Any good ideas what to do with old propane bottle?

bukhrn wrote:
I'm stuck on the OP's statement that it's considered HazMat, after it's completely empty, & the valve is removed, the metal tank it's self is Not considered HazMat.

You're exactly right IMO. But it also depends on who is calling the shots and their opinion of what "hazardous" is.

"No propane barbeque tanks can be taken to the Seattle or King County transfer stations for garbage disposal."

http://www.lhwmp.org/home/YellowBook/material_detail.aspx?ItemID=ArBRHKBSmV8%3d

see 1st post : "Just can't toss it away like garbage. As a matter of fact I have to take to "hazardous collection" site and pay $5.00. even if I take off valve."

That was when I got thinking what I could turn tank into. If I was going to get rid of it in garbage I would take valve off.

I'm stuck on the OP's statement that it's considered HazMat, after it's completely empty, & the valve is removed, the metal tank it's self is Not considered HazMat.

rhagfo wrote:

MitchF150 wrote:
You could try to exchange it at one of those Amerigas or Blue Rhino places... They don't really 'look' too hard at the one you are turning in. I've never had one check the date on them.. I've turned in all my old tanks this way over the last year now.

Just make sure you check the expire date on the one you are getting... I exchanged my 12 year old tank at a 7-eleven and I had to pick though a couple of them before I found one that had at least a 2013 date on it... The first one he pulled out had a date of 2002! The same age as the one I was exchanging!

So, for $24, I got a 2013 tank with a fair amount of gas in it and got rid of my almost expired tank in the process..

I see new tanks in the stores for $30 and then you have to still fill it!

Good luck!

Mitch

ghaindle wrote:
Take it to Walmart and swap it out. Done it a couple of times. They never check it. Come to think of neither do I. They could have given me an old one back.

MitchF150 wrote:
But, if it's the larger "30 lb" tank, I don't think you can exchange those at your local store?

Mitch

:)

REALLY you feel this is the right thing to do is stick someone else with YOUR problem. There are lots of other good ideas, or just pay the Darn fee.

You don't think that Blue Rhino and Amerigas can recertify a tank? SERIOUSLY?!?!

pitch wrote:
Never heard of an emotional attachment to a propane tank before! If the only problem is not wanting to pay the 5 dollars, just set it out by the road, some scrapper will pick it up in a few days. You're rid of it and helped someone besides.

Although good intentioned, I don't think that's something I'd like to try. The OP states in his first post that there are "neighborhood kids" around. The potential for misuse of the cylinder would keep me from putting it out on the curb.

Never heard of an emotional attachment to a propane tank before! If the only problem is not wanting to pay the 5 dollars, just set it out by the road, some scrapper will pick it up in a few days. You're rid of it and helped someone besides.

If you can get the valve off (VERY difficult, as it is held in by Loctite Red), it doesn't hurt to fill it with water and empty it (which helps get the smell out). Until the valve is off and it has been rinsed and dried on the inside (steam from water can be very nasty as well), even an "empty" propane tank isn't.

After that, getting an experienced welder to slice it open with a cutting torch, this will get one a decent watering trough for animals, or if cut open around the top and holes punched in the bottom (without affecting the bottom ring), this will result in a smallish (but still usable) fireplace.

I used one for target practice and it was amazing how long that propane smell lasted. For months I would walk by that old holey tank and smell propane! That smell additive really permeates the inside of the tank!

Making them into a portable compressed air tank is a bad idea. They are not as thick as a normal air tank and they rust out and blow up. Plus, it is illegal to transport them if you do that. Thankfully, on the farm I fill my own tanks from the big tank on the barn. I don't care how old they are.

NEVER - Never attempt to cut a propane tank, UNLESS you are an experienced welder. There are special safety precautions that must be followed to avoid an explosion. We just had a friend who lost their son because he attempted to use a cutting torch on an "Empty" tank. Take it to Walmart and exchange it. They take out of date tanks, which are then tested and have new vales installed. If you want an air tank, go down to Walmart, Harbor Freight or Northern tools and buy one.

restlesswind wrote:
Try this...

https://www.google.com/search?q=propane+tank+drum&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4GPEA_en___US292&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=BBZUU9aTKYSqyATQzICIDg&sqi=2&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=475

I bought one and really like the way it sounds.The neighbors agreed!
Not all that hard to make one.

Wow! The cut and paste challenge?..:?

Maybe..... try posting a link!!...:W

Be lots better for exposure and the non-geeks.

~

Dennis Havlena's "Hank Drum"

Another Hank Drum ("Tank Drum") site - inspired by Dennis Havlena

~

And what you could do with that $5 "problem" -

For fun and profit - $199. ??

REALLY..:@

.