MAPP gas for soldering?

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi there. Happy holidays. I’m going to be doing a little teaching
stint for P&R, but it’s a 4walls and a ceiling deal. I think they’ll
buy me sawframes if I’m lucky. I have acetelyne at home but I don’t
want to transport it all the time. Does anyone know if those little
yellow bernzamatic MAPP gas canisters burn hot and clean enough for
silver solder?

My thanks, A-

2

They burn nice and hot and I have used them as supplamentary glass
torches, but they are messy. I have a oxy. MAPP torch, works nice for
glass and I believe I have tryed soldering with it, but when you
light up a MAPP torch carbon (i’m assuming) licks off the end off the
flame and gets everywhere. Depending on the place your doing to class
you may want to think about that. I was finding it on my counter,
blinds everywhere for a while after I was using mine.

Zoe Hardisty

3

Hi Angela:

Does anyone know if those little yellow bernzamatic MAPP gas
canisters burn hot and clean enough for silver solder?

Do to circumstances that I’ve I had to adjust to I use MAP gas. It
is very hot. It’s not cheap. Also I use Propylene gas (black
canisters). It’s also hot and clean.

David

4

Angela

MAPP gas works just fine on sterling silver. I use it periodically
with a bernzomatic torch on the end of a flexzble hose.

Regards
Milt Fischbien
Calgary Canada

5 
Does anyone know if those little yellow bernzamatic MAPP gas
canisters burn hot and clean enough for silver solder?

They’re certainly hot enough, assuming that you’re not trying to
solder something quite large, which could act as a heat sink and take
away enough heat so that the solder won’t flow.

They’re also clean. I have never had either my Mapp gas or my
acetylene torch produce any of that messy carbon stuff. Only when I
set up my oxy-acetylene arrangement do I get the carbon.

Judy Bjorkman

6 
but it's a 4walls and a ceiling deal.... Does anyone know if those
little yellow bernzamatic MAPP gas canisters burn hot and clean
enough for silver solder?

Yes, you can use those MAPP canisters if the gas is compatible with
your torch head. (Molecule size and all, you know.) I have started
up 2 programs from “4 walls and a ceiling” on no budget to speak of
at both the university level and the community level and MAPP was
the fuel of choice in the start up period.

It is not as clean as Butane but it is hotter. It is not “dirty” by
any means. In my experience, it is an acceptable choice for a start
up student program. It will get the job done for the new jewelry
student. It’s OK for rings, links, pendants, etc.

I have found that MAPP is somehow less threatening to The Powers
That Be as it is in a familiar package; not one of those scary big
ol’ industrial tanks that administrators are sure will launch
themselves into space at the least provocation. Eventually the
bother of filling out purchase orders every time you want another
little canister of MAPP will cause the administrator to listen to
you when you suggest that the program move up to acetylene which
will last a lot longer between refills. It should be left on site.
You should not be expected to transport it!

I have also tried the mini-torch with those little Butane and Oxygen
canisters, too. Great on small stuff but the Oxygen tank was always
running out right in the middle of something. I was always stopping
to get more Oxygen on the way to work. What a bother. MAPP was the
start up choice for my programs.

Honors Gran Jewelry
Palm Harbor, Florida 34683
727-736-1990

7

Zoe,

but they are messy. I have a oxy. MAPP torch,...but when you light
up a MAPP torch carbon (i'm assuming) licks off the end off the
flame and gets everywhere...

I know you didn’t ask for advise, but, this should not be happening
with MAPP and oxy. If I may intrude further, I suggest you try 2
things:

  1. Double check the pressure on the gases. Something in the mixture
    is keeping the fuel from burning at capacity.

  2. Check to be sure your torch head is approved for MAPP gas. Not
    ALL torch heads can be used with ALL fuel gases! A sort of filter is
    present in a torch that allows the gas molecules to pass.
    Uhmmm…size matters. Sorry. Couldn’t help it.

8

I’m not sure if it would be the same for metals, but when we use a
MAPP torch for making glass beads, if you find the black stuff
creeping into your glass, you need to work farther out in the flame.

Not sure if that translates to metals at all, but I thought I’d
mention it.

Kerry
CeltCraft Beads & Jewelry