I’ve got several of these empty steel propane tanks from heating the chicken coop during the recent cold weather before I got an adapter to run the heater off of a larger refillable tank. Any ideas on what they could be repurposed for?

Seems like there should be some use for them besides tossing them in the recycling. I’d assume I’d need to poke a hole in them before recycling since they are/were pressure vessels.

I know there are adapters out there to refill them but now that I can use a larger, more easily refillable, tank I don’t really have any inclination to do so.

My only thought so far was to cut the top off, drill some holes, and make a little stick burning camp stove. But, that’s not something I’ll ever use.

I’ve got a fairly extensive workshop and metal working tools so pretty much everything is on the table. I can even do really shitty welding if required.

    • Majorllama
      6•3 months ago

      You have to tamper with the pressure release safety valves and provide a secondary flame unless you are using some bougie incendiary ammo (and even those aren’t a guarantee to ignite something like propane on its own).

      We used to blow up the normal sized ones like for your the backyard grill. We would fill the pressure release with valve with JB weld and then toss it into a bonfire and shoot it from like 500 feet away lol.

        • Majorllama
          3•3 months ago

          When you live an hour away from the nearest hospital for some reason everything you decide to do with your free time happens to be incredibly dangerous lol

  • @Dashi@lemmy.world
    2•3 months ago

    If you absolutely have a desire to do any of these artistic, repurpose or whatever with these: put them out 100 yards and put a bullet through the top of it to make sure there is no propane left in it

  • @Hux@lemmy.ml
    -1•3 months ago

    Refill with an adapter from a larger propane tank.

    The refilled tanks can’t hold as much, but it works.

    They can hold a bit more if you toss them in the freezer for a while before attempting to refill.

  • @AbidingOhmsLaw@lemmy.mlEnglish
    78•3 months ago

    Important! Before you drill, cut, puncture or do anything with them you need to remove the residual gas or they may explode on you!

    1. obtain or make a valve tool for propane cylinder valves (check youtube).
    2. screw on a torch head and try to light it to burn off as much as you can EVEN WHEN THE TORCH WONT LIGHT THERE IS STILL PROPANE IN THE CYLINDER
    3. outside in a well ventilated area remove the torch and press the center valve in to verify that pressure is equalized
    4. look for the fill valve off center on the top, using the valve tool remove the valve.
    5. fill the cylinder ALL THE WAY with water, this will force out any remaining gas.
    6. the cylinder should now be safe to work on
  • @Sorolainen@sopuli.xyzsuomi
    6•3 months ago

    Very good question. Where I live they are supposed to be separated as “dangerous waste”, because people are not trusted to empty them themselves.

    • clifOP
      3•3 months ago

      Makes sense; people are stupid. Me included at least half of the time.

      I remember a backpacking buddy talking about a tool for puncturing the (empty) fuel cans for “jet boil” camping stoves because they couldn’t be recycled without very clearly being empty.

      • bjorney
        3•3 months ago

        This may be the Canadian in me, but my municipal dump literally has a spot for people to bring these (and other pressurized gas canisters) for safe handling and recycling

  • @shalafi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    -1•3 months ago

    I’d punch through the neck, fill with lamp oil, put candle wicks in there.

    I do that with cool bottles, but you could strip the label and paint, do something creative.

  • @solrize@lemmy.world
    1•3 months ago

    Use refillable ones like Flame King. They cost about $20 and can be refilled safely for around $2 per fill. If you’re near Sports Basement and are a member, they will refill them for free within some limits.

  • @Substance_P@lemmy.worldEnglish
    -1•3 months ago

    I remember looking into this once before but with CO2 tanks, I had an idea of cutting them off at different heights or levels to make bells out of them. I’m pretty sure sound wise it would be pretty hit or miss but worth a try.