True, can't please everyone. I have over 1072 videos and think you should be thankful for the info that I provide. I nominate YOU... I challenge YOU to put your money where yout mouth is and create a 5 minute video of this topic. Please let me know when it's finished. I'd love to see what you come up with. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a beautiful day and look forward to viewing your work. 🙂
Cool info on propane and excellent safety advice. Being a man that works in propane daily, actually the little needle valve is a pressure relief valve. If the tank is in the sun or somehow back feeds from a higher pressure. That needle valve will release the pressure automatically so the little tank doesn't burst.
I used to work at the factory in maize Kansas where the majority of the small Coleman bottles were manufactured. They are two steel cups that are made on a punch press and braised together in giant ovens. They are typically filled at about 1,700 PSI in the filling machine. They are filled by volume and not by weight. There is also no attempt to remove the residual air from the bottle before they are filled. The air that's in the bottle it's compressed when they fill it with propane, however it's such a rich environment the explosion potential is non-existent because you're way above the uEL for propane. They have a burst pressure of about 700 PSI. If memory serves about three bottles out of every thousand produced are hydrostatically tested. They usually fail at slightly over 700 PSI in the quality lab. propane that goes into most of these bottles is stored in a big salt dome outside of Hutchinson Kansas. To get this propane for putting in the bottles they inject brine into the salt dome and pump propane back out. As a result from time to time there were issues with the trucking company where in they would be loads of Brine delivered instead of propane. This led to a lot of appliances being ruined because people use propane that was contaminated with salt water, and it wasn't detected until the production machinery started failing, and one of the maintenance guys tasted the white powdery stuff inside the pump that broke down. These bottles will typically blow up and expand scary big before they actually fail and explode. The failure typically does not produce shrapnel but a longitudinal split in the side of the container. The valve that you connect your appliance to it's called the main valve and the other one is called the releif valve. These things are a serious safety hazard when refilled. It would be hard to prove that anybody actually refilled one but the Department of transportation fine is huge if you get caught.It is critically important that these not be filled more than 80% for everyone's safety. It's also a great idea to lubricate the o-ring inside the main valve with a little bit of o-ring lube, KY jelly or glycerin. I would definitely recommend against using anything petroleum-based because there are different types of a rings used from time to time and petroleum could cause it to expand and fail over time if a person we're going to use a bottle one time it wouldn't matter but if you're planning on giving your bottles a long life with multiple refills it would be a good idea to lube the o-ring. At the factory a liberally dust the o-rings with dry moly lube. This does most of the production process running smoothly then it does to help the life of the o-ring. I would recommend Parker o-ring lube over everything else. These cylinders are now made by Worthington as they bought the Coleman factory in maize Kansas. I no longer associated with that operation or company in any way, just passing on my experiences. Stay safe everyone!
@@Jj-gi2uv Gas tankers are actually more dangerous empty than loaded due to the vapors. We had a local competitor back in the 90's welding the back gas tank compartment and they hadn't properly steamed the void and removed the drain plug in the void. The end result was it cost him his life and in the end his body was forced so hard into the back wall of the compartment that the aluminum showed a body outline from the force when the void exploded. Voids in tanks are there for a reason and very dangerous if not taken care of properly before welding.
I’ve had them start leaking after a few refills. I never trust a refill when I don’t have a valve attached (a torch, heater, or anything). Now that I have some money, and spending a few bucks doesn’t matter, I don’t risk it. The self sealing fitting is not designed to work for more than a couple tanks worth of action. I would suggest a torch to empty it, so you don’t damage the seal with a screwdriver, and you don’t exceed the spring’s design range. I’m not convinced emptying it helps you anyway, but do it the way it’s designed.
@@mrbill1683 As the warning says on the bottle; "Don't TRANSPORT illegally refilled bottles! Transporting them is apparently more dangerous than just using them around the house. The bottles seem to know when they're being transported and get upset about it, so you can only take new bottles camping, not angry refilled ones.
Excellent video! Well done and the perfect length actually! So glad you explained the purpose of each of the valves on the bottle. I’d seen videos on refilling but none mentioned releasing the air in advance from the bottle. Good idea. I also wondered about the other valve (emergency release valve). Good tip not to mess with that one! Thanks again. p.s ignore the haters!
As a side note you can weigh the bottle before and after to be sure they aren't overfilled so you avoid problems when the gas expands as it warms up. Stay safe! Great video...thank you!
I always tare my new full 1lb cylinders and write the factory weight on the bottle with a paint pen. That's the best way to know how close you are to the safe maximum refill level.
Excellent video and instructions. You are on point. Anyone who doesnt know much about this topic, you give direct and peripheral information. Thank you.
I have been doing this for 17 years and have had zero issues, other than leaks. I have never had a cylinder even come close to overfilling.. 100% of the time they end up lighter than a new/full one. This is what I've learned: 1) This works much better if you put the green cylinders in the freezer for an hour first. I could never get them more than half-full otherwise. 2) Never refill any non-Coleman cylinder. They will leak 80% of the time after refilling. 3) Have a propane appliance (e.g. stove valve) handy. Very often the valve will leak for a few minutes after filling, and the propane appliance will seal it off until the cylinder re-equilibrates to room temp and the valve seals better.
Thanks. Some guy on another channel mentioned "why put these in the refrigerator beforehand since they get very cold during the refill anyways." This misses the point. They get cold because the gas from the larger tank expands as it enters the lower pressure tank; this expansion always produces cooling. Conversely, pre-cooling the tank will keep the gas from expanding as much (or in other words, it will lower the volume of the gas at a given pressure). That's why you get better filling with a pre-chilled tank! It just makes sense.
JIUJITSU2000 It’s the same as refilling a NOS Nitrous bottle. You need to purge after you put them in the freezer. When the bottle freezes it shrinks, so open the valve to let pressure out then when it warms up it will cause a vacuum. That way you get more fuel in the tank if you don’t believe me weigh the small tank doing it your way after filling and then weigh the next small tank doing it my Way and see which is heavier. It also works better and you get more fuel/propane if the Large tank is like 85°. If the big tank is cold the pressure is lower. If it gets too much pressure in the small tank it will pop the blow off valve just for a minute. I’ve had them do it from just sitting in my garage in the summer time.
Daniel Collins That is my question is it not only supposed to be filled to 80% ? Just like a large house LP tank? I always try to have mine filled when it is cold outside to increase volume? Please correct me if I'm wrong. TY
Thanks for all the helpful and safety explanations! I was wondering about whether or not to open the overfill valve; I definitely will not mess with it now.
Freezing the receiving tank has two benefits 1) condenses air to allow more propane (a coincidental benefit ) and 2) prevents the liquid propane expanding to gas on initial charge (the main reason) . HOWEVER in the UK (and other countries presumably) inverting the large propane (or butane & other combustible gases & oxygen) you will find the bottles have a shutoff valve built in when the liquid contacts it. This is a deliberate design to prevent bottles gassing when rolling around in accidents etc ( engineer, hire trader, sparky & mechanic )
I appreciate you going to the trouble to show how to refill these bottles. I have always been appalled at how these propane bottles are supposed to be thrown away! The amount of metal they contain alone should say they should be refilled. I saw where they say don’t refill them so I never tried it but your reading the warning and pointing out that the rub is essentially only if they are transported makes it clear that they can certainly be refilled for ones own use. Personally I’d like to have some sort of pressure gauge on the bottle but I was really impressed at your practical and thrifty practice of refilling those bottles. Thank you so much!
