Disposable propane tank valve

I purchased a disposable coleman propane tank and used it for about
1 hour straight. After I was done with it, I let everything cool
down and removed the bottle from the regulator. The bottle gave a
little pop and then kept hissing sporadically. If I tap it it
hisses. I set it outside in a good draft and decided to see what
coleman had to say: “Put it outside till it leaks out”. Now, I
already knew that. My question to you fine folks is: What do I do
with this darn thing. Scared to just “dispose of it” or throw it
out. Don’t wish to be near it. Considering digging a whole in the
backyard :slight_smile:

Jonathan Brunet

I purchased a disposable coleman propane tank and used it for
about 1 hour straight. After I was done with it, I let everything
cool down and removed the bottle from the regulator. The bottle
gave a little pop and then kept hissing sporadically. If I tap it
it hisses. I set it outside in a good draft and decided to see what
coleman had to say: "Put it outside till it leaks out". Now, I
already knew that. My question to you fine folks is: What do I do
with this darn thing. Scared to just "dispose of it" or throw it
out. Don't wish to be near it. Considering digging a whole in the
backyard :) 

Put the torch back on it, light the thing with the torch held in
something convenient that can clamp it securely so it doesn’t fall
over or something, and just let it burn itself out. The empty tank
can be put in your garbage.

Dear Jonathan: I am venturing a guess that the Coleman propane tank
you purchased is the kind you use for camp stoves and lanterns. My
advice is to hook the tank back up and have it run itself dry. I can
understand your hesitation in being around it. Hook it up to
something that you can bring outside. (lantern or a camp stove). If
you don’t have anything like the above, see if someone you know
has a garden torch or any kind of items that use these tanks for fuel.

Hello Jonathan, See if your community has a household hazardous waste
collection program. They would have knowledgable staff to safely
dispose of the propane bottle. Another resource is the fire
department. Have you tried replacing the regulator on the bottle? It
may provide a good seal when reseated. Judy in Kansas

Judy M. Willingham, R.S.
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
237 Seaton Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan KS 66506
(785) 532-2936

Jonathan - Why did you unhook the bottle before it was empty?
Disposable tanks have characteristically had problems with their
seals, which is why most folks leave them connected to an
"appliance" when not in active use (and why the manufacturers state
that they are not for re-use/refilling). That way, the
torch/regulator controls will keep the gas contained. Otherwise, you
would need to consider disposable tanks as “single use”, which they
are not. For many years I used, and taught, with a Bernzomatic
plumbers torch. For melting I used Bernzomatic’s MAPP gas turbo
torch. Now I have a wide array of torches, but I still teach with
Bernzomatic if that is what my student(s) have access to.

Jim Small
Small Wonders

    Why did you unhook the bottle before it was empty? 

I have a cramped space for making jewelry and got used to putting
everything away. Perhaps i will leave the bottles attached. I use the
bottles with a “flower pot and camp stove kiln” and a bernzomatic
propane torch. I was scared that the camp stove would cause an issue
if used for prolonged periods. Would the tremendous heat make the
disposable bottles blow? I wish I could afford a kiln, and have been
monitoring ebay for a month now. Perhaps an Orchidian would have a
small burnout kiln for4 sale that would be safer.

Thanks for the replies,

Jonathan Brunet