Refill Disposable Propane Tank from a Standard BBQ Cylinder

Step 9 Check for leaks and store refilled cylinders

Once you've refilled a cylinder, you should place some soapy water on both valves (the pressure relief valve and the regular valve you connect to your appliance) and check for bubbles. Bubbles = leaks. A leak never happened to me but it's better not to take chance.

I store my refilled cylinders outside just for precautions, in case of a leak.

I also put a protective cap like on the picture to protect the threads of the boottle.

Good luck refilling.

Comments

[johnsned51]

OK, bottom line. I'm a propane supplier and I honestly hate this idea, but I'm also realistic enough to know that people will still do it, whether I like it or not.

#1 Do not, under any circumstances, a cylinder to 100 %! Propane has a high temperature/volume expansion rate. Too full when cold means it pops off when it goes hydrstatic (liquid full @ high pressure). 85% MAXIMUM!!!
#2 propane expands at a ratio of 1 to 270 when it goes from a liquid to vapor. Stack up 270 of those little cylinders in your trunk behind where your kids ride in the car on a good hot day.
#3 There is a technical explanation as to why you find half full 1# cylinders in the forest, I mean besides the fact they are wasteful litterbug jerks.
It goes like this, If you know the physical properties of propane, you know that propane appliances burn propane vapor. At atmospheric pressure propane is a vapor. At -44 degrees it is a "0" pressure liquid. Pressurize propane in a tank and you can keep it liquid at higher temperatures. Think thermodynamics. Small tanks, small volume, gas cools in cylinder faster, chills gas to -44, no vapor, no burn. No burn, must be out of gas, throw away 1/2 full tank. (yes, I've seen it! Over and over!)
Big tank, big  volume,gas cools slower, doesn't get to -44, burn hotter longer

Better yet, just don't do it. state an federal agencies do'nt write rules to "big Brother" us. They may seem misguided sometimes but they really want us tobe safe

[jcwtexas]

To johnsend51 : why dont you learn how to write. Your negative comment gave me a headache trying to comprehend what you are trying to say.

[sconner1]

Here's the dummies version:
#1&2
Gasses expand with temperature.
If Nit-wit fills a tank's total volume with liquid gas under pressure, there's no room for it to expand.
Tank bursts.
Ouchy.

#3
As Nit-wit uses the gas in the cylinder quickly, more liquid evaporates cooling the rest of the liquid because of the same physics air conditioners work on.
The rest of the liquid gets so cold that it won't evaporate any more.
Nit-wit discards half full cylinder.
Half full tank has time to warm up again.
Smart guy picks up half full cylinder.
Litter Bad.
Free Propane Good.

[AfricanMystic]

Well, Jcwtexas, it's not johnsned51's fault that you can't read and / or have no scientific education. His post was totally readable to me and is not negative. It's informative.

This is a dangerous thing to do. There is a good reason that these cylinders are not rated for refilling. They are designed for 1 use, but are over spec'd for safety. It's that safety margin that you are playing with.

Have you ever seen the sort of explosion and the devastation that one of these can cause, it can easily kill.

So if you’re going to refill, then having more info is very valuable. It could save your life. So if you do not understand the info passed on here, do not refill any cylinders. Or, rather do, and rid the gene pool of yourself.

[oldtimejewelerguy]

I agree with AfricanMystic and johnsned51, I have an adaptor for filling the 1 pounders and I am going to toss it - It is much easier and safer and in the long run probably cheaper to just go and buy the 1 pounders on sale at a discount store!

[snowluck2345]

I don't think this is proper English: His post was totally readable. Legible maybe? or understandable?

[Dodge]

Read it with a Hank Hill voice. It's easier to understand that way.

Jaykaying, Johnsned51, jkjk...
I actually learned something. Thank you.

[Tizaro]

this is a dangerous thing to do, if you aren't careful about it
follow the rules and play it safe and go easy and you'll be alright

the only reason i wont do this is because i'm pretty lazy

[JimQPublic]

I agree that it seems there's a danger of leaking or overfilled cylinders. Where this makes a lot of sense is while camping- especially with a big group. We do a group campout twice a year where there are 3 lanterns and a few portable stoves going. Over 5 nights we probably burn through 15 1 lb cylinders. I'm going to set myself up to refill them AT THE CAMPSITE so we aren't transporting refilled cylinders. I'll also bring my digital scale so I can be sure they aren't overfilled.

[NateHoy]

If you're with a big group, wouldn't it make more sense to simply pick up a propane tree/adapter kit and use 20-pounders to start with?