If this is something you do often, you may want to look into picking up a liquid-feed propane tank. They have a tube that draws liquid from the bottom of the tank when it's upright or laying sideways. Forklift propane tanks are liquid feed, as are many industrial propane tanks. They aren't necessarily more expensive than a normal tank. That and if you get a separate propane vaporizer you can then run your grill off your liquid propane tank and get the benefits that come along with it.
"why is it unsafe to travel with a refilled bottle"...It's only unsafe if the bottle has been overfilled which is possible to do. The overfilled the bottle may vent gas through the pressure relief valve in an environment such as a hot vehicle. To prevent this it's best to weigh your refilled bottles to insure they are not overfilled. "how could the government possibly know a bottle has been refilled?'...You'd tell them. The law regarding the transport of refilled bottles only pertains to COMMERCIAL carriers.
Very good idea but i dont know where i can find the v/v that will be between the white cylinder and the green cylinder if its possible to show the box or the bag with brand name thanks a-lot
I had no idea it was illegal to transport refillable bottles. I'm so glad it wasn't a short 5 minute video. I must have broken the law a few dozens times and didn't even know. Not to mention but, I will mention that if a fatality occurred, in the process, I would have been prosecuted. The warning labels were far gone years ago.
thanks my friend you saved me a lot of money, and I have a question, I'm not a plumber, but can you fill the blue solder tank used by plumbers? Sincerely, Miguel Campos
Excellent information and I find your putting the bottles in the freezer for 15 minutes very interesting . Telling people not to mess with the pressure relief safety and using soapy water to check for leaks is very good advice . Many thumbs up from New Mexico and new subscriber my friend . Lefty
Love ur video! With that said, like you, it's all about safety! I do the same thing you do but with an extra twist. I weigh the empty bottle that is about 14.5 ounces give or take (Harbor Freight scale). When I fill them I only put about 3/4 of the 16 ounces or 12 ounces give or take in the can (roughly 27 ounces total weight). QYes it can take more but why risk over pressuring it. I have enough of these that it really don't matter if they are not full. It's better to be safe and not sorry! Great video!
I can smell the propane all the way out here in lake L.A. California...but respect to you, it's very educational, constructive, insperational. Thank you for making video.
I've seen this dun before by a friend. He fill approx 10 bottles but the only difference was he had fabricated a stand to hold the big bottle upside down approximately 12 inched above the table. Then all he had to do was attach a bottle to the larger tank, open the value and fill the small bottle. After it was filled he unscrewed the small bottle and had the others handy (in a freezer) and he would reach in and attach another one. He would also weight each bottle empty and filled for consistency.
How do you know the Coleman canister is full while you filling it? Is it when you stop hearing the gas sound? Can you accidently over fill the canister?
you most likely will over fill the canister. You are not to fill a propane tank more then 80% full. most are only filled to 75% for safety reasons. just like in a coke bottle you need an expansion space for safety. He turns the tank upside down to allow for the liquid propane to flow into the tank. This will fill the tank to 100% which is very bad. Be aware of this. Also the safety valve he talks about (using the pliers) should not be under the liquid or it will not function properly. When using a propane tank always have it upright so only gas comes out not liquid. Be very careful.
I'd recommend using a hose to connect the two bottles. And put the smaller bottle in water while filling. 1) this would allow you to see if there's any leaking. 2) this will cool the smaller bottle while filling and 3) if there is an explosion the water will help contain such.
Excellent comment and info Jerry! Pressurized gas stores a lot of energy! When we (re)fill breathing airtanks at the fire house, this is done in a blast containment cabinet for the same reason...without it, if one of those bottles lets go, you wouldn't want to be in the same county! Also, when under water, if the overpressure valve is leaking even just a little bit, it would be pretty obvious...
Hey Skeeter, I got myself one of those adapters for the 'modern' propane tanks (outside threads). I tried refilling a one-pound bottle the other day and nothing happened, so I had to come back and watch your video again... yup, I missed a bunch of steps... lol Thanks again for the video!!
Thank you for the warning etc and the information at the intro and of course the actual filling of the tank. A all around good informative video and it was right down to the points at all levels.
"I might look funny in these safety glasses but I have both eyes" Lol! Great vid man, It seems crazy that we do not do this more! Those bottles are not recyclable to my knowledge, so why not reuse them? And yeah man, the last one I bout was $6!!!! This was a very well thought out tutorial. Thanks man!
Mainly because they have propane in them. . . The recycling guys are told not to take them because they potentially can explode. . . Empty them, saw them in half, and then they'll probably take them. . . Same thing with pressurized cans of all types. . .
@@jamesmoreton It is hard to find anyone to accept them. Most recycle places want you to cut them in half first. Don't even want them in the land fills. Just saying.
Glad I watched this, I didn't know you had to put these bottles in the freezer for a few minutes first,then turn the big tank upside down as you refill the green cylinder,will definitely keep that in mind 👍
Not that I'd rely on this, but someone stated in another comment that it is not advisable. That being said, I know a guy who does in fact refill the blue Bernz-o-Matic tanks. I'd be interested in knowing why they'd be any different. On a side note, I recently picked up a bunch of torch cylinders, about half of them the yellow MAPP type....one of which is shaped exactly like the coleman tanks. I'll try to get info off of that to see what its purpose was/is.
You are very intelligent!.. Thank you for sharing your experience!..Some have added more points, that are welcome, but YOU have shown the info that is not readily available.
Question: Before you vent of residual pressure in the canister you are about to refill using the screwdriver in the valve, could you not place the canister in hot water for a few minutes and then vent off the residual pressure? Then, when the canister cools in the freezer, it would put more of a vacuum in the canister and thus accept more LP when refilled. Kind of like pulling a vacuum on an air conditioning system before refilling with Freon only using heat instead of a vacuum pump.
Great video : Helpful, direct, exact how to step by step with brief explanation as to the "why" of the process. Reminder of safety much appreciated. Thank you for your service in the Navy.
Well this pretty much guarantees over filling and either a regulated venting or an unregulated venting if there is any kind of flaw in the cylinder. this practice is like reloading ammunition next to an open flame .
Yeah, I agree. I hook the acetylene torch up and just keep it moving until the 20 lb tank is around 195 F. Can get 2 lbs in a 1 lb bottle that way. Btw, the above was sarcasm. I dont actually do this.
From research I have done, the federal law forbidding transportation was established to prevent explosions in vehicles and or trailers. If a person is not careful they can disturb the valves which will leak. Now put 4 of those leakers in the trunk of a car and you have a good amount of LP waiting for a spark. If all you do is refill, check for leaks at the valve and store at home, you should be safe. I don't know how the feds would determine it had been refilled if there was a problem on the road. But telling fire and police the were factory canisters would bring the company into the investigation and I'm sure they can afford better lawyers than the average citizen. So transport refilled cylinders at your own peril. The fine is huge. The way you do this should be safe. The ones who pull that relief valve are asking for trouble. Worse yet, holding it open to push in more gas could allow a person to overfill. Then you have a dangerous situation. If it gets warm it could burst, or leak and KABOOM.
Thanks man,I bought one of them adapter,will help a bunch.We tend have power go out alot and I got several things to run on propane,got two full 20 lber now.
What are the adapters actually called for the conversion fill up adapter!! I would really need one and would like to know so I can go get me one please!! 😅
@@OpenCarryUSMC I think making sure the tank seals after its disconnected is most important. Even if adapter seeps a little, its only for the time it takes to transfer the gas. Prolly doesn't matter where you get it...
