propane vs white gas 2-burner stoves

[Alfred]

Hi All,

Seems to me I read somewhere that propane is the less landfill friendly option, because the small, disposable cylinders cannot be refilled and are disposed after one use (although I also heard they are working on recyclable cylinders now).

But for me, there is just something satisfying about using the old-school white gas lanterns and stoves, with the pumps and fuel tanks, knobs and levers. I finally sold my propane lantern, and I've got all white gas equipment now. So my vote wholeheartedly goes to white gas.

AL

[Shadow Catcher]

The throw away canisters was also one of my problems with them. I did use one as a air tank they are very tough steel.

[pete42]

speaking of throw away propane bottles I wonder what happened to all those 20 pounders with the "old" valve?

[mskobier]

I would think most were destroyed, but a significant portion of them were inspected and had new valves installed. Both of the local propane outfits will do a visual inspection and install a new valve in your tank and recertify it for 5 years for about $30.00. I had both of the 30lb bottles I am using re-valved last winter so that I could continue using them. Now the inspection is only good for 5 years since they did not get hydro tested. That means they have to be visually inspected again in 5 years. They charge less than $10.00 to do the visual. So it saved me from having to spend $150.00 for a new set of tanks. The 5 year inspection can also be repeated indefinately as long as the tanks are in good shape.

Mitch

[eamarquardt]

I've used white gas - coleman fuel - to jump start a campfire - can you do that with propane?

Yes, It's called a "propane torch". Been there, done that! I've also used the propane torch with the self igniting trigger to light Coleman stoves, campfires, and BBQs without any matches being required. Can you do THAT with white gas alone?

Cheers,

Gus

[Pyrofish]

One of the events I go to every so often, a guy has a water tub hooked to a propane jug. The propane goes through a hose, to a fitting at the bottom outside of the water tub. That goes to a fire sprinkler head in the center. You add enough water to cover the sprinkler by a couple of inches. Turn on the propane, and light the water.

Every now and then the flame would go out. Someone would have to get to it quickly with a torch to get it lit again for fear of a massive fireball. However, as the night went on, , the guy with the torch would wait longer and longer to hit the torch. By 3AM, he would stay seated, and hit the torch at his feet, which would track flame all the way back to the wash tub in not-so-hot fireball, leaving the tub lit.

I have a few of those old valves on rusted jugs out back. The nice thing about those, if the valves are in good shape, they can be used as propane accumulators. When you see the the big propane effects, like a jet-engine-weber, they're using a solenoid and a propane accumulator.