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What to do with an old 20, 40, 100lb propane tank?

Pony_Driver

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Joined
May 25, 2020
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I have a few 20lb tanks that are beyond refilling and a hundred pound tank that I can turn into something else or scrap. What have you made or seen made from these? I don't want to paint one yellow and make it a Lego head. I already have a smoker so making another one is not at the top of the list.
 
Pony_Driver said:
I have a few 20lb tanks that are beyond refilling and a hundred pound tank that I can turn into something else or scrap. What have you made or seen made from these? I don't want to paint one yellow and make it a Lego head. I already have a smoker so making another one is not at the top of the list.
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Make another smoker anyway then sell it when someone offers to buy it.
 
Target...

My local yard requires that tanks be cut into sections and crushed flat before they will except them and that’s too much damn work.
 
uh, they're never too old to get filled
I've got some 20s that are so ancient that the collar on top doesn't look like the standard ones
old valves, still using them

once the valves start leaking then I'll probably turn them into gas cans
propane tanks make the best gas cans because you can seal them real good and then nothing evaporates off, making your gas last indefinately
 
[486] said:
uh, they're never too old to get filled
I've got some 20s that are so ancient that the collar on top doesn't look like the standard ones
old valves, still using them

once the valves start leaking then I'll probably turn them into gas cans
propane tanks make the best gas cans because you can seal them real good and then nothing evaporates off, making your gas last indefinately
Click to expand...
Once they get super rusty they don't like refilling them here. I could swap them out at a station but I have spares. One tank has a bad seal and I don't need it. It will get repurposed. I don't even know how to go about putting gas into one let along getting it back out.
 
Some places will not refill unless they have been inspected within the last 10 0r 12 years, do not really remember the limit since last tank inspection, maybe erictylers could step in. And they will not typically fill if there is scaley rust. The nozzle is questionable, the typical fuel station refill has the external thread like a more modern BBQ grill. And not the old style that is typically on motorhomes, with the internal thread.

I got a place that the old Pakistani dude is almost blind and does not care.
 
the 100 pound, flush with water or air for a few days. make a cool ass grill out of it. use a smaller tank for the indirect pot.
 
Pony_Driver said:
I don't even know how to go about putting gas into one let along getting it back out.
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hole saw, pipe nipple cut in two and a 1" ball valve between the two halves
use a 3/4 one in the valve port with an elbow as a vent, point the elbow away from the spout one
 
NOODLES said:
the 100 pound, flush with water or air for a few days. make a cool ass grill out of it. use a smaller tank for the indirect pot.
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don't bother flushing it, just take the valve off and light the residual, it'll lazily burn out the opening while you're cutting
there'll be a little bit or drip gas in the bottom that stinks like the mercaptain, don't get it on you, burn the tank out good enough that the paint falls off once you got it cut open to get rid of the stink

don't use a cutting torch as it blows oxygen in there
 
Good info on the torch, that's probably what I would grab. Hmm, 100lb smoker, 20lb indirect fire box.
 
If you don't want to deal with the stench of burning off the tank you can fill it full of dry ice and let it sublimate out.
 
Will12785 said:
If you don't want to deal with the stench of burning off the tank you can fill it full of dry ice and let it sublimate out.
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will that make the mercaptan stink go away? fire makes the gas stink go away instantly
 
Number stamp the 100# cylinder with a BFH up on top of the tank. 04-21 E

The cylinders need a visual reinspection 12 years from date of manufacture. It’s stamped on the collar.

Plan B for the 20# cylinders is exchange at a cage in front of a liquor store (they don’t check) and get raped for 3.5 gallons.
 
Etyler2 said:
Number stamp the 100# cylinder with a BFH up on top of the tank. 04-21 E

The cylinders need a visual reinspection 12 years from date of manufacture. It’s stamped on the collar.

Plan B for the 20# cylinders is exchange at a cage in front of a liquor store (they don’t check) and get raped for 3.5 gallons.
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A stamp set is cheap...
Some places (ie: a LP distributor) who fill on site will also inspect for free with a fill (my bother had such a place inspect his 100# tanks last year).

Aaron Z
 
Cut bottom of 100# tank off.

Build stand to hold at 45*.

Put fuse through neck.

Add 1LB black powder.

Stuff whole pig into tank (Live pig optional).

Launch pig into next county.
 
A few years ago I acquired several tanks in a few short month, people were just giving them to me. Some had an outdated valve (according to Ca.gov). All I had to do was swap out the tanks, propane guy didn’t care.

I stopped collecting them after I had six. I have a gas grill and smoker, and we grill a lot. Now with the trailer we have eight total (20s) :homer:

We now have a propane fire pit that can drain a 20 in a evening, it’s good to have spares.
 
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