I have been in the propane industry for over 18 years! I think jujitsu means well but what he is doing is extreeeeeeemly dangerous! How are you going to feel when you are in the burn unit and you have to explain how you saved $2.00
Al Good idea ! I am thinking to weigh a full tank and write down it's weight . Use the tank till it's empty and then weigh the empty one and write down it's weight . This may help You see the extremes and help You with refilling . What do You think ?
I've got about 10 of those laying around so this is pretty handy but where do you get those attachments at that you hook onto the big tank to fill up the small tank.. thank you sir
I've been frustrated by the under-fills I've experienced doing this. First time I've heard about putting bottle in the freezer. Thanks so much! The is not "recycling": it's REUSE. The best way to get more life out of the (supposedly) "single use" items we buy. Great to see the safety ideas here too. Probably best done outside: propane sinks to the floor, and if there's an ignition source nearby (hot water heater)...no fun. Thanks!
It's still NOT full. Put it back in the freezer one or two more times and repeat the refill process. Then let it sit outside a few days. As it warms up it may vent if over filled. I also let my 20# cylinder sit in the sun a few hours to increase the pressure. It will inject more propane with each refill. Been refilling my cylinders for years with good results. Dave
If you have to buy the adapter and keep up with the empty one pound bottles why don't you just buy a hose that adapts from the 5 lb propane bottles to the mr. Heater or Mister Lantern or mister camp stove they make a hose that goes from the 5-pound bottle to any of your camping equipment about a 10-foot hose
great job ! its kinda sad peope have to beek off about filling with propane when they clearly dont know or have any facts regarding the gas. propane is a safe product aslong as common safety sense is used...and clearly you have shown that. i learned something new from you today.. thank you for sharing, regards from Dale, vancouver, b.c., canada
Great way to make the cheapest way to get away a bit more affordable! Every Penny counts these days and u got a new subscriber with this example of working man Smarts!👍
You should NEVER completely empty a fuel gas cylinder. As pressure drops to zero air fills the space and so humidity gets in and can cause rust to form. Eventually rust may form interior pin hole leaks. Adapter available via Harbor Freight.
If you wait awhile before disconnecting to let the seal warm back up, can you get more refills before it doesn't seal anymore? I don't know what the seals are made of on those tanks.
Gloves, wear gloves when releasing the remaining gas from the small cylinder. Propane is cold and when released fast its really cold, it can burn your fingers.
I filled and delivered LPG (liquid petroleum gas - propane) in 33, 44, and 100 pound tanks. Once a tank valve failed while being filled (outdoor covered platform in the winter) and I was sprayed from my waist to my left shoulder with liquid propane. I was wearing an undershirt, quilted long sleeve insulated top, uniform shirt, knit sweater, and a Carhart jacket - 5 layers. The liquid propane went all the way to my skin and left what looked like a burn - red and swollen. It took about 3 weeks for that instant frostbite to heal. As propane evaporates it chills to -44 F.
Never would have thought great idea thanks for sharing question can you fill propane torches you know the little bottles the same way or is it even the same gas thanks
I love watching video's about refilling these canister's and the comment's....crack's me up. Let me first say that you can buy the adapter just about anywhere including eBay and Walmart. You can also purchase a hose that will allow you to use a bigger tank on item's that use the canister's. Here is the easiest and safest way to do this. NO REFRIGERATION NEEDED! Get a needle valve remover like they use for a tire valve stem. If you get the cap type then just put it on an old valve stem. Before hooking the tank and canister up, make sure you SLIGHTLY crack open the pressure relief valve IN THE LITTLE HOLE. Hook the canister to tank, open tank valve SLOWLY then invert. Try to keep the purge valve on canister about the 10/11 or 1/2 o'clock position when filling. Pressure will escape while filling. When filled, retighten needle valve. Stand tank back up, THEN shut off. Disconnect the two. Check with soapy water or whatever you use for leak's. SAFETY NOTE: ALWAYS WEAR GOGGLES, (NOT GLASSES) AND GLOVE'S? "keep the faith people, and keep on keeping on"
Ok, just started this today. Do not turn the bottles upside to “check” if all the pressure is out. Thanks to the guy who said “wear gloves” otherwise I would’ve had a bit of a chem burn. Danger Will Robinson! But it does supercool the canister. All the rest should be, slow and steady. Thanks for the video.
I like emphasis on safety, but refilling those bottles on reloading bench probably not a good idea, most people me included do have lubricants, primers and gun powder around reloading equipment. Personally, when i do refill those bottles, i don't see a need to get all gas out. if you were to buy brand new propane tank before you use it, it must be purged (removing oxygen or nitrogen), so equalizing tank with atmospheric pressure, probably not a good idea. Another thing i did find out, leaving 1lb propane bottle in freezer and 20 lb bottle at around 24 degrees celcius, never gets 1 lb filled more then 65-70%, i did check it with digital scale (normally bottles are filled to 80%), which is great safety factor. Great tip on getting those bottles from campgrounds, thats where i got most of mine. Little valve beside, is not for letting air out, its pressure relief valve, preventing tank exploding in abnormal conditions. One thing i do like to add, occasionally when you done filling a tank, valve on 1lb tank could stick a little, have a piece of copper wire near by and quickly depressing valve usually makes it close properly, don't use steel screwdriver (steel on steel could create spark). And once you bottle been refilled a few times and empty they do make a great target at range.
I would not advocate valving off the last bit down to 0 psig - if you're not going to pull a vacuum in the destination tank, leave some pressure in it to prevent air entry. When propane mixes with air, it becomes more flammable.
Yup, as a scuba diver, unless transporting a tank on an airplane, the tank should always be pressurized just for the reason you mention - keep water out. Also, if a tank had to be emptied completely, it should undergo a tank inspection prior to refilling. Scuba tanks are typically at 3,000 psi when full and definitely heat up if filled too fast (bad scenario and people have paid the price for doing that). Propane cylinders are obviously less pressure but the concept is the same. Used to work for a couple of dive operations and filled many a tank and am a certified tank inspector.
Theres a video of I guy shooting a row of them. The second go two came back at him! About a hundred yards at least. Pretty cool though. Nice fireball there too. He filmed it with highspeed so there was a nice slo-mo
@@timothylongmore7325 AdTube removed my 50BMG videos permanently. I had a good short one of an old 486 computer hit with a 50BMG blue tip right in the floppy drive. That thing came apart in a fireball. We shot running Briggs & Stratton engines, diesel cylinder heads, and put an aluminum plate inside a Shakespere book that was hollowed out and was filled with shotgun powder. That was for my son's high school English teacher. About 1 in 10 of the propane cylinders detonated in a powerful blast where you could feel the shock wave. Other cylinders spun like fireworks or took off like rockets. This was in 1998. Hard to believe it was so long ago.
@@kimmer6 Nothing like a good explosion. When I was young and dumb we took some 12 gauge shells and wedge them in a cardboard tube put in a plug with a nail for a firing pin. Glue on some fins and chucked them off a railroad bridge on to the road below. Ka-blam. You'd get arrested for terrorism if ya did that shit nowadays
Thanks for the video and info, only question I have and I am assuming I can but wanted to confirm. Can I use the 16lb Propane tank to refill these bottles? Thanks
Old video, sorry for the late comment. But I'm wondering if there no bleeder valve on the CO2 tank? If so, can't you just open the bleeder and let the gas flow from one to the other without messing with the heat?
