Date: Sun, 5 Nov 2000 16:11:59 -0600
Reply-To: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Darrell Boehler <midwesty@MIDWEST.NET>
Subject: Re: refilling disposable propane cylinders
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Ron,
Thanks much about your your experience refilling the tanks. I had tried
pushing the little valve on the top of the tank but never pulled on it. I
get about 4 oz in an empty 14 oz tank. I use the adapter from northern
tool. I will try giving the valves on my empty tanka a pull.
Darrell
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron Bloomquist" <roadcow@MCN.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, November 03, 2000 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: refilling disposable propane cylinders
> Hi volks,
>
> A friend sent me a brass fitting that is double ended. One end screws
into
> a 10 gallon propane tank. The other end accepts Coleman 1 pound
cylinders,
> the type you see thrown away at campsites. I have collected a bunch of
> these over the years and refill them now and then. I have not bought a
new
> one since.
>
> I screw the fitting into the ten gallon tank. Then screw on the Coleman
> cylinder (or Ace hardware cylinder, whatever). They end up 90 degrees to
> each other. I tip the 10 pound tank on its side with the one pound
cylinder
> hanging down. I open the valve on the 10 pound tank and then use
hemostats
> and pull up on the pressure relief valve on the one pound cylinder (looks
> like a bicycle valve stem). (Hemostats, probably spelled wrong, are thin,
> long nosed plyer type thingies use for surgery). You can also tip the
valve
> stem to the side to release air and gas with a thin screwdriver. I vent
air
> and gas until I get a solid stream of liquid. The one pound cylinder is
> then full. I shut off the valve on the ten pound tank and then unscrew
the
> one pound cylinder and do another one.
>
> Don't let the liquid spray on your fingers. It is so cold it will "burn
> you". It is best to let them sit around out side for a while to vent off
if
> over charged. Then I just toss them into my vanagon (Vanagon content),
> under the back seat, until I need them for my portable barbie or catalytic
> heater. I have also been refilling tanks for my traveling friends Eddie
and
> Stefan. Probably costs 20 cents per refill.
>
> The little brass fitting I have has stamped in it's side: "K.M. Prod.
Kaska,
> MI. Pat. 4807848".
>
> Where my friend bought it; I have no idea.
>
> It always bothered me to throw away a perfectly good cylinder just because
> it was empty. I'm sure Coleman would much rather you throw them away and
> buy another one.
>
> My two cents worth.
>
> Ron
> "George and Al make me wanna Ralph!"
>
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