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What do you do with old propane tanks?

ak373 | Posted in General Discussion on June 27, 2003 11:28am

Not really construction related, but…

I’ve got a not so old 20 lb propane tank.  It does not have the overfill protection valve, which means that no one will fill it for me.

A new tank with the proper valve is only $25 at HD, but what do I do with the old one?  I’ve called several propane suppliers/dealers and asked about a recycling program or a program for getting rid of old tanks.  I could see the blank stares over the phone.  Anyone got a solution?

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Replies

  1. DaveHagood | Jun 28, 2003 12:13am | #1

    I took my old tank to the local recycling center and

    threw it in the mixed metals bin.

  2. joeh | Jun 28, 2003 12:25am | #2

    Target?

    Joe H

    1. DavidxDoud | Jun 28, 2003 12:28am | #3

      ya - I was thinking 30.06 at 200 yards and then the pieces in the recycling - -

      1. billyg83440 | Jun 28, 2003 12:31am | #5

        If you're gonna shoot it with a 30-06 don't forget to get some surplus tracer rounds to ensure you have a good show.

        Of course, if you start a fire, I never said this. <G>

        1. milanuk | Jun 28, 2003 03:04am | #8

          Not that I'd ever do such a thing, but if you have a friend w/ a .50 cal rifle ( I have several ;p ) and some HEI rounds, much fun can be had. The little propane cylinders for a portable torch make a roughly 6' fireball, or so I've heard ;) A full-size barbeque grade (25#??) tank should be *most* impressive!

          Monte

          1. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 28, 2003 03:40am | #9

            Set it over a mole hole and do 2 with 1 stone.

          2. milanuk | Jun 28, 2003 03:55am | #10

            Actually, we were thinking 'rockchucks' and hoping for some secondary frag effect from the surrounding terrain ;)

            Ah, well. Never actually did it. It's getting hard enough to find landowners willing to let a person hunt, but most would pucker up at the idea of a medium-large sized fireball on their property (fire hazard, etc.)

            But if that sort of thing (i.e. stuff that goes boom) trips your trigger, check *this* out:

            http://www.boomershoot.org

            I've gone the last two years. Hopefully next year I'll have some decent rain gear.

            Later,

            Monte

          3. User avater
            IMERC | Jun 28, 2003 04:01am | #11

            Recreational use of explosives.

            I hope to think that I'm a little more seriously minded than that. Geewiz.

  3. billyg83440 | Jun 28, 2003 12:30am | #4

    Not sure they'll still do it, but take it to a grocery store that has a tank exchange cage out front. Trade it in for a full tank. For $15-20 you'll get a full tank with the new valve on top. The tank refilling company will simply change out the valve and refill it, so you're not cheating them out of anything either.

    I traded in three tanks a few months ago. For about $50 I ended up with 3 full tanks.

    If you just toss it and buy a new tank it'll cost you about $35/ tank once they're filled.

    1. ak373 | Jun 28, 2003 12:36am | #6

      Billy that sounds like a winning idea.  I'll try it.

  4. bill_1010 | Jun 28, 2003 01:13am | #7

    you can buy a little converter kit to switch it over to a air tank.  its just the right size to be able to fill one tire.  

  5. MarkH128 | Jun 28, 2003 04:44am | #12

    Luka would make shingles out of them.

  6. MarkH128 | Jun 28, 2003 04:46am | #13

    I took one of those old tanks to lowes and exchanged it for a Blue Flame or whatever refil tank. They didn't care at all.

  7. User avater
    Luka | Jun 28, 2003 04:50am | #14

    http://quittintime.infopop.cc/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=sample&Number=6764&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=&vc=1

    A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.

    Quittin' Time

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