You should use a food scale to weigh your empty bottle......then weigh it when full and make sure you don't overfill the bottle..........ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST WITH EXPLOSIVE GAS
How can you overfill a tank? If you don't open the bleeder valve propane won't come in. If you open the bleeder valve propane will just run out when its full.
Lots of ongoing comments and questions since this video came out. let me answer some of these from my 35 yearts of gas delivery equipment experience. Random order. Some of the 1 lb. bottle main valves do leak even after the first use. Mr. Heater does sell a hard cap. Best way to determine fill level is with a scale. You want 1 pound over the empty bottle weight. Hoses from the supply tank to the receiving bottle should not be used unless they are cryogenic hoses. Soft hoses will tend to vaporise the liquid propane, thus a short metal connection is best. Lots of places to get a propane tank refill adapter. My local Ace Hardware has them in stock, but at a high price. Walmart has the Mr. Heater one online for cheap. Overfilling would be hard to do. It does take procedures like freezing the bottle and venting the pressure to get a full fill. A warm bottle will vaprorize the liquid, and not let as much liquid in. Optimum liquid fill is 80% of bottle capacity. The other 20% is vapor in what is called "headspace". OPD bottles were mandated because many operators would fill them too much. They would overpressure if warmed, opening the releif valve. I have had this happen in a vehicle after cold weather filling! 1 lb. bottles don't have any overfill protection. If you overfill (measured by weight) just vent some out. Most 20/30 pound propane tanks don't have a liquid tap, which why you have to invert them. Not sure if larger residential tanks do. You do not want idiots to do this!!!
why not weigh the empty bottle and then the full bottle?? OF COURSE WEIGH A COUPLE OF NEW ONES FIRST THEN U KNOW IF U GOT A FULL 1 OR AN OOVERLOADED 1!!!
@@markpaulzine2304 Oh you can. A friend of mine apparently did it and cartridge ruptured in backpack while travelling in the train. No fire but horrible smell though.
That bottle was liquid filled. Then when it warmed up some the liquid expanded. Since a liquid can't be compressed. Did it rupture, or did the relief valve pop off?
Hello JIUJITSU, one short question; which type of Coleman bottles do you use? M1110 or M1003? It would be wonderfull if your shown adapter would fill up Coleman M1003 without modifikation.
Any time you work with propane, you should always wear gloves. Propane is extremely cold and will burn your exposed flesh. If you take the time to put on safety glasses, also wear gloves. Otherwise great video. I agree that 1 lb tanks are easy to fill and they don`t need to be in a landfill.
+jiujitsu2000 My dad worked with propane for 35 years. Stressed safety and never had an accident. I refill my tanks, following his rules and have no issues. I also number my tanks and weigh my tanks. This is important so you don`t overfill. Great video.
A 5 minute video stretched into 25 minutes.
True, can't please everyone. I have over 1072 videos and think you should be thankful for the info that I provide. I nominate YOU... I challenge YOU to put your money where yout mouth is and create a 5 minute video of this topic. Please let me know when it's finished. I'd love to see what you come up with. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you have a beautiful day and look forward to viewing your work. 🙂
@@jiujitsu2000 Thank you for taking the time to make this video and share your method. I appreciate how thorough it was with the emphasis on safety.
Actually 12:30 but whatever, right?
@@zellmunna8857 lol... Love it! You'd never say that to my face.
@@mikenelsonre thank you so much!
Cool info on propane and excellent safety advice. Being a man that works in propane daily, actually the little needle valve is a pressure relief valve. If the tank is in the sun or somehow back feeds from a higher pressure. That needle valve will release the pressure automatically so the little tank doesn't burst.
Thank you for another piece of valuable wisdom on a very important subject. It is very much appreciated.
I used to work at the factory in maize Kansas where the majority of the small Coleman bottles were manufactured. They are two steel cups that are made on a punch press and braised together in giant ovens.
They are typically filled at about 1,700 PSI in the filling machine. They are filled by volume and not by weight. There is also no attempt to remove the residual air from the bottle before they are filled. The air that's in the bottle it's compressed when they fill it with propane, however it's such a rich environment the explosion potential is non-existent because you're way above the uEL for propane.
They have a burst pressure of about 700 PSI. If memory serves about three bottles out of every thousand produced are hydrostatically tested. They usually fail at slightly over 700 PSI in the quality lab.
propane that goes into most of these bottles is stored in a big salt dome outside of Hutchinson Kansas. To get this propane for putting in the bottles they inject brine into the salt dome and pump propane back out. As a result from time to time there were issues with the trucking company where in they would be loads of Brine delivered instead of propane. This led to a lot of appliances being ruined because people use propane that was contaminated with salt water, and it wasn't detected until the production machinery started failing, and one of the maintenance guys tasted the white powdery stuff inside the pump that broke down.
These bottles will typically blow up and expand scary big before they actually fail and explode. The failure typically does not produce shrapnel but a longitudinal split in the side of the container. The valve that you connect your appliance to it's called the main valve and the other one is called the releif valve.
These things are a serious safety hazard when refilled. It would be hard to prove that anybody actually refilled one but the Department of transportation fine is huge if you get caught.It is critically important that these not be filled more than 80% for everyone's safety.
It's also a great idea to lubricate the o-ring inside the main valve with a little bit of o-ring lube, KY jelly or glycerin. I would definitely recommend against using anything petroleum-based because there are different types of a rings used from time to time and petroleum could cause it to expand and fail over time if a person we're going to use a bottle one time it wouldn't matter but if you're planning on giving your bottles a long life with multiple refills it would be a good idea to lube the o-ring. At the factory a liberally dust the o-rings with dry moly lube. This does most of the production process running smoothly then it does to help the life of the o-ring. I would recommend Parker o-ring lube over everything else.
These cylinders are now made by Worthington as they bought the Coleman factory in maize Kansas. I no longer associated with that operation or company in any way, just passing on my experiences. Stay safe everyone!
I am going to subscribe to this channel mainly because of this very informative post, thanks to HamRadio camper for sharing.
HamRadio camper z
@@Jj-gi2uv ♤
@@Jj-gi2uv Gas tankers are actually more dangerous empty than loaded due to the vapors. We had a local competitor back in the 90's welding the back gas tank compartment and they hadn't properly steamed the void and removed the drain plug in the void. The end result was it cost him his life and in the end his body was forced so hard into the back wall of the compartment that the aluminum showed a body outline from the force when the void exploded. Voids in tanks are there for a reason and very dangerous if not taken care of properly before welding.
In my 'Opinion' tht wz 'Invaluable-Info' ! Thnk Yu 'Ever-So-Much' fr passing yor expertise along ! R.D.
I watched a lot of videos on how to refill a 1 lb. propane tank I have, and yours was by far the most helpful! Thank you!!
thank you for the very kind words and support that you give my channel! have a beautiful day thanks for stopping by!!
I’ve had them start leaking after a few refills. I never trust a refill when I don’t have a valve attached (a torch, heater, or anything).
Now that I have some money, and spending a few bucks doesn’t matter, I don’t risk it. The self sealing fitting is not designed to work for more than a couple tanks worth of action.
I would suggest a torch to empty it, so you don’t damage the seal with a screwdriver, and you don’t exceed the spring’s design range. I’m not convinced emptying it helps you anyway, but do it the way it’s designed.
