California Banning Single Use PROPANE Cylinders.

Wandering Sagebrush

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Looks like the one pound propane cylinders are going to be a thing of the past. While it is the right thing to do, it’s going to create some consternation. The link is here.

Please, no rants.
 
Plastic.... that is my crazy. Especially when I clean out a fire ring with melted stuff. I agree on the single use propane can evolution to something better. It was easy but there is always a price to be paid. Somebody will no doubt come up with a wicked cool alternative and make a fortune! The American way!
 
Someone did come up with a better idea. Flame King sells a 1 pound refillable propane canister. And better yet, if you buy it at Sports Basement, they will give you up to 5 free refills per year. Details here:

Sport Basement Propane Deal
Sounds like a good alternative. Free refills might cost the company $16 annually if they pay retail for propane at current my current local costs, but may generate sales. And countless people with propane camp stoves, lanterns, space heaters and other appliances won't have to throw them away when the ban goes into effect.
 
I wonder about the safety/liability of that. I don't know if those standard bottles are made to withstand repeated fillings. Or what provisions there off to determine when it is full.

After a quick search I see that there are several brands of refillable cylinders on the market. And interestingly, an adapter to fill your refillable cylinder using a 20# tank.
 
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DOT has a problem with those being refilled but its not likely anyone would ever get fined. I have one of the refillable bottles for emergencies but I run the bbq off the big tank. I doubt we'll see beer cans outlawed any time soon.
 
Beer cans get recycled, my one pound propane clylinders get refilled. If the clylinders show any sign of swelling, or the valves leak after filling, they get recycled after they are empty. Alot of places have the 1 lb cylinders on sale right now. At some point I will have to get some clylinders that can be refilled, and are "legal".
 
From an article I just published in Exploration Quarterly on the history of the Coleman lantern:

"You can buy refill adapters for the ubiquitous one-pound DOT39-type cylinders and find instruction online for doing so, but the USDOT strongly recommends against it, after documenting several accidents and at least one fatality. The sealing gasket in this type of cylinder is not meant for repeated use."

The refillable canisters from Flame King are made differently than the DOT39 canisters and are safe to refill. Many people get away with refilling the DOT39 canisters, but many people get away with not wearing seat belts too.
 
It's already so easy to use our second 10# tank (first one stays connected to the camper) from our 4WC to run our outdoor stove and bbq (and lantern or other accessories if we want) all at the same time we haven't used 1# tanks in years. I can refill a 10# tank for the price of one 1# tank and it lasts for a month on the road. Just from a cost and convenience perspective it seems like a no brainer.
 
. . . I can refill a 10# tank for the price of one 1# tank and it lasts for a month on the road. Just from a cost and convenience perspective it seems like a no brainer.
If you have a 10# tank (and don't have to carry it far), use it. If not, they cost ~$75 and weigh 25# full.

I fill green 1# bottles from a 20# tank for bulk propane cost. A lot of ice fishermen I know do it and haven't heard of any accidents yet. I use sealing brass caps to eliminate leakage in storage.

P.S. A couple of campers I know that have 3-way fridges carry a couple of green bottles and a 'steak saver' for if their propane tank runs out.
 
I have been using the Flame King 1# bottles for a few years now. I refill them from a 20# tank using the widget Flame King makes. I also cap them with brass caps that have a rubber sealing ring.

My understanding is that the dark green commercial 1# tanks use a plastic/rubber 'O' ring or ball to make the seal. These can deteriorate.

I have noticed that attaching the Flame King tanks to the appliance is trickier than with the commercial tanks, so there is leakage (and stink!) whenever they are put on/off. Not sure why that happens.
 
Um... I wonder what CA will do about the canisters used that are used for products like JetBoil? They are a combo propane/isobutane mixture and used extensively (by us) for backpacking, etc. It'd be nice to be able to refill those canisters easily but not sure where you can get the "combo" fuel (for colder temp usage) or if just straight propane would work? Right now, there might be some adapters out there (like the green canisters) but not sure how well they work.
 
Um... I wonder what CA will do about the canisters used that are used for products like JetBoil? They are a combo propane/isobutane mixture and used extensively (by us) for backpacking, etc. It'd be nice to be able to refill those canisters easily but not sure where you can get the "combo" fuel (for colder temp usage) or if just straight propane would work? Right now, there might be some adapters out there (like the green canisters) but not sure how well they work.
We use a JetBoil for coffee and muesli every morning. I suppose I will carry on with the larger canisters as long as they are available. One large will last us almost 3 weeks. I don't know if they are safely refillable. If you find a good refill solution please let us know!
 
Um... I wonder what CA will do about the canisters used that are used for products like JetBoil? They are a combo propane/isobutane mixture and used extensively (by us) for backpacking, etc. It'd be nice to be able to refill those canisters easily but not sure where you can get the "combo" fuel (for colder temp usage) or if just straight propane would work? Right now, there might be some adapters out there (like the green canisters) but not sure how well they work.
It appears isobutane is not on the list, just the 1 pound “Coleman” type bottles.
 
We use a JetBoil for coffee and muesli every morning. I suppose I will carry on with the larger canisters as long as they are available. One large will last us almost 3 weeks. I don't know if they are safely refillable. If you find a good refill solution please let us know!

That's what we use for coffee too (when in the camper as I like to get up and go outside to make coffee, etc. and watch the sunrise). Yes, they last a long time but not an issue for us in Idaho but it would be nice to be able to refill them easily and was figuring that if CA banned them, refilling them would become more mainstream.

If you google refilling the canisters, here's a tutorial and it's possible to do it now but they use the large canisters to fill smaller ones. I've seen people who do use other fuel sources to fill them but it seems a little "risky".

 
That's what we use for coffee too (when in the camper as I like to get up and go outside to make coffee, etc. and watch the sunrise).
I do the same thing every morning. It is a bit tricky in high winds, but rain or shine the morning coffee ritual starts the day right. I often glimpse shy wildlife when waiting for the next boil.
 

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