I have filled and refilled all kinds of pressurized gas cylinders. Never had a problem refilling any liquid cylinder. Never refill past 85% of capacity!!! The danger of hydrostatic burst is just too great, and could kill you. Just be sure that you carefully inspect any cylinder that you are about to refill, for and outward signs of rust or mechanical damage that could compromise the tanks structural integrity!!! All pressure vessels are safety tested/designed to withstand much more pressure than they are rated for, as a safety item. So recycling propane cylinders, is not a problem, if they are not mechanically compromised by corrosion or mechanical damage. Be aware, that it is against federal law to transport a refilled nonrefillable cylinder. But then again, how does anyone know that you refilled it, unless you tell them!!! Most LE professionals have no knowledge of gas cylinder laws, save for Highway patrol folks, who are trained to inspect gas hauling tankers. I worked, for a time in a plant that refilled high pressure welding cylinders, with acetylene, and oxygen, as well as other high pressure gasses, and so we had to be sure that the bottle we were refilling had a current hydro test, and was not physically damaged!!! The pump that pumped acetylene gas into the cylinder, operated underwater, and the cylinders were sprayed with water to cool them as they filled. Acetylene was diffused into acetone, held in a porous medium, like balsa wood or diatomaceous earth. This prevents deflagration, as there is no free space for the acetylene to deregulate into. ( unfilled spaces will cause self detonation) that's why the gas is defused into acetone. Something like CO2 ( Carbon Dioxide) being infused into water to make carbonated drinks. I had a former student fill a large ammonia tank 100% full on the night shift, when it was cooler. As the first rays of sunlight hit the tank, it burst!!! killing both him and his helper, and causing a secondary explosion, and subsequent fire in the cold storage plant. Ammonia had both an explosive range and a flammable range in the atmosphere. DO NOT EXCEED 85% fill, as it will kill, even with small 16 oz. containers!!! Refilling cylinders is about as safe as any other operation. Just not for the careless or fools!!! Tim
@@PeteLeuenberger Hi, Pete I generally weigh the cylinders. So, I weigh a new full cylinder, and match weight with a refilled cylinder. I have never burst a cylinder, no matter what kind of gas I was transferring. Please note that is against DOT, ( Department of Transportation ) rules to " Refill and Transport " a disposable cylinder that has been refilled. Since these cylinders are used on site, I am never in violation of the rules. However, if a cylinder was transported off site, and if I was stopped for some traffic violation, and if a cylinder was discovered in a vehicle search. ( A lot of " If's " there ) How would anyone determine if the cylinder had been refilled, much less that I had done the refilling ??? Just saying, sometimes it is best not to answer questions during a traffic stop, especially if you think the officer is " Fishing " . That is, asking too many questions that don't match the reason he/she stopped you. I have used these disposable propane cylinders as pressure/vacuum cylinders for many automotive applications, and I can assure you, they are very well built, and have a considerable safety factor built in to their design, and construction. As I said in the original response, If you are incapable of understanding basic safety rules, and gas laws, you should not be working with anything that is pressurized !!!, as you are an accident waiting to happen. Back in " The Good Old Days " we would replace a leaking propane tank valve, when the propane tank was full. The technique was simple, If you understand the properties of propane gas, and I never knew any one who was injured or suffered a property loss by using this method. I won't go into how this was accomplished, but I will say, that is it nothing more than is taught in basic High School chemistry, and physics, classes. A quick search on the internet should provide you with the answer. If not, then you should never attempt such a maneuver. Personal safety, requires individual knowledge, and individual safe practices. Neither of which I can teach long distance on line. I can only state physical facts. The most commonly refilled gas that I use is CO2, ( Carbon Dioxide ), for soft drink carbonization. Most fast food restaurant's today do not use individual standard size cylinders for CO2 storage. They have a very large permanently mounted cylinder in the unit, that is periodically refilled , by a truck that carries a tank with several thousand pounds of CO2, most of which is in a liquid state. This method is quicker and less expensive than having to handle individual CO2 cylinders.
I heard a couple of days ago that when doing this, it is actually illegal to transport the one pound bottle anywhere beyond your house if it's not DOT approved with a humongous fine.
