From time to time I toy with the idea of getting a mapp gas torch... (got a Bernzomatic quickfire II at the mo) has anyone made the switch from a decent propane torch to mapp, care to comment on the difference?
(it would be nice to be able to drive moisture off on very slightly damp pipes etc when soldering)
I used to use a cheap propane/butane torch and switched to a Rothenburger SureFire2 and MAPP gas.
It's chalk and cheese - though I can't tell you how much of the improvement is due to the new torch, and how much to the mapp gas (the surefire2 also accepts propane/butane in the cartridge design as mapp gas - but I've never done this).
Firstly convenience - you pull the gas trigger which also ignites the gas (without fail, so far) and the torch is up to working temperature more or less instantly.
Secondly gas temperature and/or the sheer power output - 15mm joints reflow with maybe 3 seconds - even 28mm joints, maybe 10 seconds.
Thirdly convenience/safety again - there's never any reason to set down a burning torch - you only fire it up whilst you're actually applying it to the joint.
Never looked back. Never used the old torch since.
MAPP smells odd, and ISTR in a way that bothers some people. I also STR that what we call MAPP now, is actually a similar substitute gas - a chemical plant shut down or something, hence the shift in formulation.
Pretty much the same on the quickfire - so I suspect that torch related rather than gas.
I would guess its getting on for twice that with the propane...
Sounds like it might be worth an upgrade.
Yup I remember reading similar somewhere...
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