Fat Max Propylene cylinders

Though the question of air/acetylene has never come up with my insurance company I can attest to the usefulness of air/acetylene for soldering. The flame is quite hot and makes for quick soldering jobs. I'm surprised that propylene isn't available to you in large cylinders like acetylene is. Eric

I was about to suggest that he use Mapp gas. But wiki says it's been discontinued for years. (I didn't know.. guess I should hang on to the half bottle I've got.) Is the propylene some inferior substitute?

George H. (living in the past)

MAPP is Methylated something Propylene. And it was available in bulk and 20-pound BBQ style cylinders for a while through Welding Supply houses and such, not sure what the current status is. If I need a large quantity like that, Acetylene is more convenient because you can weld with it too.

I just bought a couple 1-pound MAPP cylinders at Home Depot for a hand torch not long ago, so it's still around. MAPP-Air gets hotter than Propane-Air for little plumbing jobs where I don't feel like lugging a B Acetylene.

Bernzomatic is pushing the little-baby 1/4-pound MAPP cylinders there for hand torches, but that's stupid - they can't hold enough energy to cover the cost of making the containers.

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The last time I tried to buy Mapp gas, all I could find was Mapp-Pro, which I presume to be far cheaper to produce, slightly cheaper to sell, and also far less effective to use.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

I was about to suggest that he use Mapp gas. But wiki says it's been discontinued for years. (I didn't know.. guess I should hang on to the half bottle I've got.)

Is the propylene some inferior substitute?

George H. (living in the past)

Please look again. You may have been quietly sold yellow cans of "Mapp-Pro".

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

MAPP is Methylated something Propylene. And it was available in bulk and 20-pound BBQ style cylinders for a while through Welding Supply houses and such, not sure what the current status is. If I need a large quantity like that, Acetylene is more convenient because you can weld with it too.

I just bought a couple 1-pound MAPP cylinders at Home Depot for a hand torch not long ago, so it's still around. MAPP-Air gets hotter than Propane-Air for little plumbing jobs where I don't feel like lugging a B Acetylene.

Bernzomatic is pushing the little-baby 1/4-pound MAPP cylinders there for hand torches, but that's stupid - they can't hold enough energy to cover the cost of making the containers.

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Ohio based Worthington Cylinders has issued a voluntary recall of its MAP-Pro, Propylene and MAPP cylinders due to a potential leak.

Established in 1955, Worthington Cylinders prides itself in the safety of its products and in workplace safety. In keeping with this mission statement, the company has issued a voluntary recall of a number of its cylinders.

The MAP-Pro, Propylene and MAPP cylinders have been recalled. According to Worthington Cylinders this is due to, ?a potential leak occurring when a torch or hose is disconnected from the cylinder.?

The firm has not received reports of injuries or accidents related to the issue.

For more information, or for instructions on how to dispose of or return cylinders for a refund, visit

Basically it says that the seal in the valve can leak, so If you attach a torch head just leave it on till the bottle is empty.

That threw my browser into search mode, and this one seemed to relate:

Said that one should burn off the contents of the tank, and then take it back to the store for refund or exchange. I wonder if it would power a portable heater, it's a shame to waste that perfectly good combustible gas.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

Ohio based Worthington Cylinders has issued a voluntary recall of its MAP-Pro, Propylene and MAPP cylinders due to a potential leak.

Established in 1955, Worthington Cylinders prides itself in the safety of its products and in workplace safety. In keeping with this mission statement, the company has issued a voluntary recall of a number of its cylinders.

The MAP-Pro, Propylene and MAPP cylinders have been recalled. According to Worthington Cylinders this is due to, ?a potential leak occurring when a torch or hose is disconnected from the cylinder.?

The firm has not received reports of injuries or accidents related to the issue.

For more information, or for instructions on how to dispose of or return cylinders for a refund, visit

Basically it says that the seal in the valve can leak, so If you attach a torch head just leave it on till the bottle is empty.

Thanks guys, (Steve, Stormin, and Bruce) I bought my small (14 oz ?) bottle of mapp gas over ten years ago. I don't do much soldering anymore, and then mostly just air and propane, but every once in a while I need more heat for a job. And the mapp is there as back up.

George H.

You're probably fine. I've found that sometimes a squirt of WD-40 into the valve, and then wiggle the valve stem a little, with the tip of a straight pin, and it seals right up. No worries.

Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

Thanks guys, (Steve, Stormin, and Bruce) I bought my small (14 oz ?) bottle of mapp gas over ten years ago. I don't do much soldering anymore, and then mostly just air and propane, but every once in a while I need more heat for a job. And the mapp is there as back up.

George H.

On 12/19/2012 5:24 PM, Steve W. wrote: ...

Make that:

Yes, MAPP has not been around for a while. Still propylene is better than propane and safer than acetylene. Also the 16.9 oz packaging suited my needs just fine in terms of consumption and storage.

The Bernzomatic site no longer shows any other cylinders than the 14 oz ones. The ones where the valve would detach spewing gas and large flames causing severe burns.

Interestingly the site no longer shows the 5.25 oz cylinders either. You can still get them here but they cost $10 each while the Fat Max costs $12 (the 14 oz $13 - go figure!). I deduced from this that the Fat Maxs were too big to use attached directly to a torch. It was in that mode that the previous version of 14 oz cylinders had their failures. The 5.25 oz cylinders were presumably an interim measure while trying to sort out the 14 oz cylinders.

Michael Koblic, Campbell River, BC

I generally install a bottle, check it for leaks (ANY gas) and it stays on the torch till it's empty anyway. The warnings I have seen say that if you install the bottle then remove it you can have a leak. Not a problem for me.

Another site is claiming that the bottle connection fails before the torch breaks. Since I don't generally toss my torches around that hard I don't see that as a problem....

That's interesting. I was taught (on my father's knee) that I should take the torch off the bottle after each use because it might leak with the torch left on. No problem changing my modus operandi, I've got plenty of torches.

George H.