No, acetylene is what I use to sweat pipes. It's hotter than propane, so it works faster and better.
You are thinking of the oxy-acetylene torch. It is a mixture of pure oxy and acetylene.
<http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/AnthonyCheedie.shtml>
I just use acetylene.
<http://www.spezialgase.de/specialgasescatalog/technik/ aktuell_allggebrauch
sinfo_acetylen/>
I think what you SHOULD be using is what is usually called "plumbers gas" - MAPP. It typically comes in about a 15 pound cylinder about half the size of a standard SCUBA tank (18 inches high). It does burn much hotter than propane and about the same as Acetylene.
MAPP gas is made by combining liquefied petroleum gas with Methylacetylene-Propadiene.
It is a liquid, like propane, in the tank, as opposed to Acetylene which is a compressed gas, which makes it "somewhat" safer to handle.
Pure Acetylene itself is dangerous to use on Copper.
The reference above (www.spezialgase.de) contains the warning:
"Danger: Do not use on copper pipes! The copper acetylite formed may cause an explosion."
(But since we're talking about Cast Iron, it's probably a moot point.)
There are also oxy/MAPP setups which add an oxygen tank to increase the temperature, for cutting and welding purposes.
Note that Plumber's Gas WAS pure Acetylene until about 20-25 years ago when the preponderance of copper plumbing prompted the change to MAPP. ... although, according to my brother's father-in-law, some (especially older) plumbers still use pure Acetylene, even though MAPP and Acetylene have virtually the same temperature characteristics.
You can get MAPP cylinders, like the standard Bernzomatic Propane cylinders. They are around $10... but you need a MAPP "head" for it.
T.T.F.N. William H. Magill [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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