Worthington map/pro oxygen torch kit.

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Hello everyone, I hope you all aren't under as much snow as we are here in PA! First off, I'm rather new to this. I read through the sticky at the top of the page, but unfortunately need more specific advice. I've done some electric arc welding in the past, using a Lincoln 220 volt system. I was working on a ranch in Wyoming at the time, and the ranch owner hated to spend money, so though I had no experience, I ended up haphazardly tacking things together fairly often. As I got better, In my spare time I would knock together stuff out of old horseshoes to sell to tourists for a few bucks on the side - I made a lot of "rustic" (by that I mean mediocre) wine racks, boot scrapers, etc. I had a lot of fun doing it, and finding myself with a free time in the off-season, I thought it would be fun to get in to again, in a minor way. I know a guy with a little forge, and I've been working my way through some of the simple blacksmithing projects in the old Foxfire books, but I have some ideas for little projects that can't be forge-welded. Fast forward to yesterday, when I was in tractor supply picking up a new bar for my saw, and ran across this little kit that uses disposable mapp/oxygen cylinders. It's priced at about sixty bucks. Now, I don't have any experience gas welding, but I always like learning new things. Since I don't have much money to sink in to projects in the off-season, this seemed like a neat little setup for sticking together bottle openers and branding irons. Now, it's obvious that I'll never turn out any kind of professional work with a tiny setup like that, but can you all chime in on weather or not it's a total waste of money? Is its main function to separate people like me from their cash, instead of join metal? Again, I'm about one step below a hobbyist here, with little space and less money. All I really need is something to heat small pieces of stock for bending and shaping and a way to join pieces together. I apologize if this question has been answered already, but my search turned up nothing related. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
Reply:your best bet is to get an el cheapo flux-core (no Gas) wire feed. and get a mapp gas plumbers torch to do the heating.  the mini bottles are at best a JOKE and you will run through the oxy bottles like crazy . bite the bullet and get a cheap electric welder. it will suit you well and you will be able to do more should the need arise
Reply:Originally Posted by ElwoodNow, it's obvious that I'll never turn out any kind of professional work with a tiny setup like that,
Reply:agree with turbocad..not a toy but real $$$$$$$$
Reply:While it might be acceptable for a small heating job, it's questionable whether a propylene/oxygen torch reaches a high enough temperture to 'weld' steel.Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:MAPP gas is no longer being bottled, according to something I believe I read here recently. Whether the replacements will work well enough I can't say, but do agree that it is about the most expensive way to go even if it works. I'd suggest visiting your LWS to see what is available and perhaps then watching the internet (Craigslist, EBay, etc.) to find something you can afford. Even a little MC acetylene tank and the smallest O2 bottle would be worlds better than the disposables. As for certification (re a previous post), if I couldn't fight it, I'd find a way around it such as keeping it somewhere mobile and hidden but still safe and usable when needed...
Reply:haven't heard that mapp is going away, according to smith OA flame is 6,000 deg F where mapp/O2 is 5,300 deg F... this thing will most certainly weld steel, at least in the sheet metal range for sure... I'm going to play with it a bit & see how/if it welds anything more than just sheet metal. not that I would ever need to, but again, for a portable emergency job this thing is def more than just a toy....Last edited by turbocad6; 06-05-2011 at 02:53 PM.miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:Originally Posted by turbocad6.haven't heard that mapp is going away, according to smith OA flame is 6,000 deg F where mapp/O2 is 5,300 deg F... this thing will most certainly weld steel, at least in the sheet metal range for sure... I'm going to play with it a bit & see how/if it welds anything more than just sheet metal. not that I would ever need to, but again, for a portable emergency job this thing is def more than just a toy....
Reply:Also look further down on the Wiki where it states that MAPP is not really appropriate for welding steel since it introduces more hydrogen into the weld making it brittle. Admittedly if it's mild steel then hydrogen isn't as big a deal but it is something to be aware of.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by irish fixitAlso look further down on the Wiki where it states that MAPP is not really appropriate for welding steel since it introduces more hydrogen into the weld making it brittle. Admittedly if it's mild steel then hydrogen isn't as big a deal but it is something to be aware of.
Reply:wow, didn't know about the adding hydrogen issue, also didn't even know about the mapp gas situation, just assumed it was mapp think I'm going to  pick up one of those smith little torch setups & small O/A tanks for a portable little setup but these still did ok in a pinch I guess miller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....