I’ve got several of these empty steel propane tanks from heating the chicken coop during the recent cold weather before I got an adapter to run the heater off of a larger refillable tank. Any ideas on what they could be repurposed for?
Seems like there should be some use for them besides tossing them in the recycling. I’d assume I’d need to poke a hole in them before recycling since they are/were pressure vessels.
I know there are adapters out there to refill them but now that I can use a larger, more easily refillable, tank I don’t really have any inclination to do so.
My only thought so far was to cut the top off, drill some holes, and make a little stick burning camp stove. But, that’s not something I’ll ever use.
I’ve got a fairly extensive workshop and metal working tools so pretty much everything is on the table. I can even do really shitty welding if required.
I would take them to a recycling center that advertises that they accept fuel / propellents.
*resistance
Tomato/tomahto
I remember looking into this once before but with CO2 tanks, I had an idea of cutting them off at different heights or levels to make bells out of them. I’m pretty sure sound wise it would be pretty hit or miss but worth a try.
Don’t fuck around with pressure vessels. It’s seriously dangerous.
Or don’t be a pussy and blow them up with tanerite
Nothing. It’s why they are being phased out. recycle them at any place that sells propane tanks.
I hadn’t heard that. What are they being replaced with?
California (only so far) banned specifically disposable propane tanks of any size.
Small propane canisters will still be available, but they must provide provisions for being refilled and reused. Which is fine by me, I always hate throwing the steel tanks out at the end of a camping season and usually try to refill them if I can.
It would be nice to refill them instead of taking 5 partials left over from previous trips.
Reusable ones. Looks like it’s only California: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/camping-with-propane-canisters-in-california-is-set-to-change-how-to-choose-what-to-buy-now/
They’ve always been refillable with an adapter from the hardware store but it’s an enormous pain, so few people bother. I’ve always hoped Coleman would start an exchange program at REI or somewhere similar.
If I recall, the adapter hooked to a grill tank but to fill the green cans you had to have the larger tank above the smaller one and it’s impractical for most people.
And upside down, and that will still only fill it 2/3 or 3/4…
I’ve read tricks like chilling the cylinders. And depressing the Schrader valves. But some sound pretty sketchy.
You could refill them then give them away.
My and my buddies get excited when we run out, we use them for target practice. More if a rifle thing where you can get some distance, they are rather unpredictable depending on how you hit it and if gas is still present.
I watched my dad set a forest on fire like that once. We got it out, but it was pretty intense.
I suppose that that route has the benefit of rendering them safe.
What about exploring using your metalworking skills artistically? Maybe some interesting sculptural possibilities.
Maybe you could use them to store gas
Make a pulse jet engine
Have fun in an airport
Could you refill these with methane / biogas from an anaerobic digester? I assume you’d need a specialized compressor.
I refill and reuse mine, I got an adapter I can use a grill tank to fill them up with and take them camping for my lantern and camp grill
Have a nice trip: Igorrr - Himalaya Massive Ritual Recording
Very good question. Where I live they are supposed to be separated as “dangerous waste”, because people are not trusted to empty them themselves.
