Propane Tank conversion to Wood Furnace

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Somewhere in my nearly 50 years, I have seen plans for a propane tank (bathtub size) to be converted into a wood burning furnace. Danged if I can recall where I saw this. Now that I finally have my "little bit of country heaven" I am trying to be as self-sufficient as possible and as "off-the-grid" as possible. Can anyone help me with this quest?

-- MissJudi (jselig@clemson.edu), November 06, 2001

Answers

you want to cut a propane tank to build a wood burning furnace? WOW,, an old oil tank would be less "intimidating" to cut into I would think,,2 barrells will work,all kinds of differant possibleities,, guess a propane tank yould work,, sttronger steel,,,, JUST MAKE SURE ITS EMPTY and has been pumped out,with the valve removed,, instead of a furnace,, would be too easy to make a rocket

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 06, 2001.

I proposed the same concept (only I wanted to make a kettle) on this site and was told that cutting a propane cylinder was suicidal at best. Some spoke of evacuating all gas traces from the cylinder before cutting.

I went to the nearest propane supply company and they said there still may be an oily residue left on the cylinder walls that is still quite flammable and cutting should never be done.

I ended up buying a brand new cylinder from them and I cut it myself with my plasma cutter. The 20 inch diameter cylinder cost me $350.

-- Glenn (gj_usa1@msn.com), November 06, 2001.


They are fibbing to you, I have cut with a torch many, many propane tanks. Mainly to make trailor mounted Bar B Q's out of the 120 gallon "stubbies". First, open the valve and let all the pressure out, unscrew the valve and any other opening you can find, you can cut at this point but to be totally safe fill it with water, roll it over to drain the water. You will smell the ethyl mckaptain (spelling is proabily off) which is an odorant which does not explode. Take a length of toilet paper, wad it into the biggest hole leaving a 3 foot tail, light the tail and step away. If there is going to be a flashover it will happen then, it will be like a cup of gasoline ignited in an open topped 55 gallon drum. If you doubt these words, find a scrap metal hauler and he will do it for you for a fee.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 06, 2001.

Using a torch to cut any metal container open is at least very dangerous and probably sucilidal. I like the idea of putting a strip of toliet papter into the tank opening and lighting it to check for explosive fumes or liquids. Now I know how to check the gas tank on my old truck that the guage doesn't work on. NOW IF I BLOW MY SELF UP DOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU RESPOSIBLE. Really gets to me when I have seen people blow up barrels cutting the ends out with torches. The man that I replaced when I moved here was welding on a barrel when it blew( it had wax in it) and barrels dont blow with near the force of a propane tank. DON'T DO IT.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), November 06, 2001.

Hi Guys Thanks for all your in-put. I guess I should have clarified. The tank has been sitting empty, with all its tubing removed (leaving holes), for over 5 years. And to be honest I didn't think about a propane torch to start out with, I was considering some sort of saw. Even though it has been sitting for 5 years, before I do anything, I had planned to use the water hose and fill it full of soapy water to wash it out.

How about now, guys??

-- MissJudi (jsleig@clemson.edu), November 06, 2001.



Hey Guys Thanks for all your in-put. I guess I should have clarified. The tank has been sitting empty, with all its tubing removed (leaving holes), for over 5 years. And to be honest I didn't think about a propane torch to start out with, I was considering some sort of saw. Even though it has been sitting for 5 years, before I do anything, I had planned to use the water hose and fill it full of soapy water to wash it out.

How about now, guys??

-- MissJudi (jselig@clemson.edu), November 06, 2001.


shoudl work,,, should be stronger than alot of things,, barrel ect,,,,just dont invote me over when you make the first cut :)

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), November 06, 2001.

MissJudi; I hope no relation to Miss Cleo, the tv. physic reader, phone any large salvage metal yard and ask how they section their propane tanks for recycleing; with a tank open to the air for five years I would protect aganist rust flakes as a bigger hazard than any thing else. Or phone Aaron scrap, Orlando, ask for Lynn (manager) and ask her if Mitch know what he is talking about (407-293-6584 EST.) conserning propane tanks and all you people who haven't been there or done that: just go away with you wrong information....

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 06, 2001.

Sorry Mitch I didn't give any qualifications in the last post. I have been welding for the past forty years at work and was certified. Still weld some here on the farm and for other people. Father was welder for 32 years before he died, I worked with him for 3 years as a apprentice. The standing rule is if it ever held anything its probably a bomb. The guy I replaced lived almost three months after that washed out barrel blew. Sorry to disagree but thats my opinion. Just go on any large consturction or job site and inform anyone you are going to cut into a almost enclosed container. David

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), November 06, 2001.

Been there folks. MissJudy, If you do this please connect a hose between your cars exhaust pipe and the tank. Let it run (the car) for ten or 20 minutes or more. This replaces the oxygen inside which is nessasary for the explostion. I do it but don't reccomend you do.

-- Virgil Wright (VIRGNMARI@dragonbbs.com), November 07, 2001.


MITCH/MOOPUPS....DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THESE PROPANE TANK CONVERSIONS?I WANT TO BUILD A PIG ROASTER FOR SPECIAL OCCASSIONS. BUT HAVEN`T BEEN ABLE TO FIND ANY PLANS.

CORDWOODGUY

-- CORDWOODGUY (cordwoodguy@n2teaching.com), November 07, 2001.


I have just constructed a wood fired hot tub using an old propane cylinder as the stove. Its a stinky job, but the cylinder worked better than anything else I could find in a junk yard.

-- (powderslider@yahoo.com), December 01, 2001.

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