My husband’s been refilling these for years, first putting them in the freezer for easier draw. I had no idea it was illegal so I’m sending him this video, thank you.
I'd probably write the date on the bottle when I first refill it and replace them every 6 to 12 months. That would still allow you to cut down on the number of bottles you buy.
They put the Flame King kits and refillable bottles on sale at Amazon during the summer…. I bought the kit and four extra bottles last summer for 40% off… Game changer!! I’ve always hated that the green bottles would go to the landfill and refilling is so much cheaper. Win-win!! Thanks for another great video Bob and team!
I have had the Flame King kit for over 3 years. I like refilling the 1 pound tanks as I use them with our on demand hot water heater, 2 burner stove and as a back up should our bigger tank we use for the Blackstone griddle run empty. They are very convenient to have. As a Safety Officer, I can tell you that refilling the non-refillable tanks is an accident waiting to happen. If you have never seen a propane explosion it is massive. Why take the chance? If you shop around a bit, you can find the kit for less then $60 and on average the refillable tanks for about $15. People always say "I've done it this way for years and never had a problem". I have a saying for that, "you've never had a problem until you've had a problem, then you've had a problem". Hopefully one you can walk away from. Nice video.
Bob, I cut the tank of the prefilled tanks, and the Flame King tanks. The prefilled tank is NOT as thick as the Flame King tanks. The prefilled was less than an eighth of an inch. The flame king was much thicker. Made to take the extra pressure. Plus it works like the commercial tanks, with relief valve, for overfill. I love our setup. We use it on our big buddy heater. This way I don’t have to have a window open, or the slide seal opened, to run a 5lb tank from outside.
Thank you for this demonstration. Here are a few details that weren't covered. Propane is a liquid at room temperature when it is held above a certain pressure. When the compressed gas expands, through an orifice, the gas cools well below room temperature. When the one pound bottle is filled then liquid propane starts squatting from the side outlet valve. The purchased propane contains a small quantity of odorant that is added so the leaked gas can be easily detected by the human nose. The odorant is destroyed when propane gas is burned. The gas that lies above the liquid is propane vapor, not air. When the gas is 'purged' from the bottle it is a serious fire hazard. Measures must be taken to ensure that the emitted gas doesn't come in contact with burning embers, open flame, or spark ignition sources. Propane gas is heavier than air so it tends to flow into low areas. Such filing actions should be done in the open air with an opportunity for good air flow. Propane gas, if given enough time, can disperse widely in the air. Within a certain concentration range the burn reaction can be explosive, especially if the propane air mix is confined within a closed space.
I remember only paying like $3 and something cents for a four pack now the prices have just skyrocketed. I no longer buy them glad that they came out with the refillable. Thank you so much for showing us how to do this I feel like I can do it by myself.
Everyone should watch this to understand displacement. It should be taught in school. It's my pet peeve. I hate when I go to a restaurant and the staff has filled the pepper shaker to the brim. I have to take the top off and make a mess to get pepper. It's a basic principle we need to know.
It's not displacement. If you don't release the pressure you have two containers at equal pressure therefore very little liquid will flow. By opening the container to the atmosphere you create a differental pressure of approximately 145psi at 70f. The liquid in the small bottle further drops its pressure as the liquid within it boils at -44f at the atmospheric pressure. Propane vapor is being released to the atmosphere, not air. Never do this indoors.
After 1 explosion people will wish they never started refilling. My Dad restored old propane tractors before he died and had 50 or so. They leak and yeah you smell it but if there is a smell from a leak it will take any kind of spark and that’s all she wrote. Propane is a heavy gas and settles to the lowest point whether it is the floor of your van or the ground when you are outside cooking. It’s a great source of fuel but after seeing what it does when it explodes you will change your mind. I use butane just because it is safer.
VERY VERY GOOD VIDEO! Answers a lot of questions and I agree with you on why not to refill those small tanks.. Some comments: Propane is a liquefied gas and all gases share the same property; In a bottle, pressure, volume, temperature and the type of gas all affect each other: PV=nRT. When a gas is compressed or decompressed, the energy level of the molecules increase or decrease. When volume increases (you let it out of the bottle) the energy in the molecules decrease and the tank and the gas gets cold. It's the same when you fill a SCUBA tank. the energy in the molecules increase and the tank gets hot.. LOL. Wow, I remember that from high school chemistry.. a long long time ago....