I had a new ones leak.... in a BOAT. refilling disposables is not where I want to save a dollar. never store them inside.
@@mrbill1683 As the warning says on the bottle; "Don't TRANSPORT illegally refilled bottles! Transporting them is apparently more dangerous than just using them around the house. The bottles seem to know when they're being transported and get upset about it, so you can only take new bottles camping, not angry refilled ones.
@@ibcnu2987 n
Excellent video! Well done and the perfect length actually! So glad you explained the purpose of each of the valves on the bottle. I’d seen videos on refilling but none mentioned releasing the air in advance from the bottle. Good idea. I also wondered about the other valve (emergency release valve). Good tip not to mess with that one! Thanks again. p.s ignore the haters!
I love the 'unpretentiousnous' of videos like this
I've learned so much from man's videos it's unreal. He has a video for almost every question I have.
As a side note you can weigh the bottle before and after to be sure they aren't overfilled so you avoid problems when the gas expands as it warms up. Stay safe! Great video...thank you!
yes i do this
Where do you find the tools to transfer the propane from the big tank to the small one? Thanks!
Larry McNamara, I use to see the at Northerntool.com. Try them and good luck.
Larry McNamara, try mparam.com and go to products, then propane refill kits. Good luck again.
eBay
Now that I've gave several penny stove to friends & fam, Now I'll be need 'n' to refill my empty propane bottles. Very informative, Great vid. Thanx.
I always tare my new full 1lb cylinders and write the factory weight on the bottle with a paint pen. That's the best way to know how close you are to the safe maximum refill level.
That's not how it's done.
Keep this tutorial as it is. Some folks need that long intro. Believe me. Kudos!
Excellent video and instructions. You are on point. Anyone who doesnt know much about this topic, you give direct and peripheral information. Thank you.
I have been doing this for 17 years and have had zero issues, other than leaks. I have never had a cylinder even come close to overfilling.. 100% of the time they end up lighter than a new/full one. This is what I've learned: 1) This works much better if you put the green cylinders in the freezer for an hour first. I could never get them more than half-full otherwise. 2) Never refill any non-Coleman cylinder. They will leak 80% of the time after refilling. 3) Have a propane appliance (e.g. stove valve) handy. Very often the valve will leak for a few minutes after filling, and the propane appliance will seal it off until the cylinder re-equilibrates to room temp and the valve seals better.
David B. Excellent comment! thank you for sharing
Thanks. Some guy on another channel mentioned "why put these in the refrigerator beforehand since they get very cold during the refill anyways." This misses the point. They get cold because the gas from the larger tank expands as it enters the lower pressure tank; this expansion always produces cooling. Conversely, pre-cooling the tank will keep the gas from expanding as much (or in other words, it will lower the volume of the gas at a given pressure). That's why you get better filling with a pre-chilled tank! It just makes sense.
JIUJITSU2000
It’s the same as refilling a NOS Nitrous bottle. You need to purge after you put them in the freezer. When the bottle freezes it shrinks, so open the valve to let pressure out then when it warms up it will cause a vacuum. That way you get more fuel in the tank if you don’t believe me weigh the small tank doing it your way after filling and then weigh the next small tank doing it my Way and see which is heavier. It also works better and you get more fuel/propane if the Large tank is like 85°. If the big tank is cold the pressure is lower. If it gets too much pressure in the small tank it will pop the blow off valve just for a minute. I’ve had them do it from just sitting in my garage in the summer time.
David B. The little valve is 80% check valve so you dont over fill.
Daniel Collins That is my question is it not only supposed to be filled to 80% ? Just like a large house LP tank? I always try to have mine filled when it is cold outside to increase volume? Please correct me if I'm wrong. TY
Thanks for all the helpful and safety explanations! I was wondering about whether or not to open the overfill valve; I definitely will not mess with it now.
Freezing the receiving tank has two benefits 1) condenses air to allow more propane (a coincidental benefit ) and 2) prevents the liquid propane expanding to gas on initial charge (the main reason) . HOWEVER in the UK (and other countries presumably) inverting the large propane (or butane & other combustible gases & oxygen) you will find the bottles have a shutoff valve built in when the liquid contacts it. This is a deliberate design to prevent bottles gassing when rolling around in accidents etc ( engineer, hire trader, sparky & mechanic )
I appreciate you going to the trouble to show how to refill these bottles. I have always been appalled at how these propane bottles are supposed to be thrown away! The amount of metal they contain alone should say they should be refilled. I saw where they say don’t refill them so I never tried it but your reading the warning and pointing out that the rub is essentially only if they are transported makes it clear that they can certainly be refilled for ones own use. Personally I’d like to have some sort of pressure gauge on the bottle but I was really impressed at your practical and thrifty practice of refilling those bottles. Thank you so much!
Thanks for the education. So the small bottle is full when you hear the hissing stop?? I went and bought a valve to do this. Thanks again.
If this is something you do often, you may want to look into picking up a liquid-feed propane tank. They have a tube that draws liquid from the bottom of the tank when it's upright or laying sideways. Forklift propane tanks are liquid feed, as are many industrial propane tanks. They aren't necessarily more expensive than a normal tank. That and if you get a separate propane vaporizer you can then run your grill off your liquid propane tank and get the benefits that come along with it.
How is that type different from turning over a 20 lb tank? Upside down feeds liquid which is the whole point of turning it upside down
@@condor5635 I think he was only commenting on the different size and weight of the tank.
Good video. The good thing is you read the warnings for traveling with re-filled bottles, and safety 1st. Thanks for sharing.
PAPA Texas Awesome comment. Thank you brotha!
but i want to travel with them since i am going camping...:(
"why is it unsafe to travel with a refilled bottle"...It's only unsafe if the bottle has been overfilled which is possible to do. The overfilled the bottle may vent gas through the pressure relief valve in an environment such as a hot vehicle. To prevent this it's best to weigh your refilled bottles to insure they are not overfilled.
"how could the government possibly know a bottle has been refilled?'...You'd tell them. The law regarding the transport of refilled bottles only pertains to COMMERCIAL carriers.
great idea on the campground tip
Ready to fail??? Not likely.
Good job explaining the process on refilling the propane bottles. Well explain and demonstrated.
Very good idea but i dont know where i can find the v/v that will be between the white cylinder and the green cylinder if its possible to show the box or the bag with brand name thanks a-lot
You didn’t tel me where i can find the fitting adapter between the white and the green cylinder.
@@moayadsalih4158 I have seen them on amazon and also walmart
Brother nice video. Forget the haters. You've done the most informative and detailed video on TH-cam.
I had no idea it was illegal to transport refillable bottles. I'm so glad it wasn't a short 5 minute video. I must have broken the law a few dozens times and didn't even know. Not to mention but, I will mention that if a fatality occurred, in the process, I would have been prosecuted. The warning labels were far gone years ago.
thanks my friend you saved me a lot of money, and I have a question, I'm not a plumber, but can you fill the blue solder tank used by plumbers? Sincerely, Miguel Campos
Yes you can fill the plumber bottles. I do it with no problems
I applaud the emphasis on Safety while refilling propane bottles, for the obvious reason That It Is The Right Thing To Do. Great presentation.
Why not doing this operation outside!!! Safety first?
Use a weight scale to make sure you don’t overfill them. Also don’t mess with the pressure relief valve on the side. Where did you buy the adapter?
I'm glad you made this video. I have been watching you for years.
