Art from Old Propane Tanks
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 09. 8.06
Go to any dump or propane refill station and you will see hundreds of empty tanks; after 10 years they cannot legally be refilled without testing and recertifying, which is more expensive than a new tank. Artist Shirra Wall puts them to use, cutting them up into fireplaces and many other art forms. (we hope she makes certain they are empty before attacking them with the torch). ::Shining Sun via ::Great Green Goods
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If they're anything like CO2 (or, presumably, other pressurized gas containers) the side will be drilled open when they fail certification.
Most of the tanks made before 2000 are illegal to refill now because they don't have the new safety valve. There should be plenty of old ones around if you want to make things out of them.
Actually, it's odd. You CAN refill those old tanks legally, as long as you stencil on the side of the propane tank "FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ONLY".
Basically, it's illegal to refill them if they don't have an OPD valve, only if it's for home BBQ type usage.
My friend and I have a backyard foundry, and we legally refill the old style all the time. The newer ones fit about 10-15% less propane inside because of the action of the OPD.
When we're doing a long melt of something like bronze, we need to make sure we have that extra few percent.
hello i was curious to know if you would let me know how you safely cut open a previously used propane tank. i have a couple of large propane tanks that i want to cut and make into bbq smokers. any info would be greatly appriciated. thank you in advance.
I am wanting any info on a very old propane tank looks like the apollo space ship and is about 4 or 5 feet tall.
left a tank on a shelf laying on its side. a faulty valve allowed leakage of propane. an unknown source for a spark set off a gigantic explosion. the compression blew open sliding doors some 200 feet away. a small fire was quickly put out. there is no notice on the tank warning of possible danger from laying the tank on its side. I don't feel this is something that should be assumed that a large warning should be placed on each and every tank
just another artist,trying to beat the system.have an acre+ of land in so. cal and experiment w. alternate housing, incl. a great interest in old propane cylinders.