Ok without built-in Propane?

[3GKnight]

Thanks for all the responses! I think I've decided to leave it out and just stick with the 'disposables.' I gotta get into Dutch oven cooking more anyway.

[SC Campbell]

Both of my teardrops have the original built in tanks and stoves. For my camping stoves and BBQ I use refillable 1# canisters,

http://www.flameking.com/products/1lb-r ... l-kit.html

The cost to have refilled is $2.00

[JaggedEdges]

Those are neat...

However, being a rebel, I would probably refill disposable ones also... precautions taken, like no rust or damage, check valve operation, soap bubble them for leakage after fill, try not to freeze valve, etc. ... but remember kiddies, its only a bit of fun until you lose your hand... then it's hilarious... and you get invited to more pirate parties.

edit: A further thought, I've got a bunch of those blowtorch heads, don't know why, they just seem to turn up in any random plumbing, hardware or tool boxes I pick up at yard sales, along with stray lug nuts, seems to be one of those ineffable laws of the universe, any random box of stuff shall contain one blowtorch head and one lug nut. Anyway, they have their own valve on, so I'd figure, fill a 1# and it leaks, whip a blowtorch head on it, shut off. Then leave it an hour or so. If it don't leak NOW, then the valve got froze. If it still leaks, put a big cross on it, so you know it's "done" leave blowtorch head on until you use it up in something else, swap it over quick or actually use when you need blowtorch.

[lrrowe]

Thanks SC for the link. I am also one who "plays with fire" and refills the disposable ones. I signed up for an email to notify me when they are available to purchase. I like doing things like this and I like the small bottles,

[lrrowe]

I have wondered about filling 20 lb tanks from my 500 gal home tank. But the idea intimidated me. There has got to be serious issues for we "non-propane" professionals to consider.

[JaggedEdges]

If you get some good fittings and hoses, should be fairly straightforward.

Thing to remember about propane is that it is heavier than air, and can "puddle" when there's no breeze to disturb it much. It's like invisible gasoline. So you don't want to be playing with it in your basement for sure, particularly with a furnace or water heater with a pilot light.

You could get into trouble filling from a house tank outside if it's a very calm day and your basement windows are open, or if you're in a kind of sheltered hollow and you release too much when you're messing around. Also don't do it near any open drains or storm sewer grates, it'll run downhill.

With that in mind, days that are at least little breezy would be best to mess around. Now, in camp, avoid changing cylinders inside your trailer or tent. In a trailer if an appliance refuses to light and you seem to have let a bit of propane go or you suspect leak, open the door, not just a window.


Oh, something I remembered about refillable vs disposable tanks. Refillable are fatigue tested/certified for hundreds of fill and drain cycles, the metal stretches a tad each time. Disposable aren't. So I'd be keeping an eye on number of times you refill each one, keep a tally, I'd personally chicken out at 10, can't say that's guaranteed safe, can't say it's excessively cautious, but it's a nice round number and makes you look like you've thought about things.