Recall of Welding, Soldering Gas Cylinders Affects 30 Million Units

A recall announced Thursday in the U.S. and Canada affects more than 30 million propylene gas cylinders used for welding, soldering, brazing and cutting.

The gas cylinders, carrying the product names Map Pro, Propylene and MAPP Gas Cylinders, are manufactured by Worthington Cylinders Wisconsin, LLC, of Chilton, Wisc.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says the seal on the cylinders can leak after torches or other fuel-consuming equipment are disconnected from them, posing a fire hazard.
They are sold alone or in torch kits at various plumbing/HVAC distributors, Home Depot, Lowes and Ace Hardware stores nationwide and in Canada for about $7 to $13 for cylinders, and $45 to $75 for the torch kits.

From October 2004 through last month, 29,026,000 affected cylinders were sold in the U.S.; 1,371,100 units sold in Canada.

The faulty gas cylinders have been sold under many labels:

ACE
ASCO
BENCHMARK(R)
BERNZOMATIC(R)
CRAFTSMAN(R)
EMC
EXPRESS
Firepower(R)
GENTEC(R)
GOSS(R)
HOTERY
Jones Stephens Corp
LENOX(R)
Mag-Torch(R)
MAGNA(R)Mastercraft(R) and TURNER(R)
Master Mechanic(R)
MAPP
NAPA BERNZOMATIC(R)
PREST-O-LITE(R)
RONA
ROTHENBERGER
SUPER-EGO
SureFire(TM)
TurboTorch(R)
UNIWELD(R)
WORTHINGTON MAPP(R) GAS
WORTHINGTON MAP/Pro(TM)
WORTHINGTON PROPYLENE

Unused cylinders never connected to a torch or other device should be returned to the point of purchase for a refund or exchange.

A partially used cylinder connected to a torch should be taken to a safe place where the torch can be lit and the remaining gas can burn off. The empty container should be disposed of properly or returned to the point of purchase for a refund or exchange.

If you have a partially used cylinder not connected to a torch, the CPSC says to test the top for leaks with soapy water and, if there is a leak, to attach a torch and burn the gas off in a safe place. Dispose of the empty container properly or return it to the point of purchase for a refund or exchange. If testing does not identify a leak, return the cylinder to where it was purchased for exchange or a full refund.