John Stromnes on thu 25 apr 02
One issue that hasn't been addressed on this list to my knowledge is" What
do you do with your old propoane tank, once you buy a new one with the
required safety valve?
My propane supplier suggested opening the already empty tank, allowing it
to vent for several days to make sure the propane is exhausted. then
purchasing an easily installed adapter that will make your propnae tank a
compressed air tank, with a conventional right-hand thread. You can then
fill your old tank from your (or your gas station's) air comppressor, and
use it as a portable source of compressed air for spraying liquids, filling
bike tires, etc.
Such adapters will be available at the retail level in the next few weeks
or months, my vendor said.
P.S. He advised against trying to replace the fittings on the little
barbecue-grill style tanks yourself with the new safety fittings, because
it is almost mpossible for the average person to get enough leverage or
purchase on the little tank to unscrew the old connector, even if you have
the right tool. With the bigger tanks, you can jam them against a corner
of the wall and hold them into place securely using brute force. But the
little BBQ ones are hard to hold while you are trying to unscrew the old
connection, unless you have a special jig or vise set up for this purpose
to hold the tank in one place while you unscrew the fitting.
My supplier also added his bit of malicous gossip: He believes the reason
the new valves have been required is because of some backyard-bomb
explosions in California caused by untrained or in-a-hurry vendors filling
BBQ tanks too full.
He also warned that the new tanks are not fail-safe. If they get too hot,
for example,by sitting in a hot car or van all afternoon with the windows
rolled up and the sun shining in, the safety valve can release propane
because of pressure build up. In an enclosed space, like that unvented
hot car, the released propane will explode with one spark or match.
In Polson MT
John Syodo Stromnes
Marianne Lombardo on thu 25 apr 02
Out here, we take our old propane tanks to the dump. They have a specific
area to put them, and they eventually get recycled.
Marianne
> One issue that hasn't been addressed on this list to my knowledge is" What
> do you do with your old propoane tank, once you buy a new one with the
> required safety valve?
m markey on thu 25 apr 02
Hi All you Propane Tank Users!
Small barbeque propane tanks can be traded in, at any store that carries the
"Rhino" brand pre-filled propane tanks. Locally, K-Mart, and Circle-K stores
sell them. One can bring in old outdated tanks, as well as newer tanks, for
trade. There is a significant discount for buing with a trade-in, instead of
buying the "Rhino" without a trade-in--it varies from $10-12, at either of
my local outlets.
I understand Rhino refurbishes the old tanks, then offers the tanks for
sale, with a bright new label.
I don't know if the Rhino is available outside of S. CA. I've seen other
brands offered at Home Depots, and other stores, in other locations.
Best wishes!
Mohabee NakedClay@hotmail.com
Yucca Valley, CA
The first rain since November, 2001 fell here yesterday. It was a gentle
shower, but gave notice to several roof leaks as the rain fell. Thank
goodness I have some spare 5-gallon buckets handy!
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Tommy Humphries on fri 26 apr 02
After reading through these discussions about the new OPD valves and the
overfilling problems it will solve, I wonder if this will just shift the
blame for any future overfill accidents away from inept propane delivery
personnel, to the designers of the valve itself, since it is designed to
prevent overfilling. I have already heard of several faulty valves being
replaced here locally, and am wondering if this is really such a good idea
after all.
Tommy
Glenn Allenspach on fri 26 apr 02
regarding your malicious bit of gossip about propane tanks allowing gas to
escape in hot places:
Not only is that true about the tanks with the new OPD valves installed, it
is true of every recently filled propane tank. All propane valves have a
prerssure releif valve built in to them, and if the pressure in the tank
goes
too high, these valves will automatically release gas. For this reason,
never
store your propane tank in a sealed, hot environment, like the inside of
your
homed or the interior of your car. Propane expands and contracts in volume
quite a bit with temperature fluctuation, which is the root cause for laws
like these safety valves. It's also the reason why your tank must be filled
to only 80% of its physical volume, and it's the reaon why the only correct
way to know how much gas is in the tank is by weight.
All propane tanks are labled on or near the collar with an inscription, "TW
XX." TW satnds for Tare Weight, and the figure is the weight, in lbs, of the
empty tank (in the USA). To measure your gas, weigh the tank and subtract
the
Tare Weight from the Gross to arive at your Net weight. A tank that is
overfilled (weighs more than Tare Weight plus rated capacity) is a dangerous
thing to have around. A qualified dealer can help you out if you have this
problem.
(Formerly sold propane, now firing pottery on propane)
Glenn Allenspach
Ralph Naylor on sun 28 apr 02
If you want a portable air tank I'd recommend trying to get an empty
refrigerant tank from an automotive AC shop or an HVAC contractor.
They're about the same size as a propane tank, don't have any flammmable
or nasty-smelling residue, and the adapter kits have been available for
decades. Here's a typical one - http://www.jcwhitney.com/product.jhtml?
CATID=4887&BQ= You should be able to find something similar at a good
auto parts store. On the plus side, they weigh a lot less and will be
nice and shiny since they haven't been sitting outside for 12 years.
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