Do any of you grab a junk 20# propane cylinder when possible...

[mldollins]

Here is why. A new cylinder runs around 30 bucks. If you get one that is already filled, figure 45-50. However, Menards has the trade in program for like 17 and some change. What you get is a reconditioned tank which looks new and it is filled to 20#. It costs around 12 bucks to refill one.

I have found that at times people have old rusty cylinders that are not serviceable. I offer 5 bucks and they jump at it. I have been able to snag around 5 cylinders this way. I would like to get a couple more, so I will have to keep my eyes open

[Windy in Kansas]

Around here the trade in bottles contain only 15# of propane at $17.

They also will not take bottles that do not have the newer style valve.

New bottles here sell for about $25 at Home Depot. They have the lowest price on new that I am aware of.

Now to answer your question---yes. I have a tank at my farm and can fill my own bottles and I actually prefer the older style of valve. I don't remember if I have 4 or if I have 5 20 pounders.

[gone-a-milkin]

I do all my cooking on 20# tanks. Anything bigger than that is too heavy to lift. Back when they just started the OPD valves, the guy at my propane CO basically TOLD me to take mine in and swap them for new ones w/ OPD.

That was a few years back. Now-a-days, the bottle swap places wont accept any w/o OPDs. They are all locked down like a vault, plus it is $18 for a full one/ with a swap.

I am paying $8 for a fill on my 20#ers from my local guy. He will also put a OPD on an older tank for $12.

I guess there are 6 of those 20# tanks kicking around my place. & yes, I keep an eye out for them.

[Ken Scharabok]

The new valves are a safety feature. If the tank is in a fire it will vent off rather than exploding.

Just had a 100-lb tank filled (which they only do to about 80% to prevent venting off) and it was $84.55. 20-lb-ers are 1/4 that.

Seems like some of those propane tank swap places were caught recently underfilling the bottles.

[mldollins]

Menards, ace hardware, walmart all take the old ones for trade. What the company does is remove the old valve and replace it with a new on as well as repaint.

[tab]

Refilled our 100# tank for about 62.00 a couple of weeks ago. The places that will do it are getting few and far between. Use both sizes for different things. Be real inconvenient if I can't keep the big one filled.

[tyusclan]

Originally Posted by Windy in Kansas

Around here the trade in bottles contain only 15# of propane at $17.

Same here. Wal-mart will take the old tanks, and I will trade in an old one if I happen up on one, but you only get 15# of propane. After the initial trade-in, I refill them instead of trading them in. It's a much better value to refill than to trade unless you are getting rid of an old style tank.

[GoldenCityMuse]

It is hard to get propane tanks, they are jumped on pretty quick whereever I am.

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by Ken Scharabok

The new valves are a safety feature. If the tank is in a fire it will vent off rather than exploding.

Ken that isn't quite right I don't believe. I delivered propane back in the early 1970s and have never see a valve/tank without a safety relief built in.

The OPD valves have a float that shuts off the filling flow to prevent overfilling which will help prevent excess pressure since there is expansion room, but to they best of my knowledge they all have had the safety vent built in.

[MushCreek]

Here in FL, a lot of them pop up on craig's. It seems moving companies don't allow them on the trucks, so people have to get rid of 'em when they move. And there seem to be a LOT of folks leaving (or trying to) FL these days.

[NCLee]

FYI -- propane cylinders, regardless of the size are filled to 80%. That even applies to the big tank I have in the back yard to heat my home.

We have, in additon to that one, 2 100 lb ones and about a 1/2 dozen 20 pounders. I got burned one time trading in an old cylinder for a Blue Rhino exchange tank. Local propane supplier could refill it for me because of the configuration of the fill port. No more, I won't do an exchange.

If you can find a supplier who will still fill the old style tanks, that may be an option, providing you're used to dealing with those tanks and take proper safety precautions.

Sam's Club has the best price, that I've found, for new 20 lb cylinders.

However, if you have a hand cart and a set of ramps to load a 100# cylinder into a pickup, a 100 # one is the best option from an economical standpoint. Last time I checked, it cost less to buy a 100 pounder than it did to buy 5 20's. And, usually, the rate per gallon is less when a 100# one is filled.

Lee

[tyusclan]

Originally Posted by NCLee

If you can find a supplier who will still fill the old style tanks, that may be an option, providing you're used to dealing with those tanks and take proper safety precautions.

If a supplier fills an old style tank he risks being put out of business and fined VERY heavily.

[NCLee]

I know, but some do it anyway.

Lee

[Forerunner]

Take your better appearing 100 # bottle and revalve it with the new style.

The new tanks have the same pop-off safety feature as the old.
The difference is that the new valve must have the male fitting screwed in before it will allow propane to escape. You can't open a new style valve and get gas without it being hooked up to something.
I disassemble these tanks for salvage, occasionally a semi load at a time.
The new valve makes it difficult to tell whether there is pressure remaining in the discarded tank, which makes it fun for us salvage technicians.

If you homesteaders have a 500 or 1000 gallon tank on the place, you may already have the plumbing in place to fill your own smaller bottles.
There should be a liquid draw on the tank somewhere.
I had an old 1000 gallon with no liquid draw, and had the LP company weld one in, but that's been 15 years ago. With the right connections, work like that can still be hired done. All one would need do is fill the empty tank with carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide and then do the cutting and welding without worry.

[ronbre]

make sure they have the new connectors on top..as the old ones are illegal in most places so you might have to put money into the connectors.

we just filled ours for $17 and tax

[Windy in Kansas]

Originally Posted by NCLee

FYI -- propane cylinders, regardless of the size are filled to 80%.

I think you mean THEY MAY BE FILLED to only 80%, not are filled. The exchange bottles certainly are not as an example.

While I generally weigh bottle I fill myself I do on occasion fill them to greater than 80% when they will be used immediately on a torch which will withdraw the contents quickly below the safety level. A 250,000 BTU weed burner torch makes quick work of emptying a 20# bottle. I often use my 11 pounder simply for the carrying convenience instead however.

[ChristieAcres]

DH snags every steel storage tank of any kind and collects those propane tanks, too. This thread reminded me that we need to go pick up some tanks we found on his late brother's property (already snagged the propane tank we found). All the tanks are in great condition and newer. Some appeared to have been dumped (?!). We know the nice propane tank was dumped as it suddenly appeared where it wasn't before.

Thanks for posting the info

[Windy in Kansas]

Speaking of dumped tanks------remember that drug manufacturers will steal anhydrous ammonia in propane bottles to use in meth manufacturing. Since the ammonia reacts with the brass the fittings corrode. There are also great danger with the anhy so stay away from suspect bottles.

County landfill always has a big stack of them courtesy of the sheriff's department. BTW, nothing can be removed from our local landfill under penalty of law.

[Ed Norman]

Our landfill lets you have stuff. We use it for field fencing, chain link, chicken fences, etc. There is a corner full of propane bottles and I get one when I need to make an air bubble or other project.

[ChristieAcres]

Good warning to pass on- Windy! The latest looked brand new and had PROPANE in it. DH is careful to check every tank out thoroughly and wouldn't risk anything by getting one that wasn't clearly safe. One can never be too careful. So far, we have collected a lot of tanks he has made into all kinds of things, but only found one he rejected as potentially unsafe.