Excellent information and I find your putting the bottles in the freezer for 15 minutes very interesting . Telling people not to mess with the pressure relief safety and using soapy water to check for leaks is very good advice . Many thumbs up from New Mexico and new subscriber my friend . Lefty
Great video, love the safety and re-use, I think the Schrader valve beside the threaded port is an over-pressure relieve valve.
Love ur video! With that said, like you, it's all about safety! I do the same thing you do but with an extra twist. I weigh the empty bottle that is about 14.5 ounces give or take (Harbor Freight scale). When I fill them I only put about 3/4 of the 16 ounces or 12 ounces give or take in the can (roughly 27 ounces total weight). QYes it can take more but why risk over pressuring it. I have enough of these that it really don't matter if they are not full. It's better to be safe and not sorry! Great video!
Good idea. If you have plenty of cylinders why take a chance?
I can smell the propane all the way out here in lake L.A. California...but respect to you, it's very educational, constructive, insperational. Thank you for making video.
why do you chill the bootles before filling......thx nice presentation
I've seen this dun before by a friend. He fill approx 10 bottles but the only difference was he had fabricated a stand to hold the big bottle upside down
approximately 12 inched above the table. Then all he had to do was attach a bottle to the larger tank, open the value and fill the small bottle. After
it was filled he unscrewed the small bottle and had the others handy (in a freezer) and he would reach in and attach another one. He would also
weight each bottle empty and filled for consistency.
How do you know the Coleman canister is full while you filling it? Is it when you stop hearing the gas sound? Can you accidently over fill the canister?
D Siu yes, they can be over filled. use a scale to weigh the canister to be no heavier than original weight.
D Siu
I minute or when you hear the sound stop
no
you most likely will over fill the canister. You are not to fill a propane tank more then 80% full. most are only filled to 75% for safety reasons. just like in a coke bottle you need an expansion space for safety. He turns the tank upside down to allow for the liquid propane to flow into the tank. This will fill the tank to 100% which is very bad. Be aware of this. Also the safety valve he talks about (using the pliers) should not be under the liquid or it will not function properly. When using a propane tank always have it upright so only gas comes out not liquid. Be very careful.
I'd recommend using a hose to connect the two bottles. And put the smaller bottle in water while filling. 1) this would allow you to see if there's any leaking. 2) this will cool the smaller bottle while filling and 3) if there is an explosion the water will help contain such.
Excellent comment and info Jerry! Pressurized gas stores a lot of energy! When we (re)fill breathing airtanks at the fire house, this is done in a blast containment cabinet for the same reason...without it, if one of those bottles lets go, you wouldn't want to be in the same county! Also, when under water, if the overpressure valve is leaking even just a little bit, it would be pretty obvious...
have you done this? seems to me there would be an unsafe amount of liquid propane in the hose released when you disconnect.
Well done... Appreciate the seriousness and humor mix...great balance. Timing...all about timing...
Hey Skeeter, I got myself one of those adapters for the 'modern' propane tanks (outside threads). I tried refilling a one-pound bottle the other day and nothing happened, so I had to come back and watch your video again... yup, I missed a bunch of steps... lol
Thanks again for the video!!
Thank you for the warning etc and the information at the intro and of course the actual filling of the tank. A all around good informative video and it was right down to the points at all levels.
Can you link to the part that is needed to fill the canister
"I might look funny in these safety glasses but I have both eyes" Lol! Great vid man, It seems crazy that we do not do this more! Those bottles are not recyclable to my knowledge, so why not reuse them? And yeah man, the last one I bout was $6!!!! This was a very well thought out tutorial. Thanks man!
Man your wrong on the recycling thing there all recyclable think about it why wouldn't they recycle. ?
Hes wrong on well thought out...amateurs ;)
Catch N Cook California b7iju7 8th I u by 78U
Mainly because they have propane in them. . . The recycling guys are told not to take them because they potentially can explode. . . Empty them, saw them in half, and then they'll probably take them. . . Same thing with pressurized cans of all types. . .
@@jamesmoreton It is hard to find anyone to accept them. Most recycle places want you to cut them in half first. Don't even want them in the land fills. Just saying.
Glad I watched this, I didn't know you had to put these bottles in the freezer for a few minutes first,then turn the big tank upside down as you refill the green cylinder,will definitely keep that in mind 👍
Nice video. Where does one purchase the valve from? Nice use of a 20lb tank
How do you know it's not over filling it ?
could you do the same with torch propane bottles?? thanks
Not that I'd rely on this, but someone stated in another comment that it is not advisable. That being said, I know a guy who does in fact refill the blue Bernz-o-Matic tanks. I'd be interested in knowing why they'd be any different. On a side note, I recently picked up a bunch of torch cylinders, about half of them the yellow MAPP type....one of which is shaped exactly like the coleman tanks. I'll try to get info off of that to see what its purpose was/is.
You are very intelligent!.. Thank you for sharing your experience!..Some have added more points, that are welcome, but YOU have shown the info that is not readily available.
Question: Before you vent of residual pressure in the canister you are about to refill using the screwdriver in the valve, could you not place the canister in hot water for a few minutes and then vent off the residual pressure? Then, when the canister cools in the freezer, it would put more of a vacuum in the canister and thus accept more LP when refilled. Kind of like pulling a vacuum on an air conditioning system before refilling with Freon only using heat instead of a vacuum pump.
Great video : Helpful, direct, exact how to step by step with brief explanation as to the "why" of the process. Reminder of safety much appreciated. Thank you for your service in the Navy.
you can get them fuller by warming the 30lb and freezing the 1lb first // a cap is recommended for 1lb as they leak on repeat use
these are free once they are refilled there is no need to over pressusize.. the space is to allow for expansion if the get heated in the sun
do you mean a threaded metal cap ? is there such a thing? Or the plastic cap it comes with?
Never warm ANY propane tank or bottle!!!
Well this pretty much guarantees over filling and either a regulated venting or an unregulated venting if there is any kind of flaw in the cylinder. this practice is like reloading ammunition next to an open flame .
Yeah, I agree. I hook the acetylene torch up and just keep it moving until the 20 lb tank is around 195 F. Can get 2 lbs in a 1 lb bottle that way.
Btw, the above was sarcasm. I dont actually do this.
From research I have done, the federal law forbidding transportation was established to prevent explosions in vehicles and or trailers. If a person is not careful they can disturb the valves which will leak. Now put 4 of those leakers in the trunk of a car and you have a good amount of LP waiting for a spark.
If all you do is refill, check for leaks at the valve and store at home, you should be safe.
I don't know how the feds would determine it had been refilled if there was a problem on the road. But telling fire and police the were factory canisters would bring the company into the investigation and I'm sure they can afford better lawyers than the average citizen. So transport refilled cylinders at your own peril. The fine is huge.
The way you do this should be safe. The ones who pull that relief valve are asking for trouble. Worse yet, holding it open to push in more gas could allow a person to overfill. Then you have a dangerous situation. If it gets warm it could burst, or leak and KABOOM.
😎Wear did you get the special velve to attach to the one pounder ?😎
Harbor frieght
$24 at true value
$11.97 at Walmart
Amazon.com
You are an excellent and natural teacher! Great job on all your videos.
Great tip..money saver for sure..Where do you get the valve to fill the bottle?
Thanks man,I bought one of them adapter,will help a bunch.We tend have power go out alot and I got several things to run on propane,got two full 20 lber now.
