Replies

1. 
   junkhound | Oct 15, 2003 03:43am | #1

   Yes, easy to do.

   Only caveat it is illegal to transport refilled bottles in interstate commerce -- big deal.

   I've not bought a new 14 oz propane bottle for over 25 years.

   You need a scale to be sure you do not overfill.

   Bottle being filled needs to be colder than the big tank to fill in a reasoonalbe amount of time. (e.g. via venting to cool, having put in freezer a few hours before (or outside like David T)

   Look thru the archives, there was a big discussion on this in the past.

1. 
   CAGIV | Oct 15, 2003 07:40am | #3

   Only caveat it is illegal to transport refilled bottles in interstate commerce -- big deal.

   can you explain why?

1. 
   Handydan | Oct 15, 2003 11:25am | #4

         BOOM

     iff it is overfilled, it may not be to safe in the car when you have a spark/wreck maybe?  Do you remember the plane that went down in the Swamp from filled bottles of something?

   Dan

1. 
   jet | Oct 15, 2003 02:44pm | #5

   those bottles were oxygen gas generators. They have no compressed gas in them. (believe it or not) They generate the oxygen by a chemical reaction that is started by a pyrotech cap when you pull down on the mask. (Have we all been listening to the nice lady at the front of the plane?)

   The problem there was something (either the OGG's or other) started the fire and the OGG's all went up. lots of heat and oxygen. Then to make matters worse, there was a fully inflated tire in the same location. causing an explosion taking out the control cables that run between the cargo ceiling and the floor of the cabin.  Those tires are anywere from 180 PSI for a regional jet to 250psi for the jumbo jets. If at first you don't succeed...try again! After that quit! No sense being a dam fool about it!       W.C.Fields

2. 
   junkhound | Oct 15, 2003 06:12pm | #6

   why?

   Way i heard was if refilled on a production basis, the probablility of a seal leak AFTER initial inspection is high (over 0.001%) with attendant BOOM hazards. 

    I throw away about 10% of the bottles I try to refill due to leakers - nose as detector. 

   Also, store any refilled bottles in an open air shed (vs house or closed garage) for at least a week to be sure of no leaks.

1. 
   steve | Oct 15, 2003 06:39pm | #7

   here in canada or at least in ontario it is illegal to refill them, probably due to safety concerns, ie overfilling, cheap valves on the cylinder, no inspection/certification system etc etc

   why even bother? map gas is much better anyway and available in the same cylinders and acetylene is even bettercaulking is not a piece of trim

2. 
   CAGIV | Oct 15, 2003 09:39pm | #8

   Makes sense now.  Didn't think about the leak angel, I couldn't figure out how a refill was more dangerous then a fresh bottle.

   Thanks

2. 
   PhillGiles | Oct 15, 2003 05:39am | #2

   http://www.heatershop.com/1lb_probane_bottle_fill_kit.html

   http://search-desc.ebay.com/search/search.dll?srchdesc=y&query=refill+small+propane+bottles&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

3. 
   sungod | Oct 16, 2003 01:51am | #9

   They are also at Harbor Freight   http://www.harborfreight.com/

   They have the cheapest tools around. Look at their prices! Many of us are lucky to be near one of the stores.

   http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=45989