Also to keep acetylene stable you can't withdraw more than 1/7th the total gas per hour- if you do you draw the acetone out too and again it becomes unstable...hope this helps everyone a little

tp85 · 01-10-2003, 08:24 AM

great info. thanks.

01-08-2003, 05:13 PM	#1
tp85 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: frederick, md Posts: 110	acetylene vs MAPP??? I have a small portable oxy-acetylene setup, but sometimes this setup is too small cut large amounts of material or heat/bend solid bar stock. I called my gas supplier to find out about getting bigger tanks, and he was encouraging me to consider MAPP as an alternative. He said the only advantage acetylene had was for brazing. What are the pros and cons? I pretty much only use the oxy-acetylene setup for cutting and heating....not welding or brazing. I usually hear about people using acetylene, so is there disadvantage in using MAPP? Maybe MAPP is newer, and acetylene is old school. Is there a cost issue?

01-08-2003, 05:30 PM	#2
Mixup Registered User Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 358	I used Mapp 20 years ago. It seems to be big on the east coast. Nobody here in Las Vegas has heard about it. From what I remember it was cheaper but you had to use more of it to do the same job as acetylene. __________________ 1980 Chevy Shortbed Pickup 1969 Z28 engine Turbo 350

01-08-2003, 05:56 PM	#3
Southpa Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 2,410	MAPP (Methylacetylene-propadiene), can't believe I remembered it off the top of my head, lol, Is the way to go. It has a narrower explosive range (I'm in the books now) 3.4 to 10.8% in air compared to a range of 2.5 to 80% for acetylene. Oxyacetylene cutting torches can be used but you will need special tips for using MAPP gas. You can use your usual acetylene regulator as MAPP gas cylinders have the same thread as acetylene cylinders. You can also own your MAPP cylinder so there is no extra cost in re-supply. Its faster cutting and leaves a very liquified slag, so its cleaner. MAPP is in liquid form so a cylinder of MAPP fuel contains many more cubic feet of gas than an acetylene cylinder of the same size. They use it for underwater cutting since it can be used at pressures of over 15 psig while acetylene cannot. All around, its safer and more efficient and could likely be cheaper in the long run if you do lots of burning. __________________ 1970 GMC 1500 Custom Original 350/TH350 Victoria, BC, Canada You can wish in one hand and crap in the other. See which one gets filled first. Last edited by Southpa; 01-08-2003 at 06:01 PM.

01-09-2003, 04:05 AM	#4
GMCPaul Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Rockville,In. USA Posts: 3,719	Forget both the MAPP and acetylene as far as I am concerned and go with Propane, with the correct propane tips you can cut through thicker steel than when using acetylene, it lasts as long or longer than acetylene, costs far less. Try it out its only a $15-$20 tip investment & the cost of a full propane bottle around $10, then if you like it you can get larger portable cylinders or plumb your shop to run off a big 300gallon tank. GMCPaul __________________ Secure Online Catalog for-GMCPauls Truck Parts Email- GMCPAULS@GMAIL.COM

01-09-2003, 05:58 PM	#6
imaindianoutlaw GMC SHORT FLEET F/S Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT PENNSYLVANNIA Posts: 2,117	I use acetylene every day for brazing! But I am going to a oxy set up for more heat and a turbo torch head! __________________ CHARLES WADE HEIN HVACR FOREMAN. LEWISBURG U.S.P.

01-09-2003, 09:50 AM	#5
tp85 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: frederick, md Posts: 110	Is there anything that MAPP or propane can't do, but acetylene can? I pretty sure acetylene is needed for brazing. Thanks.

01-09-2003, 07:12 PM	#7
steves1967 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Manteca, Ca USA Posts: 305	MAPP and oxy/acetylene. are both useful gases- for brazing though oxy/acetylene has a hotter flame. MAPP gas cylinders just can't put out enough heat, I'm a union pipefitter in northern california and all we use is oxy/acetylene....

01-09-2003, 09:57 PM	#8
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	My plumber says MAPP gas is hotter than propane. I know that an old plumber used acetylene for brazing/soldering on copper. I personnally used propane to sweat some copper joints and it worked fine for me. I need to learn how to use this MIG welder I have, tho. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

01-09-2003, 11:44 PM	#9
imdarren Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: SW Washington Posts: 1,006	Someone may correct me.... But.. Acetylene bottles have some funky "media" stuff inside them, and they are not as safe as mapp gas. You do get much more cubic feet of gas in a mapp bottle. I used to cut up train cars, and we used propane. It was a bunch cheaper, and worked great! We cut through those solid steel train axles like butter, and they were about 6 or 8" solid! I think propane burns dirtier than others. I would go with MAPP (1st choice) Propane (second choice) Just my .02 Darren __________________ Washington State 1967 Chevy C10 LWB Rodstoration In Progress. 1972 K20 Cheyenne Super

01-10-2003, 01:29 AM	#10
steves1967 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Manteca, Ca USA Posts: 305	Acetylene is dissolved in acetone inside the cylinder- because acetlyene is very unstable by itself. You should never lay an acetylene cylinder on ot's side becasue the acetylene will dissolve from the acetone and that's not good.... If you do lay one on it's side let it stand up right for about half an hour before use. Also to keep acetylene stable you can't withdraw more than 1/7th the total gas per hour- if you do you draw the acetone out too and again it becomes unstable...hope this helps everyone a little

01-10-2003, 08:24 AM	#11
tp85 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: frederick, md Posts: 110	great info. thanks.



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