Thank you!! There was a fire at a propane filling depot near where I used to live. I was driving a couple blocks away as it started & there were trucks from 5 departments rushing there. I saw the news footage later. The bbq tanks were being hurled, & popping like popcorn & the flames got dangerously close to the really big ones. They literally are like bombs. Luckily no one was hurt.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Bob, for explaining the refill process so that anyone can understand. I've been very hesitant to even attempt to do this, but now I feel more confident to try. Here's to saving money on propane!! Also, thank you for bringing this new product to our attention. I will be looking into purchasing the kit. You are worth more than your weight in gold, my friend!! 😊
Hi Bob! I just watched you on the Sue Perkins American Road trip and was so indoors by your life and where you have transitioned from personally into helping others. Thank you for being you. New subscriber here waving to you from Cornwall UK! It’s beautiful here and if you ever fancy coming to visit, i would be delighted to show you a few places you may wish to park up. Lots of love ❤
Folks, just an FYI... I was a delivery driver for a large national propane company for years. Propane is highly flammable - that is why it is such a great fuel. However, it is NOT explosive. This is a very common misconception. Needless to say, you still don't want your RV to be full of propane. Always be safe. Thanks for another great video, Bob.
"it is NOT explosive" That's not entirely true. It depends on the situation in which the gas is ignited. If you have an RV full of propane and something sparks, that gas is going to ignite and you will have an explosion. Same thing if you have an open flame in the RV and a propane leak. Eventually, that leak will fill the RV to the point where the gas comes in contact with the open flame and it will explode. Shooting a propane tank with a bullet however, has been shown to not cause and explosion. The difference between an RV full of propane and a propane tank being penetrated by a bullet, is the availability of oxygen. The propane in the tank doesn't have access to available oxygen, the propane filled RV does.
Propane is highly explosive. If a tank leaks enough gas into a room that is not vented and somebody goes in that room and flips a light switch on, the room will go KABOOM. That is why propane should be stored in a vented room or outside. You will get the same reaction as you would with natural gas.
The problem with filling the green bottle s is that you might fill them more than there 80% volume limit if you are not weighing in the 1lb of propane. Therefore the container may burst due to the expansion of liquid propane when the container gets hot. Everything is fine until the inside of your truck where you stored the bottles gets hot. People aren't aware of what they're messing with.
I’d heard these were refillable but was concerned about the safety. Now I understand why. Just ordered the kit and tanks! Glad to be able to support the channel and save $. Thanks Bob!❤
I have used numerous green bottles with a couple get stuck valves after disconnecting them from a lamp or stove. I am not going to pick at a stuck steel valve stem with propane spewing everywhere risking spark and explosion.
Make sure you do this outdoors. That's not air coming out of the bottles it's flammable propane gas. Propane turns to gas at -44 f , that's why it is cold. The rotten egg smell is mercantile that they add to Propane so you can tell if you have a Propane leak. Nice vid👍
Thank you for yet another wonderfully informative video! Many years ago I had to depend on my portable Coleman camping stove for quite some time. My stand alone stove/oven went out and the part to fix it was almost the cost of a new stove. So I stocked up on the 1lb disposable gas bottles. At the time, thankfully, they were a lot less expensive but over time they did add up. Plus it’s more trash going to the landfill. These new refillable ones are a great idea and had they been around back then I would definitely have invested in them! Thanks again and take care.
Ive been running these Flameking bottles for about 6 months and have refilled them numerous times. they work great i have 1 bottle that has messed up threads due to my own mistakes. i bought a set of caps for them on amazon and have not had another issue. I highly reccomend getting a set of these. a full refill of the 20lb propane tank cost me $18 at Tractor supply and i can refill all 5 bottles 4 times. easily have paid for themselves over the course of 2 months.
Love the safety tips! great vid. Propane Gas is cold because a compressed gas-when pressure is released-will cool. (fun example: take a car tire valve stem out of a full tire. The air released will frost the valve stem)
What a great lesson! My needs are minimal as an occasional van dweller, so I've been using butane. But propane is looking like a good option now that I've learned so much!
You know the new green 1 pounders. You don't know the old green 1 pounders. I don't transport them. Fill and use them in one spot. Don't fill them after any weathering or excessive aging. You use a flexible transfer line with a valve, not a rigid one. You don't fill to more than 80% by volume. Open the special relief Schrader with a tool capped valve cover until it releases air then cold gas. Angle the small tank to know when liquid has reached the bottom of the relief valve. Turn off the main valve first, then the relief gets screwed down to its original position. As the very cold 1 pound tank returns to outdoor temperature, the liquid portion will expand a lot, but cause no problem because of the big gas area you left at the top. Abuse or a split rubber oring will leak. I always keep the plastic cap and sniff both valves after filling just like the manufacturer. My favorite uses are propane torches and 1 mantle lanterns. In a day, your cooking will empty one.
Thank you for this great video, very informative and useful for all of us that appreciate learning the best safety measures so we can be confident in using propane for its many terrific camping features.
