Hot Gas Cylinders
- Thread starter CHJ
- Start date
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hawkeyefxr
Established Member
I like them, a great idea though i have to warn people who want to do this, DON'T. There will still be gas in an empty cylinder. I have seen the after effects of exploded cylinder and i would not want to be within 500 yards of one going off.
BOC had a acetylene cylinder that had had a blow back, there was a 3ft split in the bottle.
Not sure on propane bottle but acetylene bottles when full have 400lbs of gas pressure in them, if they ignite that is the same as a 400lbs bomb. That was drummed into me in my apprenticeship.
BOC had a acetylene cylinder that had had a blow back, there was a 3ft split in the bottle.
Not sure on propane bottle but acetylene bottles when full have 400lbs of gas pressure in them, if they ignite that is the same as a 400lbs bomb. That was drummed into me in my apprenticeship.
its worse than that, propane gas has to be compressed by200times volume to make it liquid.
that makes 1 litre of liquid equal to 200 litres of petrol, except propane burns fiercer than petrol.
A gas tank will stop producing gas when the tank is around 20% still liquid (even more if its cold outside). A 100 litre propane tank will still have almost 25 litres of liquid inside, even when the gas fire connected to the outlet goes out.
DONT DO IT!
that makes 1 litre of liquid equal to 200 litres of petrol, except propane burns fiercer than petrol.
A gas tank will stop producing gas when the tank is around 20% still liquid (even more if its cold outside). A 100 litre propane tank will still have almost 25 litres of liquid inside, even when the gas fire connected to the outlet goes out.
DONT DO IT!
monkeybiter
Established Member
I think the method of making them safe is to remove the valve/plug in the neck and fill them with water, possibly leave for a day before emptying and commencing any cutting work.
Sheffield Tony
Ghost of the disenchanted
That's a sane approach. A friend of mine making barbeques out of some took them out into the field, retreated to a safe distance and shot a hole through them with his rifle. Not very sane, but no explosions, which in context of what has been said above is quite surprising.
monkeybiter
Established Member
Copper/Lead versus steel - no spark, just rapid depressurisation.
I once used a .22 pistol to spot through a hole in a thick wall for waste pipe alignment. No explosion there either, even when SWMBO found out.
I once used a .22 pistol to spot through a hole in a thick wall for waste pipe alignment. No explosion there either, even when SWMBO found out.
Robbo3
Established Member
Chas, I thought you already had one 
- workkshop-heating-with-attitude-t102414.html
I posted a load of artistic gas bottle conversions in that thread.
- workkshop-heating-with-attitude-t102414.html
I posted a load of artistic gas bottle conversions in that thread.
hawkeyefxr
Established Member
sunnybob":1v1mnt09 said:
Well said.
One a cold day with the valve removed! liquid could still be there.
Didn't know that about the amount of liquid to gas ration, interesting.
I once over filled an R22 refrigerant bottle and the safety valve blew off in the car, i jumped out and dump liquid on the road, then drove off, unfortunately it left a 3 foot dia frost patch in the road, in the middle of summer. This was many many years ago before it was illegal to release refrigerant gas to the atmosphere.
I forgot to mention you need bronze spanners because one spark and youre gone.
Put your mobile phone a long long way away.
Wear clothes that you want to dump, because if they get soaked you will NEVER get the smell out
Propane is heavier than air, so don't do it next to a drain or basement as the gas will collect in there and catch you later.
When we emptied large tanks (500 to 15000 litres) we had to use a flare stack set 30 yards from the tank and pump nitrogen in Untill the gas sniffer showed minimal at the stack. And that was just to move them offsite!
I'm happy I'm done with all that, good luck to any who wants to try
Put your mobile phone a long long way away.
Wear clothes that you want to dump, because if they get soaked you will NEVER get the smell out
Propane is heavier than air, so don't do it next to a drain or basement as the gas will collect in there and catch you later.
When we emptied large tanks (500 to 15000 litres) we had to use a flare stack set 30 yards from the tank and pump nitrogen in Untill the gas sniffer showed minimal at the stack. And that was just to move them offsite!
I'm happy I'm done with all that, good luck to any who wants to try
Robbo3
Established Member
Lot of scaremongering going on in this thread.
I've removed hundreds of butane & propane cylinder valves - all with metal spanners, emptied the cylinders, then revalved, filled & purged the air.
The heavy ends, ie the residue that accumulates, stinks because of the stenching agent added to odourless flammables at the refinery.
I've removed hundreds of butane & propane cylinder valves - all with metal spanners, emptied the cylinders, then revalved, filled & purged the air.
The heavy ends, ie the residue that accumulates, stinks because of the stenching agent added to odourless flammables at the refinery.
As mentioned above, no problem if they are properly purged.
I've cut a door in one before, but how would you go about cutting those intricate designs? Plasma cutter?
Some of those are really detailed, could they have been CNC'd?
I've cut a door in one before, but how would you go about cutting those intricate designs? Plasma cutter?
Some of those are really detailed, could they have been CNC'd?
CHJ
Established Member
I assumed they must be although I could not get a definative answer when trying to pin down the stall holder, just my husband makes them.NazNomad":1se69tpc said:
Family does have one and some other fire basket/torch products from them so may be able to find out.
Very welcome when at a social gathering with friends in Bavarian winter temperatures but I'd much prefer to be seeking some shade with a few exotic birds around rather than trying to find the optimum distance to emulate a Döner kebab rotisserie.
monkeybiter
Established Member
CHJ":g9y7jwxs said:
Does SWMBO know about this?
[Somebody had to say it :twisted: ]
CHJ
Established Member
Think after 60yrs she has an inkling and an input on locations.
And Variety.
Daily entertainment outside the Back Door.
And Variety.
Daily entertainment outside the Back Door.
Attachments
monkeybiter
Established Member
That is rather lovely.
Scaremongering? No. Every point made was valid, and hammered home to me again and again at training and certification courses over 25 years in the industry. These courses always included pictures of the ones who got it wrong.
If I can save one person from that, my day has not been in vain.
Forewarning is a better word for my comments.
If I can save one person from that, my day has not been in vain.
Forewarning is a better word for my comments.
CHJ
Established Member
monkeybiter":2ywdqjhu said:
The most uncomercial laid back place I've ever visited. Off season, spend hours on the beaches or walking the rain forest trails and never see another person.
The property the previous image taken from is visible in line with the gap at the top of the ramp. The highest Green roof.
Walk down to the jetty when the fishermen come in for a fresh Barracuda, Marlin or whatever. Swim with the Pelicans and Frigate Birds diving for fish.
monkeybiter
Established Member
Location added. I have a mentally stored list of places to visit, there are a lot. Let's see how long I live. 8)