Sheesh....."risky", "trouble", "fire", "fines", "insurance adjuster" ??? Whatever....I guess if you're incompetent and have zero mechanical skills then maybe you should just stay away from anything propane powered. Been doing this method for years. Usually only get about 60-70 percent fill, but I bring like 8 bottles that are in good condition. Just be aware that some vendors may have fuel that can have rust, trace oils and other junk from the refining process. So get a screw-on filter if you have sensitive equipment. (Like a Buddy heater). Also, you can get these nice brass screw-on caps with gaskets that protect the threads and keep junk from getting into the center seal/valve. (Amazon)
It isn't always convenient when we want to take our grill to a table that isn't close to our trailer and it never worked properly with the Thermacell Backpacker
There are some states where refilling propane canisters is illegal, but not all. If Walmart sells the adapter then it would be my guess that it's legal in that state. What is, I believe illegal in all states is transporting from place to place and, or state to state, refilled propane canisters. State to state may include new canisters as well, but I'm not sure.
I am curious - when you let some gas out, more liquid propane becomes gas to fill the space. You will be able to add more, but not a lot much than you have let out.
I don’t know the science behind it. It I can fill it about 50%, vent it a little and then it will take about 50% of the remaining space, etc. after the third time it will be about 80% full.
As long as you have the proper adapter which cost about $15 especially made for refilling 1lb cylinders. Hardware stores and some box stores carry reuseable 1lbers up to 5 lbers , for all you scardy cats , this pays off for us who understand the why! So floks have been so sisyfied , its sickening, if ship ever hits the fan ya'll gonna be the 1st to be hostages or worse, you nancys better start acting like men just saying. Stop being offended by everything.
You must think somebody is asking you to do this. To the contrary. It's clearly not for you. But somebody is helping those of us who can deal with the inherent risks of the physical world. Those who can't know who they are and should definitely pay for everything possible to be done by the competent ones. In a specialized world, you may be great at, I don't' know marketing or insurance but will want to hire a practical person to connect your propane bbq or campstove because that's a danger point. Just a poor threading, bit of leakage, light the grill and boom!
🤔....... all that time and all that trouble, and all that risk, plus the cost of the parts, and Incredibly you're doing it inside of the garage ? And you can get those for five and six dollars each anytime. And what's the point of all this?
Parts were $8 and I am not really IN my garage, I'm standing at the edge with the door open. Not much of a risk there. The point is, as explained...a new bottle costs about $15, refilling it costs about $1.
One example. We travel in a small van. We have room for only one small "refillable" tank. When that is empty it might be a week before we get near a refill station. We also carry 6 "disposables" which we refill at least once per summer. Buying one for $7-10 (prices have gone up) means > $100 in throwaways to buy, or maybe $15 in refill gas. Besides that, there are still a few people in the USA who don't like throwing crap away for no good reason. These tanks are heavy well made and the main reason for throwing them away is nanny culture, marketing and the hassle of refilling. But we are not children and we are not throwing them away! We don't buy bottled water, many other details and we just don't make 1/4 the trash most of you do. I know, you've all been sold on the trash culture and think a big full garbage can is the American way to live in prosperity. Hope you don't end up dealing with your own garbage some day, having to bury it etc. but you'll learn fast. Meanwhile keep working hard to pay for all that stuff you buy to throw away.
@@ceeweedsl yes I'm sure all that will be very important to God when you stand before him on Judgement Day but without Jesus you're still going to go to hell forever and ever and ever
Simply saving metal cans to any landfill . Thanks.
I have filled and refilled all kinds of pressurized gas cylinders.
Never had a problem refilling any liquid cylinder.
Never refill past 85% of capacity!!!
The danger of hydrostatic burst is just too great, and could kill you.
Just be sure that you carefully inspect any cylinder that you are about to refill, for and outward signs of rust or mechanical damage that could compromise the tanks structural integrity!!!
All pressure vessels are safety tested/designed to withstand much more pressure than they are rated for, as a safety item. So recycling propane cylinders, is not a problem, if they are not mechanically compromised by corrosion or mechanical damage.
Be aware, that it is against federal law to transport a refilled nonrefillable cylinder.
But then again, how does anyone know that you refilled it, unless you tell them!!!
Most LE professionals have no knowledge of gas cylinder laws, save for Highway patrol folks, who are trained to inspect gas hauling tankers.
I worked, for a time in a plant that refilled high pressure welding cylinders, with acetylene, and oxygen, as well as other high pressure gasses, and so we had to be sure that the bottle we were refilling had a current hydro test, and was not physically damaged!!!