There ya go folks, insurance won't pay for damages to your vehicle if they find exploded green 1lb propane tanks (tell me they won't explode in the heat of a vehicle fire, refilled or not?) in your rig....there is no way for them to tell if they were refilled, so it doesn't matter, they find them (and we all have them, refilled or not) and refuse to pay for damages cause you know how insurance companies roll, they'll find any reason/excuse to get out of paying. So unless you buy the refillable ones & you use a gas camping stove to cook, better put money into an emergency fund in case your vehicle catches fire.
Good video, Bob. I bought the Flame King 1 lb bottles and the refilling tap before I even got my rig. No point in taking the chance. Life is short enough as it is. Wanted to save money and not litter the environment with those Coleman bottles.
I agree with you it is never worth any risk to do things that are consdiered dangerous or illegal. life is to precious to take unecessary risks. driving is dangerous yes but we need to travel, and need to go places so we drive but we try to drive as carefully as possible to reduce risks we can.
Interesting timing! I JUST tried to refill one of these green cannisters with a special adapter. Turned out the release valve was faulty. After I noticed the slow leak (from the smell) I had to empty the can entirely, and then put it into the recycle bin. So sad. Now I'm excited to get this refill kit you talk about!
Thanks for the safety lesson. Many other TH-camrs are promoting refilling these green one-use containers, bypassing the safety warnings, & putting others in danger.❤
If you don't want to drag around a 20lb cylinder Flame King has a selection of smaller ones. 3lb to 11lb. They're not cheap but it's a lot easier. The butane one burners come in duo fuel butane/propane models. For an extra $20 you can run it off of a propane cylinder instead of continually buying the small butane cans. This will pay for itself in short order.
An excellent job with your video. I totally agree with you that those dark green bottles non-refillable should not be refilled. I tried telling my friends this so that they just don’t listen to me. I’m not gonna be around when crap happens. I like the idea that things at the time were not designed to be used like this they were made to either be refilled or not.
I agree 100%. Propane is highly flammable ~ Safety First. Both *Flame King and *Fuel Keg 1lb "tanks" are refillable and DOT-approved, meaning you can legally transport them in your vehicle. The problem is the refill adapters between *Flame King and *Fuel Keg are not compatible. 🤠
Bob's videos are the best👍! In this one, he addressed the fact that insurance will not pay on a claim if it's found that a fire was a result of a worn out mechanism on a cannister that was never meant to be refilled. But to take that even further, any fire inside a vehicle or van that started because someone was cooking inside, regardless of what the source was, propane, or butane cannister, is also a non payable claim. If a damage claim is determined, not the fault of the owner, that claim can pay a good amount. But if the finding is otherwise, the owner is responsible for repairs and/or has to pay the amount for another vehicle in the event of a total loss. I have seen too many vanlife videos with curtains, blankets, and mattresses within inches of a stove. If that is not safe in a sticks and bricks home I don't see the logic why it'd be ok in a van because there isn't any logic to it. Having a fire extinguisher and surrounding the stove from all sides in some type of metal enclosure would be a more realistic plan. Look around at thrift stores for some kind of metal box that a small stove would fit perfect inside. Something easily accessible to cook in and close off in case an errant flame gets out of hand.
Thanks Bob, been warning about refilling disposable bottles glad to see you under the risks. Best option is to use a large bottle. Best to buy one new and never exchange it, always get it filled. You will save money and never get a bottle with water and rust in it. Buy an adapter to run your device from the large bottle. Only use I have for disposable bottles is using in an emergency like running out at night when you need heat.
I did buy one of the propane refill valves. They refilled enough to give me a single use on my propane stove ie I could boil a small kettle of water and then it was out again. Maybe it was just the valve I used, but I found it to be a pain and not worth the time. I will buy this system as reducing as much waste as possible is my goal for this year. Any tips to saving trash but not creating laundry (paper products are one of my biggest trash items) would be appreciated.
Bob, another informative vid. I don't refill any bottles that say not to...must a good reason. That's 4 tutorial on refilling legit bottles. Love in Sarasota ❤❤❤
I refill mine, but I cycle through them and dispose of them if they have any signs of wear on the bottle itself or the pressure relief valve. I weigh them and make sure they do not overfill. People often leave them by the trash cans at campgrounds so I have an easy supply of fresh tanks. I am a casual camper, not a vanlifer.
Bob, there isn't air in a propane bottle, it's propane vapor. The same stuff that's sent to your stove or other appliances. Think steam vs. liquid water. The vent you open is not to vent the air, it's so you can shut off the feed valve and stop filling the canister when the liquid propane reaches the maximum safe level, leaving sufficient room inside the cylinder for the liquid to expand into if the cylinder warms up in hot weather, etc. When the discharge changes it's because it's venting liquid propane which then flashes into vapor as soon as it's released from the tank. Liquid propane is 200 times as dense as the vapor, which means a small amount of liquid coming out expands into 200 times as much volume as compared to venting just vapor.
