45L red gas cylinder

[Dangle_kt]

Hi,

Mother in law "found" one of these in her garden, currently its full of gas, but once empty what can I use it for/make it into?

I think I read about making your own compressor using one... but cant find a link!!

Any ideas guys? As many as possible would be cool - oh and a reminder on how best to make sure its safe - think it involves water!

 

[rtbcomp]

I use a couple as air receivers.

I filled it full of water to flush the gas out. I left it standing full for 24 hours, it's theoretically possible to freeze some gas in ice if you don't let it all boil off before fillling.

 

[Archie]

I've seen them made into garden heaters/incinerators. Chimney on top, door in the front and some vents in the bottom. Bob's your uncle. My mate uses hisfor burning up cardboard. They give off an awesome amount of heat.

 

[Dangle_kt]

thanks guys, read a great thread about using a fridge compressor - real DIY jobbie!!

 

[wellingtonrock]

sorry to be t'ick, but how do you (open 'em to )fill 'em with water and how do you put the couplings on for air lines?

 

[Dangle_kt]

not got a clue!! I'm hoping its just a case of opening the valve to get most of it out, then undoing the valve to vent it, then filling with water and leaving it for a few days.

Once I'm sure its safe I'll use the valve as a way of getting compressed air out, and drill and weld one somehwere else for pumping air in.

Only one way to find out

And if it all goes wrong, it was nice knowing you all

 

[rtbcomp]

You use the same 'ole to get the air what you used to put the air in.

Use one of these to connect it http://www.towsure.com/product/8575-Propane_High_Pressure_Hose

Just cut the female end off and use a hose fitting in the tube.

 

[Wozzaaah]

the valves unscrew from the cylinders, they're on a tapered thread, can be very tight and they're brass so if you break them it's a pain. I've got a 47kg propane one in my garage with a broken valve, still haven't decided what to do with it .

 

[rtbcomp]

Calor Butane ones are held in with a sealant - you need to heat it up to unscrew the valve

What I've done with those is to drill down the valve with a hand drill and loads of water round the bit and after the cylinder is purged solder a piece of copper pipe in. Once you have a piece of pipe in place you can use whatever fittings you like.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I'd had no trouble at all getting the valves out of any cylinders until I tried that propane one, it's in there solid and now it's smashed it's open so I get a whiff of it everytime i open the door .
I reckon I will have to take a drill to it.

 

[migmag]

Take into the country build a fire round and burn the chuffa...........

Did it regular away when making garage stoves.

 

[JimM]

I've seen them used as a pressure pot for sandblasting, chimnea and BBQ type oven/smoker

To get the valve off mine I used a short piece of scaffold tube. One end was notched to go over the valve, the other had 2 notches (ie a slit) which I put a tommy bar across.

Cheers

Jim

 

[michael1703]

i made a chiminea out of two of them

they were both full but were very old and rusty, one had a brass fitting so i smacked it with a rawhide mallet back and forth until it fractured and so it was safe to cut

the other had a ball bearing valve, i held a machine screw on it to let the gas out, but it was so cold i froze the screw to my finger !

i then held the valve open with the valve pointed into a bucket of water, this was slightly better but still quite cold

with a screw jammed into the top i flicked matches at it until it burned out and then closed my eyes and sunk the grinder into it!

one cylinder was left full height, (i think it was a butane) and an arched opening cut into it, thelttlwe one that was cold (lpg?) was cut roughly 60/40 and the larger portion welded onto the cylinder

a piece of tube roughly 80mm was used as the chimney

all paint was removed using a flap disc (searc rgdtools on ebay, theyre cheap) and for a base, i happened to have a vauxhall carlton rim doing nothing so i welded it to it

i left mine bare metal as i wanted it to rust

(pictures to follow)

 

[Wozzaaah]

they were both full but were very old and rusty, one had a brass fitting so i smacked it with a rawhide mallet back and forth until it fractured and so it was safe to cut

the other had a ball bearing valve, i held a machine screw on it to let the gas out, but it was so cold i froze the screw to my finger !

i then held the valve open with the valve pointed into a bucket of water, this was slightly better but still quite cold

with a screw jammed into the top i flicked matches at it until it burned out and then closed my eyes and sunk the grinder into it!

Sorry to say but they have got to be the most unsafe methods of venting cylinders I've ever had the misfortune to read .
I think you're be in the running for the 2008 Darwin Awards with that lot Michael .

 

[migmag]

Just had a txt off a mate of mine he was reading this and said if your anywhere near Catterick garrison he will gladly "vent" your bottles with a 50cal Raufoss round.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Now that I would like to see!

 

[engybenjy]

Woz, youtube it mate!!!!!! Look for the guy with the .50 richot - nicely removes his ear defenders
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=laSRfJ8WgwQ

 

[Wozzaaah]

Jeez!!!!

 

[engybenjy]

Gotta nother one, There was a special program on Sky not long back on sharp-shootershttp://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Og9ccsb1v6o
This guy shot 15 rounds on 5 targets in less than 3 seconds with a better than 3 inch groups!!!!!! Supercool just doesnt cover it!

OP: sorry for the OT

 

[michael1703]

Sorry to say but they have got to be the most unsafe methods of venting cylinders I've ever had the misfortune to read .
I think you're be in the running for the 2008 Darwin Awards with that lot Michael .

you should see me weld petrol tanks

i'll have to show you the pic of the one that went wrong