The pump that pumped acetylene gas into the cylinder, operated underwater, and the cylinders were sprayed with water to cool them as they filled.
Acetylene was diffused into acetone, held in a porous medium, like balsa wood or diatomaceous earth. This prevents deflagration, as there is no free space for the acetylene to deregulate into. ( unfilled spaces will cause self detonation) that's why the gas is defused into acetone. Something like CO2 ( Carbon Dioxide) being infused into water to make carbonated drinks.
I had a former student fill a large ammonia tank 100% full on the night shift, when it was cooler. As the first rays of sunlight hit the tank, it burst!!! killing both him and his helper, and causing a secondary explosion, and subsequent fire in the cold storage plant.
Ammonia had both an explosive range and a flammable range in the atmosphere.
DO NOT EXCEED 85% fill, as it will kill, even with small 16 oz. containers!!!
Refilling cylinders is about as safe as any other operation. Just not for the careless or fools!!!
Tim
Awesome info! Thanks!
How do you know you are below 85% on non refillable tanks? And what do you do if you accidentally go above? Bury it 😅
@@PeteLeuenberger
Hi, Pete
I generally weigh the cylinders.
So, I weigh a new full cylinder, and match weight with a refilled cylinder.
I have never burst a cylinder, no matter what kind of gas I was transferring.
Please note that is against DOT, ( Department of Transportation ) rules to
" Refill and Transport " a disposable cylinder that has been refilled.
Since these cylinders are used on site, I am never in violation of the rules.
However, if a cylinder was transported off site, and if I was stopped for some traffic violation, and if a cylinder was discovered in a vehicle search.
( A lot of " If's " there )
How would anyone determine if the cylinder had been refilled, much less that I had done the refilling ???
Just saying, sometimes it is best not to answer questions during a traffic stop, especially if you think the officer is " Fishing " . That is, asking too many questions that don't match the reason he/she stopped you.
I have used these disposable propane cylinders as pressure/vacuum cylinders for many automotive applications, and I can assure you, they are very well built, and have a considerable safety factor built in to their design, and construction.
As I said in the original response, If you are incapable of understanding basic safety rules, and gas laws, you should not be working with anything that is pressurized !!!, as you are an accident waiting to happen.
Back in " The Good Old Days " we would replace a leaking propane tank valve, when the propane tank was full.
The technique was simple, If you understand the properties of propane gas, and I never knew any one who was injured or suffered a property loss by using this method.
I won't go into how this was accomplished, but I will say, that is it nothing more than is taught in basic High School chemistry, and physics, classes.
A quick search on the internet should provide you with the answer.
If not, then you should never attempt such a maneuver.
Personal safety, requires individual knowledge, and individual safe practices. Neither of which I can teach long distance on line.
I can only state physical facts.
The most commonly refilled gas that I use is CO2, ( Carbon Dioxide ), for soft drink carbonization. Most fast food restaurant's today do not use individual standard size cylinders for CO2 storage.
They have a very large permanently mounted cylinder in the unit, that is periodically refilled , by a truck that carries a tank with several thousand pounds of CO2, most of which is in a liquid state.
This method is quicker and less expensive than having to handle individual CO2 cylinders.
I heard a couple of days ago that when doing this, it is actually illegal to transport the one pound bottle anywhere beyond your house if it's not DOT approved with a humongous fine.
Thank you!
awesome and spoken simple so I can understand . lol
My steak-saver cans thank you for this information!!!
Sheesh....."risky", "trouble", "fire", "fines", "insurance adjuster" ??? Whatever....I guess if you're incompetent and have zero mechanical skills then maybe you should just stay away from anything propane powered. Been doing this method for years. Usually only get about 60-70 percent fill, but I bring like 8 bottles that are in good condition. Just be aware that some vendors may have fuel that can have rust, trace oils and other junk from the refining process. So get a screw-on filter if you have sensitive equipment. (Like a Buddy heater). Also, you can get these nice brass screw-on caps with gaskets that protect the threads and keep junk from getting into the center seal/valve. (Amazon)
If I was adverse to risk, I wouldn't off-road our Jeep.
Thanks
Don't stick anything in the valve seat !! No allen wrench no screw driver. If you need to bleed off some pressure use the adapter
Which pushes down on the valve seat right?
freeze the 1lb tanks first and above all you need to WEIGH it beforehand to get to 1lb
Hello from Creator Wizard!