Thank you Bob for the FYI. Nice to know there is an alternative. It's the waste factor not recycling them that bothers me. I hate throwing them in the trash. How do you recycle the bottles? Let us know. Good safety video. 💜🕊️
Had no idea people refill those little green bottles now I want to try refilling 3 empty ones I have. Just seems like a waste of good bottle use it and throw it in the trash. I checked with my FIL he used to work at a propane company said the bottles don't have air in them the air is vacuumed out of the tank when they manufacture them. The purge valve you see a employee using to fill a bottle is just to tell when the bottle is full. Pressure is needed to turn from a gas to a liquid. The valve just cracked as the pressure builds liquid fills to the hole and comes out that when you know it's full.
If, after this video, you decide to dismiss Bob's wisdom on this and continue to just fill the disposables, here's something else to think about. As you're filling the disposables, you are actually weakening the mid bottle seem on those, in a bad way. If you continue, you could experience something Very Tragic, usually at about the 18th - 20th time you do it with the same bottle. That seem will split, exploding the bottle in your face! Don't believe? Measure that disposable bottle around it's girth with micrometers when empty, then again, after you fill it. You'll see the difference in diameter. C'mon people - just do the right thing & go with the Flame King method. Filling those disposables is just not worth the chances you are taking!
I was indifferent to using the disposables until I saw a photo of a disposable and refillable canister side view cut in half on the internet. The comparative thinness of the metal walls was so apparent that it was concerning. At $62 the refillable would pay for themselves in 15 bottles, using 3 refillable bottles that's only five refills. Not having the insurance cover an accident would be the least of my worries, I always reason more catastrophic level such as if someone else was injured or worse killed that could place me looking at unintentional homicide charges, $62 just isnt worth the gamble.
I have a dozen of the flame king bottles and they also leak. I have to keep them outside for safety but they do leak too. Its legal to transport them at least. The little black O rings come out and the blueish plastic spacers come out too but they still work. Ive had alot of issues with them. Once you lose that O ring, its over . Gotta buy another one.
I always thought the little vent was connected to a dip tube that reaches the liquid when the container is 80% full. The 20% space left is needed for possible liquid expansion from heat. Perhaps absence of a dip tube is mainly what makes refilling a disposable bottle hazardous.
My husband’s been refilling these for years, first putting them in the freezer for easier draw. I had no idea it was illegal so I’m sending him this video, thank you.
They start to change shape after a while
I'd probably write the date on the bottle when I first refill it and replace them every 6 to 12 months. That would still allow you to cut down on the number of bottles you buy.
I'd suggest wearing safety glasses also.
You didn’t see the bright, neon orange warning label on them that said that it’s illegal?
@@jmn1238Yes.
They put the Flame King kits and refillable bottles on sale at Amazon during the summer…. I bought the kit and four extra bottles last summer for 40% off… Game changer!! I’ve always hated that the green bottles would go to the landfill and refilling is so much cheaper. Win-win!!
Thanks for another great video Bob and team!
I've been using the Flame King refill kit and 6 of their bottles for 3-4 years now. Very happy with them. In Canada 🇨🇦
I'm in BC. Thanks for this. I'll try to find them.
I’m really glad that you talk about safety on your channel 😊
I have had the Flame King kit for over 3 years. I like refilling the 1 pound tanks as I use them with our on demand hot water heater, 2 burner stove and as a back up should our bigger tank we use for the Blackstone griddle run empty. They are very convenient to have. As a Safety Officer, I can tell you that refilling the non-refillable tanks is an accident waiting to happen. If you have never seen a propane explosion it is massive. Why take the chance? If you shop around a bit, you can find the kit for less then $60 and on average the refillable tanks for about $15. People always say "I've done it this way for years and never had a problem". I have a saying for that, "you've never had a problem until you've had a problem, then you've had a problem". Hopefully one you can walk away from. Nice video.
Bob, I cut the tank of the prefilled tanks, and the Flame King tanks. The prefilled tank is NOT as thick as the Flame King tanks. The prefilled was less than an eighth of an inch. The flame king was much thicker. Made to take the extra pressure. Plus it works like the commercial tanks, with relief valve, for overfill.
I love our setup. We use it on our big buddy heater. This way I don’t have to have a window open, or the slide seal opened, to run a 5lb tank from outside.