What are the adapters actually called for the conversion fill up adapter!! I would really need one and would like to know so I can go get me one please!! 😅
Dipping the bottle in a bucket of water to check leaks works also...thanks for the video..
Thank you!
I've seen those refill fittings at harbor freight
Not sure I'd trust a Harbor Freight item for this use. On the other hand, they're probably ALL made in China no mater where you buy them. LOL
@@OpenCarryUSMC Bought mine on E-bay but they are very well made,do not worry about,after all they are a simple device.
Walmart sells the refill adapter, too.
@@OpenCarryUSMC I think making sure the tank seals after its disconnected is most important. Even if adapter seeps a little, its only for the time it takes to transfer the gas. Prolly doesn't matter where you get it...
And what is the special attachment adapter called, to look it up on ebay ?
where do you buy the valve which attaches to the bigger gas tank?
awesome video, can save alot of money.thanks
So in a shtf situation and no electricity thus no freezer, will the 1 lb. bottle still fill adequately without being cold?
Yes
TOTALLY AWESOME! Thanks for teaching us how to be our own boss! You DO have pretty eyes. :-) And MOST ESPECIALLY...THANK YOU FOR PUTTING SAFETY FIRST!
Thank you for the very kind words and support! Have a beautiful night!
I have been in the propane industry for over 18 years! I think jujitsu means well but what he is doing is extreeeeeeemly dangerous! How are you going to feel when you are in the burn unit and you have to explain how you saved $2.00
good to recycle. I think it would be a good idea to weigh an empty tank, then fill it to see its refill capacity.
Al Good idea ! I am thinking to weigh a full tank and write down it's weight . Use the tank till it's empty and then weigh the empty one and write down it's weight . This may help You see the extremes and help You with refilling . What do You think ?
I've got about 10 of those laying around so this is pretty handy but where do you get those attachments at that you hook onto the big tank to fill up the small tank.. thank you sir
If you don't have freezer to use. Can you heat or rather bring in the 20 lb cylinder and put outside the 1 lb to make it colder?
I've been frustrated by the under-fills I've experienced doing this. First time I've heard about putting bottle in the freezer. Thanks so much! The is not "recycling": it's REUSE. The best way to get more life out of the (supposedly) "single use" items we buy. Great to see the safety ideas here too. Probably best done outside: propane sinks to the floor, and if there's an ignition source nearby (hot water heater)...no fun. Thanks!
It's still NOT full. Put it back in the freezer one or two more times and repeat the refill process. Then let it sit outside a few days. As it warms up it may vent if over filled. I also let my 20# cylinder sit in the sun a few hours to increase the pressure. It will inject more propane with each refill. Been refilling my cylinders for years with good results.
Dave
+David J. Wilcox are you joking or serious? This sounds dangerous. Thank you for sharing
Very dangerous
If you have to buy the adapter and keep up with the empty one pound bottles why don't you just buy a hose that adapts from the 5 lb propane bottles to the mr. Heater or Mister Lantern or mister camp stove they make a hose that goes from the 5-pound bottle to any of your camping equipment about a 10-foot hose
Appreciate your attention to safety.
great job ! its kinda sad peope have to beek off about filling with propane when they clearly dont know or have any facts regarding the gas. propane is a safe product aslong as common safety sense is used...and clearly you have shown that. i learned something new from you today.. thank you for sharing, regards from Dale,
vancouver, b.c., canada
Great way to make the cheapest way to get away a bit more affordable! Every Penny counts these days and u got a new subscriber with this example of working man Smarts!👍
good video! just have a problem with the finding them in the trash. Could be a reason why it's in the trash other than being empty.
Best places to find them are the trash cans at the National Parks, auto repair shops and plumbers
if you know some of them,
You should NEVER completely empty a fuel gas cylinder. As pressure drops to zero air fills the space and so humidity gets in and can cause rust to form. Eventually rust may form interior pin hole leaks. Adapter available via Harbor Freight.
Same with SCUBA tanks.
Thanks for not having any background music/noise during this important video
If you wait awhile before disconnecting to let the seal warm back up, can you get more refills before it doesn't seal anymore? I don't know what the seals are made of on those tanks.
Love common sense and this fella actually has some! Great job. Happy new subscriber right here.
Gloves, wear gloves when releasing the remaining gas from the small cylinder. Propane is cold and when released fast its really cold, it can burn your fingers.
I filled and delivered LPG (liquid petroleum gas - propane) in 33, 44, and 100 pound tanks. Once a tank valve failed while being filled (outdoor covered platform in the winter) and I was sprayed from my waist to my left shoulder with liquid propane. I was wearing an undershirt, quilted long sleeve insulated top, uniform shirt, knit sweater, and a Carhart jacket - 5 layers. The liquid propane went all the way to my skin and left what looked like a burn - red and swollen. It took about 3 weeks for that instant frostbite to heal. As propane evaporates it chills to -44 F.
@@lloydsims1573 damn bro. Never underestimate compressed gasses of any kind. Or electricity or women. Any of which could kill quickly.
@@headpainter1 LOL - my wife just read that!
freezing the empty tank overnight allows for a greater refill. always do the job outdoors.
Really good info. I have two very large propane canisters and many small empty Coleman propane canisters.
Never would have thought great idea thanks for sharing question can you fill propane torches you know the little bottles the same way or is it even the same gas thanks
I liked your video but did I miss something about Where we get that valve to do this.
I love watching video's about refilling these canister's and the comment's....crack's me up.
Let me first say that you can buy the adapter just about anywhere including eBay and Walmart. You can also purchase a hose that will allow you to use a bigger tank on item's that use the canister's.
Here is the easiest and safest way to do this. NO REFRIGERATION NEEDED!
Get a needle valve remover like they use for a tire valve stem. If you get the cap type then just put it on an old valve stem.
Before hooking the tank and canister up, make sure you SLIGHTLY crack open the pressure relief valve IN THE LITTLE HOLE.
Hook the canister to tank, open tank valve SLOWLY then invert. Try to keep the purge valve on canister about the 10/11 or 1/2 o'clock position when filling. Pressure will escape while filling. When filled, retighten needle valve. Stand tank back up, THEN shut off. Disconnect the two.
Check with soapy water or whatever you use for leak's.
SAFETY NOTE: ALWAYS WEAR GOGGLES, (NOT GLASSES) AND GLOVE'S?
"keep the faith people, and keep on keeping on"
Awesome video, great emphasis on safety!...
Thank you!
why is it so important to start with an empty tank, if there's some propane in the one pound tank wouldn't it just add to it?
I think it might have to do with the gas pressure in the tank, you can't let all the pressure out without letting the liquid out too?
it's not
To not overfill and to make sure its purged.
It allows you to refill the smaller bottle. Propane needs a pressure difference in order to flow from one tank to another tank.
Ok, just started this today. Do not turn the bottles upside to “check” if all the pressure is out. Thanks to the guy who said “wear gloves” otherwise I would’ve had a bit of a chem burn. Danger Will Robinson! But it does supercool the canister. All the rest should be, slow and steady. Thanks for the video.
Wonder if pulling a vac on it before filling would help. Just have a gauge in the line to see pressure.
Every detail in this video is helpful. Don't mind the negative comment, you did really well. Thanks for the video.