Do you not like to use the adapter to use the larger tanks?
It isn't always convenient when we want to take our grill to a table that isn't close to our trailer and it never worked properly with the Thermacell Backpacker
I'm Surprised that you didn't mention that this is illegal and that you should proceed at one's own risk.
I thought its just transportation thats restricted.
Thank you for this comment, I was unaware that it could be illegal in some places.
There are some states where refilling propane canisters is illegal, but not all. If Walmart sells the adapter then it would be my guess that it's legal in that state. What is, I believe illegal in all states is transporting from place to place and, or state to state, refilled propane canisters. State to state may include new canisters as well, but I'm not sure.
@@robertwhitright9816 Thanks, I am going to do some research on that and post additional info as I can find it. Much appreciated.
I am curious - when you let some gas out, more liquid propane becomes gas to fill the space. You will be able to add more, but not a lot much than you have let out.
I don’t know the science behind it. It I can fill it about 50%, vent it a little and then it will take about 50% of the remaining space, etc. after the third time it will be about 80% full.
When is the best time to refill these, winter or summer?
Ideally you want the bottles to be cold. If it’s hot when it’s time to refill, put the bottle in the fridge for a few hours to chill it.
Link to product?
Fixed, in the description now.
Old Version Adapter
amzn.to/41OzGNL
New Version Adapter
amzn.to/3TS4dIG
@@TrailTraveler 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Thank you!
I wish him a long life. I hope he decides to use propane tanks that are designed to be refillable instead of the one he refilled in this video.
I wonder if fire and insurance investigators search for videos and purchase histories for things like this after severe residential fires.
Why you guys so snowflakey
@@zelo533 you're out of your element, Donny!
Been refilling ours for 10 years with no issues
As long as you have the proper adapter which cost about $15 especially made for refilling 1lb cylinders. Hardware stores and some box stores carry reuseable 1lbers up to 5 lbers , for all you scardy cats , this pays off for us who understand the why! So floks have been so sisyfied , its sickening, if ship ever hits the fan ya'll gonna be the 1st to be hostages or worse, you nancys better start acting like men just saying. Stop being offended by everything.
Sorry chief, my life and that of my family are worh more than the $4.99 you save per bottle.
Like buying used tires, not worth the risk.
Should have added this pro tip: Check with thrift stores. I often see brand new, full bottles for $1 each. Same cost as refilling them.
You must think somebody is asking you to do this. To the contrary. It's clearly not for you. But somebody is helping those of us who can deal with the inherent risks of the physical world. Those who can't know who they are and should definitely pay for everything possible to be done by the competent ones. In a specialized world, you may be great at, I don't' know marketing or insurance but will want to hire a practical person to connect your propane bbq or campstove because that's a danger point. Just a poor threading, bit of leakage, light the grill and boom!
🤔....... all that time and all that trouble, and all that risk, plus the cost of the parts, and Incredibly you're doing it inside of the garage ? And you can get those for five and six dollars each anytime. And what's the point of all this?
Parts were $8 and I am not really IN my garage, I'm standing at the edge with the door open. Not much of a risk there. The point is, as explained...a new bottle costs about $15, refilling it costs about $1.
One example. We travel in a small van. We have room for only one small "refillable" tank. When that is empty it might be a week before we get near a refill station. We also carry 6 "disposables" which we refill at least once per summer. Buying one for $7-10 (prices have gone up) means > $100 in throwaways to buy, or maybe $15 in refill gas. Besides that, there are still a few people in the USA who don't like throwing crap away for no good reason. These tanks are heavy well made and the main reason for throwing them away is nanny culture, marketing and the hassle of refilling. But we are not children and we are not throwing them away! We don't buy bottled water, many other details and we just don't make 1/4 the trash most of you do. I know, you've all been sold on the trash culture and think a big full garbage can is the American way to live in prosperity. Hope you don't end up dealing with your own garbage some day, having to bury it etc. but you'll learn fast. Meanwhile keep working hard to pay for all that stuff you buy to throw away.
@@ceeweedsl yes I'm sure all that will be very important to God when you stand before him on Judgement Day but without Jesus you're still going to go to hell forever and ever and ever
@@danieljosephdelta44semperfi Now there's where we do agree. I mean when it comes to Jesus and propane, it's all pretty clear, right?
Thank you!