Thank you for this demonstration. Here are a few details that weren't covered. Propane is a liquid at room temperature when it is held above a certain pressure. When the compressed gas expands, through an orifice, the gas cools well below room temperature. When the one pound bottle is filled then liquid propane starts squatting from the side outlet valve. The purchased propane contains a small quantity of odorant that is added so the leaked gas can be easily detected by the human nose. The odorant is destroyed when propane gas is burned. The gas that lies above the liquid is propane vapor, not air. When the gas is 'purged' from the bottle it is a serious fire hazard. Measures must be taken to ensure that the emitted gas doesn't come in contact with burning embers, open flame, or spark ignition sources. Propane gas is heavier than air so it tends to flow into low areas. Such filing actions should be done in the open air with an opportunity for good air flow. Propane gas, if given enough time, can disperse widely in the air. Within a certain concentration range the burn reaction can be explosive, especially if the propane air mix is confined within a closed space.
I remember only paying like $3 and something cents for a four pack now the prices have just skyrocketed. I no longer buy them glad that they came out with the refillable. Thank you so much for showing us how to do this I feel like I can do it by myself.
Everyone should watch this to understand displacement. It should be taught in school. It's my pet peeve. I hate when I go to a restaurant and the staff has filled the pepper shaker to the brim. I have to take the top off and make a mess to get pepper. It's a basic principle we need to know.
It's not displacement.
If you don't release the pressure you have two containers at equal pressure therefore very little liquid will flow. By opening the container to the atmosphere you create a differental pressure of approximately 145psi at 70f. The liquid in the small bottle further drops its pressure as the liquid within it boils at -44f at the atmospheric pressure. Propane vapor is being released to the atmosphere, not air. Never do this indoors.
After 1 explosion people will wish they never started refilling. My Dad restored old propane tractors before he died and had 50 or so. They leak and yeah you smell it but if there is a smell from a leak it will take any kind of spark and that’s all she wrote. Propane is a heavy gas and settles to the lowest point whether it is the floor of your van or the ground when you are outside cooking. It’s a great source of fuel but after seeing what it does when it explodes you will change your mind. I use butane just because it is safer.
Someone said its flammable but NOT explosive.
Excellent Demonstration Sir! Thank You Very Much 🙏👍
anybody else getting Hank Hill vibes? ❤
VERY VERY GOOD VIDEO! Answers a lot of questions and I agree with you on why not to refill those small tanks.. Some comments: Propane is a liquefied gas and all gases share the same property; In a bottle, pressure, volume, temperature and the type of gas all affect each other: PV=nRT. When a gas is compressed or decompressed, the energy level of the molecules increase or decrease. When volume increases (you let it out of the bottle) the energy in the molecules decrease and the tank and the gas gets cold. It's the same when you fill a SCUBA tank. the energy in the molecules increase and the tank gets hot.. LOL. Wow, I remember that from high school chemistry.. a long long time ago....
I like your channel a lot. You take the time to show how things are done at a pace one can follow along. THANK YOU!
Thank you!! There was a fire at a propane filling depot near where I used to live. I was driving a couple blocks away as it started & there were trucks from 5 departments rushing there. I saw the news footage later. The bbq tanks were being hurled, & popping like popcorn & the flames got dangerously close to the really big ones. They literally are like bombs. Luckily no one was hurt.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU, Bob, for explaining the refill process so that anyone can understand. I've been very hesitant to even attempt to do this, but now I feel more confident to try. Here's to saving money on propane!!
Also, thank you for bringing this new product to our attention. I will be looking into purchasing the kit.
You are worth more than your weight in gold, my friend!! 😊
Hi Bob! I just watched you on the Sue Perkins American Road trip and was so indoors by your life and where you have transitioned from personally into helping others. Thank you for being you. New subscriber here waving to you from Cornwall UK! It’s beautiful here and if you ever fancy coming to visit, i would be delighted to show you a few places you may wish to park up. Lots of love ❤
Thank you! You're awesome!
I hear Hank Hill: Propane, and Propane accessories. I was hoping he would say it, lol. 😂
Been refilling my 6 1lb greenies for a few years, until now. Thanks, Bob
Thank you for informing van dwellers to keep everyone safe ❤❤❤
Been using these for four years. Really easy to use and saves a ton of money.
Worth every penny ✌️
Thanks Bob. Your absolutely correct. There’s no price for your safety. I know I’m going to order mine right now. Everyone should. 🌲🌲🌲
Folks, just an FYI... I was a delivery driver for a large national propane company for years. Propane is highly flammable - that is why it is such a great fuel. However, it is NOT explosive. This is a very common misconception. Needless to say, you still don't want your RV to be full of propane. Always be safe. Thanks for another great video, Bob.
"it is NOT explosive"
That's not entirely true.
It depends on the situation in which the gas is ignited.
If you have an RV full of propane and something sparks, that gas is going to ignite and you will have an explosion.
Same thing if you have an open flame in the RV and a propane leak.
