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®
- BERNZOMATIC®
- CRAFTSMAN®
- EMC
- EXPRESS
- Firepower®
- GENTEC®
- GOSS®
- HOTERY
- Jones Stephens Corp
- LENOX®
- Mag-Torch®
- MAGNA®Mastercraft® and TURNER®
- Master Mechanic®
- MAPP
- NAPA BERNZOMATIC®
- PREST-O-LITE®
- RONA
- ROTHENBERGER
- SUPER-EGO
- SureFire™
- TurboTorch®
- UNIWELD®
- WORTHINGTON MAPP® GAS
- WORTHINGTON MAP/Pro™
- 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.
South Carolina Defective Product Attorneys
If you or someone you care about has been injured by a defective or unsafe product, you have the right to ask the manufacturer for money to cover your medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering and any permanent disability or loss.
In order to protect that right, you should speak with the experienced product injuries attorneys at the Louthian Law Firm as soon as possible. We have more than 50 years of experience helping injured South Carolinians seek justice, and we’re committed to ensuring that you get the legal representation you need. For a free consultation, call us today at (866) 454-1200 or (803) 454-1200, or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form.
Bert Louthian has been practicing law in Columbia with his father, Herb, since 1985. After receiving his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina, Bert launched his legal career in his father’s firm. With 80 years of legal experience between them, Louthian Law, P.A. remains Family-Owned and Family-Focused.
Bert understands that when life goes wrong – when you or someone you love gets hurt or suffers a loss, it can feel like nothing will ever be right or fair again. He gets up and goes to work every day to prove that feeling wrong – and does everything in his power to make things right again.
