Just curious as to what type setups most plumbers use. Probably something a little more advanced than propane with the nozzle attached? I’ve seen a MAPP/Oxy rig at HD with a hose and torch tip – looked kind of slick…Just looking for a little feedback on what others use.
Thanks,
Dave
Replies
Nobody has answered yet so I will offer my humble opinion:
The main plumber I work around many years ago on new construction used an acetylene/air torch, tank in a carrier, hose and a turbo tip on the torch where he had a lot to soldered in one session. He also used this on much larger joints and silver soldering.
For small jobs and repairs on copper joints he used a standard 14 oz propane bottle on a pezio ignition torch head. He said he likes the smaller unit for going into tight locations and because it's handy. I noticed he kept a Mapp gas bottle handy for a little more heat but most times he seemed to use plain propane.
Many years ago, when I started to need a torch for bending PVC conduit and general use, the main things an electrician needs it for, I asked him what he used and I copied his selection. I haven't used it too often for actual plumbing but it has worked for me on the few plumbing jobs I have had to solder. He was also kind enough, a hell of a nice guy, to show me how to solder copper pipes correctly.
Most plumbers I work with use B-Tanks with acetylene. I even carry a tank on the truck for occasional use with two quick changing tips, but for the DIY a small bottle of propane will do just fine.
Mapp gas and a piezo head. Will heat a 3/4" tee to solder temps in 30 secs, and if the torch is not in my hand there is no flame to worry about. Just be sure to remove the valve head from the bottle if you're not going to use it for more than a couple of hours. Leaving the head on the bottle overnite can ruin the head. BTDT , got the T-shirt.
SamT
"Mapp gas and a piezo head."
I second that. For the DIY, beats the heck of of the traditional propane and spark ignitor for not that much money.
Jon
When I worked for the lawn sprinkler company (28 years ago?!?!?), our crews used a B size acetylene tank and an air mix torch. Single hose, no oxygen, the fuel was mixed with air by a venturi arrangement at the torch, the same way propane or MAPP torches do. Plenty hot for soldering, plenty of run time, torch much lighter to handle than a propane tank.
TurboTorch with a couple of interchangeable tips, MC tank. Really nice when sweating 1" or larger, and also nice that you're only holding the weight of the torch. Also have a bottle of MAPP gas for the occasional job that only has a couple of fittings.
I use a turbo torch with a 'b' tank for big stuff and a mapp gas setup for the smaller stuff.
Greg
My plumber cautions against amateurs (Read: me) using MAPP gas because it's hot enough to boil away the flux. I stick with propane and a little patience and it seems to work OK for 1/2" copper. Most plumbers I've seen seem to use propane with a big tank (about a gallon or so) that they get re-filled.
Al Mollitor, Sharon MA