Eventually, that leak will fill the RV to the point where the gas comes in contact with the open flame and it will explode.
Shooting a propane tank with a bullet however, has been shown to not cause and explosion.
The difference between an RV full of propane and a propane tank being penetrated by a bullet, is the availability of oxygen.
The propane in the tank doesn't have access to available oxygen, the propane filled RV does.
The largest explosion in Fairbanks, Alaska in the 70's was the Dairy Queen basement propane explosion, it leveled the store.
Thank you.
won't Anything under pressure "explode"? thinking of mentos and soft drinks here...
Propane is highly explosive. If a tank leaks enough gas into a room that is not vented and somebody goes in that room and flips a light switch on, the room will go KABOOM. That is why propane should be stored in a vented room or outside. You will get the same reaction as you would with natural gas.
Thanks again Bob for thinking about / of everyone's safty and well being.
The problem with filling the green bottle s is that you might fill them more than there 80% volume limit if you are not weighing in the 1lb of propane. Therefore the container may burst due to the expansion of liquid propane when the container gets hot. Everything is fine until the inside of your truck where you stored the bottles gets hot. People aren't aware of what they're messing with.
Great stuff right here!
I’d heard these were refillable but was concerned about the safety. Now I understand why. Just ordered the kit and tanks! Glad to be able to support the channel and save $. Thanks Bob!❤
I have used numerous green bottles with a couple get stuck valves after disconnecting them from a lamp or stove. I am not going to pick at a stuck steel valve stem with propane spewing everywhere risking spark and explosion.
Make sure you do this outdoors. That's not air coming out of the bottles it's flammable propane gas. Propane turns to gas at -44 f , that's why it is cold. The rotten egg smell is mercantile that they add to Propane so you can tell if you have a Propane leak.
Nice vid👍
Propane boils at -40, and the oderant is called mercaptan
Thank you for yet another wonderfully informative video! Many years ago I had to depend on my portable Coleman camping stove for quite some time. My stand alone stove/oven went out and the part to fix it was almost the cost of a new stove. So I stocked up on the 1lb disposable gas bottles. At the time, thankfully, they were a lot less expensive but over time they did add up. Plus it’s more trash going to the landfill. These new refillable ones are a great idea and had they been around back then I would definitely have invested in them! Thanks again and take care.
Ive been running these Flameking bottles for about 6 months and have refilled them numerous times. they work great i have 1 bottle that has messed up threads due to my own mistakes. i bought a set of caps for them on amazon and have not had another issue. I highly reccomend getting a set of these. a full refill of the 20lb propane tank cost me $18 at Tractor supply and i can refill all 5 bottles 4 times. easily have paid for themselves over the course of 2 months.
Love the safety tips! great vid. Propane Gas is cold because a compressed gas-when pressure is released-will cool. (fun example: take a car tire valve stem out of a full tire. The air released will frost the valve stem)
Thanks for the information. I have never refilled them. Glad to know about the alternative.
Thank you Bob! I've been looking at that refill kit but wasn't sure how safe the process would be. Your video answered all my questions.
The blue one pound can be refilled too. But they must be making green refillable now too, thank you !
Thanks for sharing and taking us along
Thank you Bob, this was a really good video to put out there. Excellent information to know and be warned about.
Yessir,to refill the right way😎
What a great lesson! My needs are minimal as an occasional van dweller, so I've been using butane. But propane is looking like a good option now that I've learned so much!
I don't refill the bottles but I do sure hate filling the trash with steel propane bottles! Thanks for finding a safe way to do that!
You know the new green 1 pounders. You don't know the old green 1 pounders. I don't transport them. Fill and use them in one spot. Don't fill them after any weathering or excessive aging. You use a flexible transfer line with a valve, not a rigid one. You don't fill to more than 80% by volume. Open the special relief Schrader with a tool capped valve cover until it releases air then cold gas. Angle the small tank to know when liquid has reached the bottom of the relief valve. Turn off the main valve first, then the relief gets screwed down to its original position. As the very cold 1 pound tank returns to outdoor temperature, the liquid portion will expand a lot, but cause no problem because of the big gas area you left at the top. Abuse or a split rubber oring will leak. I always keep the plastic cap and sniff both valves after filling just like the manufacturer. My favorite uses are propane torches and 1 mantle lanterns. In a day, your cooking will empty one.
Ive used this system all summer. I have a small rig so i bring 3 of these around with a 10lb pancake main tank to refill from from.
Thank you for this great video, very informative and useful for all of us that appreciate learning the best safety measures so we can be confident in using propane for its many terrific camping features.
