You might want to contact your local welding supply vendor. Usually they have brochures from torch manufacturers on how to use the various fuel gases, cut quality, pressures, etc.
Naturally, you will do whatever makes sense in your situation. But FWIW, we use propane for all cutting and heating. (We don't do any oxy-fuel welding.)
We had used MAPP for a long time, then switched quietly to Chemylene (spelling?) gas because the supplier promised a deal for trying it. The switch was made without any one on the floor being told. No one noticed any difference until they were told about it nearly 2 months later, at which time the comments went something like, "I KNEW it wasn't cutting the same as last week!". (They weren't told WHEN the switch had been made.)
At any rate, we did the same with the propane a few years ago to see if there was any noticeable difference. We have used it ever since with no problems. Likely you will find MAPP, propylene, chemylene, and propane all work fine in most cases. However, when we have any field work to do, it is usually acetylene that gets loaded on the truck. It seems a bit more versatile for unknown work situations.
All the fuel gases are relatively safe to use when you are using the right equipment. And all are potentially dangerous if mis-used. It is worth noting that acetylene at 15 psi and higher can become unstable. The acetylene is dissloved into acetone inside the cylinder to make it stable for storage. The other gases I mentioned are stored as a liguid in the cylinders and could be used at full cylinder pressure, although it would not be practical that way.
Hope that helps,
Chet Guilford
Tex,
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