How to Get Cheap Propane?

[Lollingsgrad]

I hear that it's cheaper to use camping propane bottles (e.g. Colemans) than green gas. At the moment that's not true because of bulk buy deals Patrol Base regularly do.

 

However this assumes you're buying them from somewhere like GO Outdoors when I think what is actually happening is that people are filling them from larger bottles. What I can't seem to work out is if this is actually safe and legal to do, any tips?

[Druid799]

I use bogstandard propane , I get it from where ever is the cheapest wether it’s got outdoors , screwfix , B&Q , where ever . Only thing you do need to remember is a few drops of silicone oil before you attach the filer nozzle as green gas has oil in it but propane doesn’t .

i ‘think’ it’s illegal to refill small gas bottles (I’m sure the truth will out soon enough) but plenty do it , it’s like the Baofeng radios your supposed to have a license to use them but hardly anybody does have one .

in no way shape or form am I condoning the breaking of any laws , but it happens ! 😇 

[heroshark]

I gave up on propane ages ago the only way to make it really viable is to get the big tanks and fill up your own cans. It's a far initial layout for the set up and I think you need the old style cans to fill up.

[hitmanNo2]

The likes of Coleman propane is dirt cheap in the US, sub $4 for the 453g compared to our usual price of £15 or so hence "propane is so much cheaper than green gas".  If you're smart about your purchases of green/buy in bulk, there's not much of a discount to be had buying cans of Rothenberger compared to green.

 

Now if you want to get into decanting the big bottles of propane to refill the small Coleman cans, that's when things get considerably cheaper.  I don't think there's any legal issue with doing it.  You just need the space and know how/technique. And the coupling adapter of course

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Safety-Propane-Refill-Adapter-Lp-Gas-Cylinder-Tank-1lb-Coleman-Heater-Coleman/312938006125?hash=item48dc8f066d:g:hpkAAOSwAO5d0mDL

[Lollingsgrad]

1 hour ago, hitmanNo2 said:

The likes of Coleman propane is dirt cheap in the US, sub $4 for the 453g compared to our usual price of £15 or so hence "propane is so much cheaper than green gas".  If you're smart about your purchases of green/buy in bulk, there's not much of a discount to be had buying cans of Rothenberger compared to green.

 

Now if you want to get into decanting the big bottles of propane to refill the small Coleman cans, that's when things get considerably cheaper.  I don't think there's any legal issue with doing it.  You just need the space and know how/technique. And the coupling adapter of course

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Safety-Propane-Refill-Adapter-Lp-Gas-Cylinder-Tank-1lb-Coleman-Heater-Coleman/312938006125?hash=item48dc8f066d:g:hpkAAOSwAO5d0mDL

 

Do you know if it has to be Coleman? I have these for my travel BBQ,

 

https://www.toolstation.com/propane-gas-cylinder/p13125

 

They've got the pressure release valve which I think is the only thing you really need for safety on the bottle, right?

[hitmanNo2]

You can use that type of bottle.  It should have the same threads.  Though I'd imagine a bottle significantly advertised as a propane/butane mix with 30-40% butane would be detrimental in some way compared to regular propane which has a very small percentage of butane mixed in e.g. lower FPS, lower ROF, less effective in cold weather etc.  I don't know if that complicates matters for refilling these with straight propane though.

[Lollingsgrad]

Pretty sure those ones are pure propane because they do a cheaper bottle for butane mix, should be fine.

[hitmanNo2]

Not according to the safety data sheet.

[Lollingsgrad]

Huh! I got suckered then thought I was paying for pure propane, I'll make sure to check the data sheet next time and avoid refilling this one. Thanks!

[paradoxum]

This is what I've done:

11kg large propane tank from here: https://www.gas-uk.co.uk/11kg-propane-gas-cylinder.html

Fill adapter: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07SG5NWB3/

Smaller coleman tank to fill: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01LNNE6KC/

Madbul fill adapter (for the smaller tank to mags / airsoft things): https://www.bullseyecountrysport.co.uk/madbull-propane-adapter-xg02-5546-p.asp

[TheFull9]

Nice rig.  I'm presuming the pressure in that 11kg is the usual?

[Lollingsgrad]

Still can't seem to find anything indicating it's illegal to refill. The only thing I found is that it's illegal to refill a rented gas bottle from an LPG pump on a garage forecourt. This is very specific, quite irrelevant and also something that Google loves to serve up so much that all potentially useful results are buried in it. I guess my Google-fu is weak.

 

Something that occurred to me as I was searching around is if I DID manage to turn up something that said it's illegal for unqualified unlicensed uninformed types to refill one propane container from another, wouldn't that render refilling airsoft magazines illegal? Not a can of worms I'm sure anyone is keen to open but as I say, I can't find any sources to suggest this is anything worse than just ill-advised and, depending on what forum post you land on, anything from completely fine to utterly life-threatening.

 

Another thing I thought was interesting is that green gas has been proven to just be propane with silicone added, so why don't our airsoft bottles come with the welding gas safety features (thicker metal, pressure release valve)?

[TheFull9]

Asking these sorts of questions is a surefire way to get big, fat, mouth-breathing Kevin from the HSE to descend upon us with the mighty wrath of bullshit bureaucracy.

[Tommikka]

3 hours ago, TheFull9 said:

Asking these sorts of questions is a surefire way to get big, fat, mouth-breathing Kevin from the HSE to descend upon us with the mighty wrath of bullshit bureaucracy.

No

The HSE don’t descend with bureaucratic bullshit

 

That’s clipboard holding H&S dickheads.

The HSE deal with reality such is industrial accidents and deaths, they don’t get involved with individuals either - they deal with businesses and workplace safety 

 

I was given the role of H&S man once upon a time.

Being an office environment I spent my time stripping out all the stupid inspections, downgrading all the overkill monthly regimes.

Then I could take & share responsibility on practical matters and not worry about being a dickhead

 

 

[TheFull9]

Imagine if that post was purely a joke..

[paradoxum]

Well, today I tried filling my empty 1lb coleman can with my 11kg tank.

 

 

as soon as I unscrewed the valve on the bottom of the main tank it started leaking from there. there doesn't seem to be a good seal between the cable and the tank. why that side of the cable is made of plastic and not brass like the other side I have no idea, but maybe if I try re-fitting it after adding some teflon tape around the thread might do it..

 

I was out there with armoured gloves and wearing my motorcycle helmet for safety and ended up in disappointment that I couldn't fill my smaller tank.

 

Anyone do this and know a better cable to use? This is the one I have: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07SG5NWB3/ took like a month to arrive too.

[Shamal]

Crikey! You are(you're) a.braver man than me gungadin.

Glad to hear you donned ppe though. Lol

👍

[paradoxum]

It was dark, raining, and cold outside, so I brought the tank inside.. let's just say I almost won a darwin award. Back outside until I get a better hose with brass connections on both sides.

 

Edit: This is dangerous shit. The youtube videos make it look easy but do not attempt this indoors or without proper protective gear. Also if you don't have them get some long pliers you can use to turn the valve on the large tank because even with armoured gloves I almost felt the propape on my fingers and you really don't want to get frostbite and lose your fingers over this shit. I'll update when I've got a better cable (eyeing this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Veronivan-Propane-Adapter-Converter-Accessory/dp/B082HW6TFD/ as it has brass connectors on both ends) Again will update.