There ya go folks, insurance won't pay for damages to your vehicle if they find exploded green 1lb propane tanks (tell me they won't explode in the heat of a vehicle fire, refilled or not?) in your rig....there is no way for them to tell if they were refilled, so it doesn't matter, they find them (and we all have them, refilled or not) and refuse to pay for damages cause you know how insurance companies roll, they'll find any reason/excuse to get out of paying. So unless you buy the refillable ones & you use a gas camping stove to cook, better put money into an emergency fund in case your vehicle catches fire.
Good video, Bob. I bought the Flame King 1 lb bottles and the refilling tap before I even got my rig. No point in taking the chance. Life is short enough as it is. Wanted to save money and not litter the environment with those Coleman bottles.
I agree with you it is never worth any risk to do things that are consdiered dangerous or illegal. life is to precious to take unecessary risks. driving is dangerous yes but we need to travel, and need to go places so we drive but we try to drive as carefully as possible to reduce risks we can.
Just got my 1# refillable propane cylinders! Thanks for the info!
Interesting timing! I JUST tried to refill one of these green cannisters with a special adapter. Turned out the release valve was faulty. After I noticed the slow leak (from the smell) I had to empty the can entirely, and then put it into the recycle bin. So sad. Now I'm excited to get this refill kit you talk about!
Thanks for the safety lesson. Many other TH-camrs are promoting refilling these green one-use containers, bypassing the safety warnings, & putting others in danger.❤
I have that flame king kit and I use it all the time, it works great, enjoyed your video
Another great informative video plus a dog cameo at 15:35 thanks Bob..
Very helpful video. I am going to start doing this. Saving some money sounds good to me!
Thanks for this info. Glad a company finally came out with a refillable small bottle.
Mr Heater brand just came out with a similar kit and refillable bottles.
Thanks for the safety information
Mr Heater has also come out with a similar system that I think is a little better system but both work well and do the job intended.
Thanks so much for posting this, Bob. This seems an excellent way to fill the smaller containers. Always better to be safe than sorry.👍
.. never knew this was around, good Info .. 🔥🥩🍽️
Great as always Bob.
Bob's a real one!❤❤❤
Real good video, Bob, explaining how propane works. It sounds dangerous.
Thank you very much .
If you don't want to drag around a 20lb cylinder Flame King has a selection of smaller ones. 3lb to 11lb. They're not cheap but it's a lot easier. The butane one burners come in duo fuel butane/propane models. For an extra $20 you can run it off of a propane cylinder instead of continually buying the small butane cans. This will pay for itself in short order.
Excellent information-Thank you Bob!
An excellent job with your video. I totally agree with you that those dark green bottles non-refillable should not be refilled. I tried telling my friends this so that they just don’t listen to me. I’m not gonna be around when crap happens. I like the idea that things at the time were not designed to be used like this they were made to either be refilled or not.
Thanks bob that is a money saver
I agree 100%. Propane is highly flammable ~ Safety First. Both *Flame King and *Fuel Keg 1lb "tanks" are refillable and DOT-approved, meaning you can legally transport them in your vehicle. The problem is the refill adapters between *Flame King and *Fuel Keg are not compatible. 🤠
Bob's videos are the best👍! In this one, he addressed the fact that insurance will not pay on a claim if it's found that a fire was a result of a worn out mechanism on a cannister that was never meant to be refilled. But to take that even further, any fire inside a vehicle or van that started because someone was cooking inside, regardless of what the source was, propane, or butane cannister, is also a non payable claim. If a damage claim is determined, not the fault of the owner, that claim can pay a good amount. But if the finding is otherwise, the owner is responsible for repairs and/or has to pay the amount for another vehicle in the event of a total loss. I have seen too many vanlife videos with curtains, blankets, and mattresses within inches of a stove. If that is not safe in a sticks and bricks home I don't see the logic why it'd be ok in a van because there isn't any logic to it. Having a fire extinguisher and surrounding the stove from all sides in some type of metal enclosure would be a more realistic plan. Look around at thrift stores for some kind of metal box that a small stove would fit perfect inside. Something easily accessible to cook in and close off in case an errant flame gets out of hand.
Thanks Bob, been warning about refilling disposable bottles glad to see you under the risks. Best option is to use a large bottle. Best to buy one new and never exchange it, always get it filled. You will save money and never get a bottle with water and rust in it. Buy an adapter to run your device from the large bottle.
Only use I have for disposable bottles is using in an emergency like running out at night when you need heat.
Good safety overview. Thanks.
I did buy one of the propane refill valves. They refilled enough to give me a single use on my propane stove ie I could boil a small kettle of water and then it was out again. Maybe it was just the valve I used, but I found it to be a pain and not worth the time. I will buy this system as reducing as much waste as possible is my goal for this year. Any tips to saving trash but not creating laundry (paper products are one of my biggest trash items) would be appreciated.
