Help! MAPP gas??

Those little skinny ones about 18" tall? I got my last one at Fred Meyers. Which has been bought by Kroger's (So I guess now it's Freddy Kroger's). Also got some at the local (independent) hardware store.

Tina

Well, can't help you much about St. Louis but it seems you ought to be able to find something larger. I had to drive about 45 miles to a place but I did buy a 7 and 1/2 pound tank and it has lasted me quite a while. The place is called BOC. I definitely didn't want a 60 lb. tank. You might also ask for propylene or chemelyne (sp?) which are similar to MAPP. Also, when you use one lb. tanks, take the hot head off after your session because it slowly leaks. When you have a bigger tank remember to turn the tank and the hot head off. Hope this helps a little.

You'd think that a place as big as St Louis would have suppliers who carried larger cylinders but I've completely struck out at every welding or industrial gas place I've called. >

Steve- I did a yahoo yellow pages search for St Louis area - and there are a LOT of suppliers - I really doubt that there is none to be had.... AirGas or BOC Gas are major distributors and should have the 7.5 lb tank size.

I see there is a BOC Gas in Hartford IL (I know that's north of St Louis - but if that isn't too far - try calling them, I got my first tank from BOC in Dayton OH) Boc Gases (618) 462-6857

IF ALL ELSE fails - call a few local PLUMBERS in your area - because plumbers often use MAPP for doing plumbing work (requires only one tank and does the job well) if they use MAPP for their business - they will know where to get it... Cheryl of DRAGON BEADS Flameworked beads and glass

Funny you should mention AirGas. The number in the local phonebook gave a "disconnected" message from the phone company, with one of those "please make a note of the new number" messages. So I called that number and the guy who answered just said "hello", nothing about AirGas. I asked him if I'd in fact reached AirGas and got a "uhhhhhhh..... maybe". His exact words, so help me! I asked him if they had MAPP in bulk and he said no, only in one-pound cylinders. So I called several other AirGas suppliers and got "nope, we don't have it". Then I tried a couple of locations for the other big outfit, Praxair, and got the same answer. Finally I went to my favorite local glass retailer and she said she'd never been able to find a bulk distributor in the area, either. I'm sure there must be one, but who??? Next I plan to get in touch with my ex-wife's three brothers, all car mechanics who use torches and might have some ideas...

I assume from your question you are using a Hot Head, if you are not ignore the following. How about breaking down and getting a real torch that uses oxygen and propane? It's much cheaper to operate in the long run and those 1 lb canisters don't go into the landfill. You can get propane at your local Quicky Mart and oxygen and any welding supply house. Also your beads will be better since you will have more control over the flame. It's much quieter so your ears will thank you as well.

into the landfill....Also your beads will be better since you will have more control over the flame.<

Not to mention it is SOOOO much easier to use!!! It has a heckuva lot more heat than the Hot Head - you will be surprised at how quickly you can form your beads if you step up to a better torch. Truly - you'll be shocked!!

Carol in SLC eBay auctions:

Ok I'm going to be a dissenter here.

First I think there are some quality control differences among hot head torches. In my class the first one I had was icky- the instructor told me turn the flame up- nothing happened (brand new torch). So I got another new torch- it was fine, it was the one I bought. And I hardly ever turn the flame up. I have very limited time on a minor and a lynx. To be honest I really couldn't tell that much difference - except they were both MUCH quieter.

I will probably upgrade torches at some point- but I'm in a rental house right now and would prefer to not freak out my landlady (also next door neighbor) by running hoses etc into the basement. And I'm happy with my HH.

So currently I really like my hot head. It does everything I need it to do. I know it has limitation- no control for different types of flame, can't make a pinpoint flame for small decoration work etc, so it may be a beginner torch - but I still think of it as "real".

Kathy K

I really appreciate all the people who have offered advice on my original question. I still haven't found a gas supplier in St Louis for bigger MAPP tanks and neither has my favorite stained glass shop owner (amazing, but true). And I've seen minor burners in action, most recently yesterday morning when my shop owner friend was showing her young nephews how to make beads. I believe one of them bought a starter kit, and he couldn't have been more than ten years old, so there's definitely a future generation for this hobby!

This weekend I finally got a few fairly nice-looking poked flower beads (my first ever -- I'm ridiculously proud of them) using the HH torch, and some good blown miniature bottles too. So I'm reasonably happy with the HH, although the noise is a MAJOR nuisance for me (a quiet guy who likes a quiet life).

- Steve in St Louis

Try asking for "brazing fuel".

If you strike out asking for brazing fuel, ask for Propylene or Chem-O-Lene.

Here's a little something to mull over in your mind FWIW: Since you are already set up with glasses and tools, the cost to buy a minor burner with hoses and regulators is about $250. My oxygen tank (and I got one of the big ones that is about 5 ft high) cost me $200, plus about $30 per refill. I already had a propane tank from my grill, but you can get one for about $40 filled. They cost about $20 to refill now that gas has gone up. (not my estimates are a bit on the high side). So we are talking about a maximum investment of $500 to upgrade. I fill my O2 tanks about once a month and the propane tank about twice a year. (12x$30 + $20 = $380) If you are using 1lb MAPP gas cylinders, they last 3 hours tops, assuming you change tanks after every bead so they don't freeze up and lose pressure. So if you make beads 12 hours per week, that's 4 tanks. At $7 per tank, that's $28 per week. In about 26 weeks you will find yourself at the break even point. You can use the savings over the next 6 months to get a kiln if you don't already have one. After that, it's gravy. And all those canisters don't wind up in the landfill. Now the bulk tank will save some money on fuel and will definitely keep those tanks out of the landfill, but I am willing to bet you will still save money within a year using an oxy/propane setup. Plus, you will have a quieter and more useable tool to make you beads and vessels with. I used a Hot Head for a year before I got a Minor, and will not willingly go back. Your quality of work will improve immediately and your time spent waiting for the glass to get hot enough to work will drop to nearly nothing. And your ears will thank you. The only down side I can see is the portability of Hot Heads. But if you are going to be using one of those big heavy tanks anyway... Of course the opinions expressed are those of the poster and not necessarily that of RCB, or anyone else.

Definitely my opinion, too. And if you get an oxygen concentrator for about $200 and hook up to your natural gas, your fuel costs drop to almost nothing.

All good arguments. Thanks!

- Steve R St Louis

Interesting, that hadn't occurred to me. A couple of years ago the gas grill on my deck rusted out and fell off its pedestal, so now I've got an unused natural gas line running just outside my work space. That might be an excellent way to go.

- Steve R St Louis

I'll second that!! I was refilling my huge oxygen tank twice a month. For $300 (shipping included) my oxygen concentrator will have paid for itself in three months. And no waiting for the oxygen delivery guy!!

My studio is an incredibly dusty environment. So much so that I can't keep a computer or fax machine there. Do you think a concentrator would work in those conditions?

I'll third it; my oxygen concentrator was one of the single best investments in my lampworking setup.