Propane is a three-carbon alkane, normally a gas, but compressible to a transportable liquid. It is derived from other petroleum products during oil or natural gas processing.

Propane does not burn as hot as acetylene in its inner cone. Its maximum flame temperature in oxygen is 2, 828°C, while the maximum flame temperature of acetylene in oxygen is 3, 160°C. Therefore, the piercing speed is much slower. As the burning and slag formation are affected by the oxygen jet, the cutting speed is similar as that of acetylene. Furthermore, propane is much more useful for heating and bending than acetylene and easier to transport.