Many people use paper and make a campfire regularly
Bob, another informative vid. I don't refill any bottles that say not to...must a good reason. That's 4 tutorial on refilling legit bottles. Love in Sarasota ❤❤❤
thank for informations.
شكرا على المعلومات. فيديو جميل ونافع..
Bob, thanks so much. Through the years you have been my van Guru!👌😊
The Mr. Heater refill kit's stand is much more compact. And simpler.
Thank you so much for this information.
Wow! Nice.
Good topic. Thank you. 🌻
I refill mine, but I cycle through them and dispose of them if they have any signs of wear on the bottle itself or the pressure relief valve. I weigh them and make sure they do not overfill. People often leave them by the trash cans at campgrounds so I have an easy supply of fresh tanks. I am a casual camper, not a vanlifer.
Looking on Amazon 2 -16oz.Coleman bottles are $27! Thanks for the info!
Great and practical overview video on propane refills. Thanks!
We recently bought one of these. Thanks for the tutorial
Bob, there isn't air in a propane bottle, it's propane vapor. The same stuff that's sent to your stove or other appliances. Think steam vs. liquid water. The vent you open is not to vent the air, it's so you can shut off the feed valve and stop filling the canister when the liquid propane reaches the maximum safe level, leaving sufficient room inside the cylinder for the liquid to expand into if the cylinder warms up in hot weather, etc. When the discharge changes it's because it's venting liquid propane which then flashes into vapor as soon as it's released from the tank. Liquid propane is 200 times as dense as the vapor, which means a small amount of liquid coming out expands into 200 times as much volume as compared to venting just vapor.
Bob, Someone may have mentioned already, $20 refill is $4 / lb at 5 lbs in a 20#tank. That's only $1 less than your $5 colman.
Thanks for the info.
The approved bottles and the flame king kit sound like the way to go.
Thank you Bob for the FYI.
Nice to know there is an alternative.
It's the waste factor not recycling them
that bothers me.
I hate throwing them in the trash.
How do you recycle the bottles?
Let us know.
Good safety video.
💜🕊️
Had no idea people refill those little green bottles now I want to try refilling 3 empty ones I have. Just seems like a waste of good bottle use it and throw it in the trash. I checked with my FIL he used to work at a propane company said the bottles don't have air in them the air is vacuumed out of the tank when they manufacture them. The purge valve you see a employee using to fill a bottle is just to tell when the bottle is full. Pressure is needed to turn from a gas to a liquid. The valve just cracked as the pressure builds liquid fills to the hole and comes out that when you know it's full.
Walmart also sells refillable bottles and a refill valve, made by a different brand. They are in the camping section.
Very informative! Thanks for this video, Bob, as the non-refillable cylinders have gotten so expensive!!
The Coleman cylinders are near $10 where I live so this kit is an even bigger money saver.😮
Here, too in Wa. State...🥴
Thank you, thank you for this learning experience.
If, after this video, you decide to dismiss Bob's wisdom on this and continue to just fill the disposables, here's something else to think about.
As you're filling the disposables, you are actually weakening the mid bottle seem on those, in a bad way.
If you continue, you could experience something Very Tragic, usually at about the 18th - 20th time you do it with the same bottle. That seem will split, exploding the bottle in your face!
Don't believe? Measure that disposable bottle around it's girth with micrometers when empty, then again, after you fill it. You'll see the difference in diameter.
C'mon people - just do the right thing & go with the Flame King method. Filling those disposables is just not worth the chances you are taking!
"Seem" - sorry, "seam"
"Seem" - Sorry - "seam" (Spell check)
Seam vs seem
Great video!
I was indifferent to using the disposables until I saw a photo of a disposable and refillable canister side view cut in half on the internet. The comparative thinness of the metal walls was so apparent that it was concerning. At $62 the refillable would pay for themselves in 15 bottles, using 3 refillable bottles that's only five refills. Not having the insurance cover an accident would be the least of my worries, I always reason more catastrophic level such as if someone else was injured or worse killed that could place me looking at unintentional homicide charges, $62 just isnt worth the gamble.
I've never used many of these 1 pound cylinders. Mostly 20s and 30s. The only time I'd use one is it's the ONLY size that'll fit the application.
I have a dozen of the flame king bottles and they also leak. I have to keep them outside for safety but they do leak too. Its legal to transport them at least. The little black O rings come out and the blueish plastic spacers come out too but they still work. Ive had alot of issues with them. Once you lose that O ring, its over . Gotta buy another one.
Thanks Bob. Learned things I didn’t know.
I always thought the little vent was connected to a dip tube that reaches the liquid when the container is 80% full. The 20% space left is needed for possible liquid expansion from heat.
Perhaps absence of a dip tube is mainly what makes refilling a disposable bottle hazardous.