I work on an AT maintenance that can have as many as 20 people in a group (though usually around 10), and we use one of those temporary tarp "garages" as our kitchen. We set solid folding tables down the middle and have propane lanterns on the top of the "tree" and Coleman propane stoves set on the tables, all hooked to a couple of 20# tanks. Then our folding chairs go along the sides of the tent. It gives us a centralized, protected, and comfortable area to prepare and eat our meals and socalize.

Using the 20# tanks directly means we don't have to deal with the hassle of refilling 1# tanks. A 20# tank can run a propane lantern and a couple of Coleman stoves for quite some time.

[Lonelydad1962]

To be nice, I think this a Great ideal, But I would like to take it one step farther. Why not have a Bottle deposit on them and be able to return then to a Propane supplier for refund and from there they are not going in to the landfills or thrown into the Bush. As a Ex Alberta forestry fire fighter I have seen many of these little bottle just left laying around and many half full. or even use 20lb propane Tree with hoses. Thank you for your Time

[olawlor]

Good writeup, thanks! FYI, these little tanks seem to be made from two deep-drawn sheet metal halves which are brazed together in a ring around the middle. My understanding is the difference between the more scarce and expensive refillable and these "nonrefillable" canisters is thinner metal and no annealing. The feds are worried that a thin non-annealed tank could crack or explosively fracture if it's repeatedly pressure-cycled. The thin walls are also more likely to rust through.

Both of these effects mean you probably want to limit the number of times you refill a given cylinder, and use some fragmentation shielding (e.g., lexan plate) during the refill process.

[Cobius]

You got it!

[POMANDREW]

Thank you Cobius for your clear and concise explanation of why this is a 'not-so-wise' idea...at least some of us listen to the voice of experience / technical education.. I say this with no disrespect to the author, who obviously has researched liquified gas storage, just trying to bring home the point..just 'cos it can be done,doesn't make it safe..the cycling limitation aspect of the cylinder construction was news to me, and again I thank you for this insight..kinda like bending a paper clip, except potentially lethal to yourself, family and friends/neighbours/fellow campers..plus the added risk of causing bushfires..(being from Victoria,Australia,(and quite close to Marysville, kinda had enough of those..)..I really doubt anyone would be able to console themselves with 'at least I saved $12..

[Cobius]

No problem Pomandrew. The biggest issues or people getting hurt from a cylinder coming apart are with these small non refillable and the oxygen high pressure.

[royt]

Come on you guys THIS WORKS! You are beating the system! Anyone can screw up so follow the instructions carefully. Have done this for years and no problems. Early on had to make my own adapter, just were not out there! Put your small bottles in the freezer for about an hour and GO! At least you are keeping the small battlesout of the landfill!

[alfiius289]

Wouldn't it be better and safer to just buy an adapter hose (sold by all camping & sports outlets) and connect your burner to a big bottle? The standard 20# bottles are made to last and be re-filled for 12 years from date of manufacture. Just a thought.

[dmcgraw7]

Thank you! Last week, I tried to refill some small bottles before a camping trip, but it didn't work very well so I bought more. Obviously I didn't have enough pressure differential. I was about to send my 12 empty bottles to the recycler, but I'll attempt to refill them again. I usually use a 10lb. refillable tank for 3+ day camping trips, but I use the small 1lb. bottles on shorter trips. I also use the 1lb. bottles for the lantern, heater and torch. Thanks for the lesson!

[seth3d]

I've tried doing this before and had bad luck with leaks, I was very careful not to overfill them too. Spraying the valves with a bit of WD-40 seemed to help, but I ended up getting converter to hook my big cylinder up directly.

[arirang777]

GReat!!! I could save a lot of $$$$$ by not having to buy the little cylinders at CDN$4 a pop. A big cylinder (20 lbs. refill costs around CDN$15. However I wonder if I could use a BIG cylinder instead of the little guys. Seth3d mentioned an adapter. Could you provide more info about it? Thanks!

[seth3d]

I used an adapter very similar to what brgt40 posted a link to. They had several types at the hardware store... I'm using it for my mini-Webber grill which would kill about a half tank per grilling session. The small tanks are still very handy to have for camping, bunsen burners, blow torches, and the like. The leaky tank issue is very worrisome so I'm still buying the small propane tanks for these purposes unless I'm in a bind.

[brgt40]

Here is the big tank to little adapter with hose:

http://www.heatershop.com/mr_heater_portable_buddy_20lb_kit.html

Why bother to use the small tanks at all?

[licketyspitfire]

"Why bother to use the small tanks at all?"

If you were hiking 5 miles to a backwoods campsite, would you want to strap a 30# tank to your back or pack a couple of the small canisters?

[arirang777]

THANK YOU!!! thank you! I still use the little ones for the bunsen burners, and the occasional torch -pruning. (my neighbour's weeds like to come over to my garden so instead of cutting them, I torch them; their dying branches keeps the new ones at bay for a little longer)