I like emphasis on safety, but refilling those bottles on reloading bench probably not a good idea, most people me included do have lubricants, primers and gun powder around reloading equipment. Personally, when i do refill those bottles, i don't see a need to get all gas out. if you were to buy brand new propane tank before you use it, it must be purged (removing oxygen or nitrogen), so equalizing tank with atmospheric pressure, probably not a good idea. Another thing i did find out, leaving 1lb propane bottle in freezer and 20 lb bottle at around 24 degrees celcius, never gets 1 lb filled more then 65-70%, i did check it with digital scale (normally bottles are filled to 80%), which is great safety factor. Great tip on getting those bottles from campgrounds, thats where i got most of mine. Little valve beside, is not for letting air out, its pressure relief valve, preventing tank exploding in abnormal conditions. One thing i do like to add, occasionally when you done filling a tank, valve on 1lb tank could stick a little, have a piece of copper wire near by and quickly depressing valve usually makes it close properly, don't use steel screwdriver (steel on steel could create spark). And once you bottle been refilled a few times and empty they do make a great target at range.
great, thanks for sharing your thoughts Happy Thanksgiving
I would not advocate valving off the last bit down to 0 psig - if you're not going to pull a vacuum in the destination tank, leave some pressure in it to prevent air entry. When propane mixes with air, it becomes more flammable.
Chris Scott thank you, I didn't know that
Air also contains water vapor that can cause problems in the cylinder and the appliance to which it is later attached.
Yup, as a scuba diver, unless transporting a tank on an airplane, the tank should always be pressurized just for the reason you mention - keep water out. Also, if a tank had to be emptied completely, it should undergo a tank inspection prior to refilling. Scuba tanks are typically at 3,000 psi when full and definitely heat up if filled too fast (bad scenario and people have paid the price for doing that). Propane cylinders are obviously less pressure but the concept is the same.
Used to work for a couple of dive operations and filled many a tank and am a certified tank inspector.
I hit one of those cylinders with a 50BMG incendiary round. It done blowed up in a giant fireball.
Theres a video of I guy shooting a row of them. The second go two came back at him! About a hundred yards at least. Pretty cool though. Nice fireball there too. He filmed it with highspeed so there was a nice slo-mo
@@timothylongmore7325 AdTube removed my 50BMG videos permanently. I had a good short one of an old 486 computer hit with a 50BMG blue tip right in the floppy drive. That thing came apart in a fireball. We shot running Briggs & Stratton engines, diesel cylinder heads, and put an aluminum plate inside a Shakespere book that was hollowed out and was filled with shotgun powder. That was for my son's high school English teacher. About 1 in 10 of the propane cylinders detonated in a powerful blast where you could feel the shock wave. Other cylinders spun like fireworks or took off like rockets. This was in 1998. Hard to believe it was so long ago.
@@kimmer6 Nothing like a good explosion. When I was young and dumb we took some 12 gauge shells and wedge them in a cardboard tube put in a plug with a nail for a firing pin. Glue on some fins and chucked them off a railroad bridge on to the road below. Ka-blam. You'd get arrested for terrorism if ya did that shit nowadays
Thanks for the video and info, only question I have and I am assuming I can but wanted to confirm. Can I use the 16lb Propane tank to refill these bottles? Thanks
Old video, sorry for the late comment. But I'm wondering if there no bleeder valve on the CO2 tank? If so, can't you just open the bleeder and let the gas flow from one to the other without messing with the heat?
What are you in for? I got 5 years on a transport coleman lp bottle I trans filled. Had a taillight out and they threw the book at me.
so where can we pick up the adapter????????
+zenwealth1 I got mine on eBay if I remember correctly
Harbor Freight too
JIUJITSU2000 thank you!
Ross Andersen thank you!
Cfass1 thank you!
ther is coating to put in tanks to keep it from explolding
Some even have. A thin line of. Fiberglass tape
That was made with an old, pre-OPD valved tank, right? What do you do with the new OPD tanks?
Are safety glasses bullerproof? Didn't think so.
You should use a food scale to weigh your empty bottle......then weigh it when full and make sure you don't overfill the bottle..........ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST WITH EXPLOSIVE GAS
How can you overfill a tank?
If you don't open the bleeder valve propane won't come in. If you open the bleeder valve propane will just run out when its full.
Lots of ongoing comments and questions since this video came out. let me answer some of these from my 35 yearts of gas delivery equipment experience. Random order.
Some of the 1 lb. bottle main valves do leak even after the first use. Mr. Heater does sell a hard cap.
Best way to determine fill level is with a scale. You want 1 pound over the empty bottle weight.
Hoses from the supply tank to the receiving bottle should not be used unless they are cryogenic hoses. Soft hoses will tend to vaporise the liquid propane, thus a short metal connection is best.
Lots of places to get a propane tank refill adapter. My local Ace Hardware has them in stock, but at a high price. Walmart has the Mr. Heater one online for cheap.
Overfilling would be hard to do. It does take procedures like freezing the bottle and venting the pressure to get a full fill. A warm bottle will vaprorize the liquid, and not let as much liquid in.
Optimum liquid fill is 80% of bottle capacity. The other 20% is vapor in what is called "headspace". OPD bottles were mandated because many operators would fill them too much. They would overpressure if warmed, opening the releif valve. I have had this happen in a vehicle after cold weather filling! 1 lb. bottles don't have any overfill protection. If you overfill (measured by weight) just vent some out.
Most 20/30 pound propane tanks don't have a liquid tap, which why you have to invert them. Not sure if larger residential tanks do.
You do not want idiots to do this!!!
why not weigh the empty bottle and then the full bottle?? OF COURSE WEIGH A COUPLE OF NEW ONES FIRST THEN U KNOW IF U GOT A FULL 1 OR AN OOVERLOADED 1!!!
Not possible at room temp to overfill. The 20 or 100 lb. Cylinders are the same "pressure" as the 1lb cylinders.
@@markpaulzine2304 Oh you can. A friend of mine apparently did it and cartridge ruptured in backpack while travelling in the train. No fire but horrible smell though.
@@markpaulzine2304 Yes it can be overfilled, since the empty cylinder was frozen first.
That bottle was liquid filled. Then when it warmed up some the liquid expanded. Since a liquid can't be compressed. Did it rupture, or did the relief valve pop off?
@@clayrichard8471 Ruptured in joint.
Excellent video! Thanks for showing a beginner how to do it safely!
Hello JIUJITSU, one short question; which type of Coleman bottles do you use? M1110 or M1003? It would be wonderfull if your shown adapter would fill up Coleman M1003 without modifikation.
Any time you work with propane, you should always wear gloves. Propane is extremely cold and will burn your exposed flesh. If you take the time to put on safety glasses, also wear gloves. Otherwise great video. I agree that 1 lb tanks are easy to fill and they don`t need to be in a landfill.
thank you! 30k giveaway coming soon!!
+jiujitsu2000 My dad worked with propane for 35 years. Stressed safety and never had an accident. I refill my tanks, following his rules and have no issues. I also number
my tanks and weigh my tanks. This is important so you don`t overfill. Great video.
+Todd Relford thank you for sharing the info! do you have a video showing how you do it? I'm interested.
+jiujitsu2000 I have always thought about a video, but never seem to get one made. I watch videos
+jiujitsu2000 I watch videos to see if I can learn any new "tricks". Be safe, save money and reduce waste.
Thank you for the lesson. I see that you are a reloader and perhaps a caster, way to go.
Fred
Thank God for the 10 sec. skip ahead feature
Always wanted to know how to properly fill them. Is there any way to tell how much is in the can? 50% full etc?