Freon Tank Mini Forge Plumbing Help Needed!

ddavelarsen

ddavelarsen

Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Messages
5,179
Here's the deal: What items do I need to go from a propane tank to the 1/4" nipple on my burner? Home Depot apparently does not have the requisite plumbing for this; all the hoses and fittings for propane tanks that they have are clearly specific to gas grills... Add to this my desire to use those little propane tanks made for lanterns and camping stoves (I have quite a number left over from my Y2K stove :D ). I think they're a different fitting than the larger tanks are.

Also, where can I find an appropriate regulator? Again, HD has a regulator for air tools which won't obviously hook up to the propane fittings, and the regulators on the propane lines are not adjustable...

Local businesses such as salvage, gas supply, etc are generally unwilling to deal with people requiring such small quantities of stuff as I need, so they're pretty much out of the equation.

Any help is greatly appreciated, the more detailed the better!

Dave
 
The regulator I use I bought at Harbor Freight, it was about 35$ I think and it works perfectly. It's a regulator for a welding rig I think, it has pressure and tank gauges. As for the 1/4inch to propane tank adapter, you can find those at hardware stores in the BBQ grill area BUT if you get the proper hose from a welding supply shop you can do this without an adapter. If you need help let me know and I'll snap some close-up pictures of my "micro-forge" rig and you'll see better what I mean. Just leave your email here if you need to and I'll contact ya, I'll be in my shop tonight so I could have pics tomorrow.

Good luck!
Derek Melton
Jackson, MS.
 
Dave, Lowes has the adaptors and yoou can get the high pressure regulator from any good welders supply house. I got mine from Arcet and paid 25.00 for it. You will have problems using the little propane tanks (Y2K size) you just won't get enough volume. Hunt around for an old grill tankk and go to one of the exchange sites. You will be money ahead. Save the small tanks for Y2K, it's still coming.:eek:
 
Thanks Peter, your point's well taken about scrounging a "real" tank. I can always go camping in the backyard with the other stuff.

Dave
 
Hey Dave, If you are using the Reil EZ type burner it will run a long time on a small tank of propane. The key is ordering some numbered drill bits (57-60) for the jet orifice. (1/16" is way too large)I got my red top regulator (0-20 psi) from Centaur Forge (they have an online catalog www.centaurforge.com ) it was around 25-30 bucks and came with the tailpiece. I got my hose there also. You won't find most of the other parts at Lowes either except for the plumbing parts and brass nipples and caps. (One caveat here, I have seen both 0-20 psi red top regulators and decent hoses at Lowes and Home Depot in the area where they have the big propane cookers for deep frying big batches of fish or whole turkeys, this may be a seasonal or even regional thing though. The regulators are cheap jobs from Taiwan but they are light years ahead of the barbecue regulators.)

I installed a shut off valve ( a must safety feature!) near the burner and a pressure gauge on the end of the nipple that extends through the bell of the venturi (it has been suggested that I'd get more accurate readings attaching it to the port on the regulator, I just haven't gotten around to putting it there and capping the end of the nipple.) In addition to the shut off valve I think the addition of a needle valve in the line would help also (but not absolutely necessary.)

Hope this has helped a bit!
 
Thanks Guy, I'm getting there. I may just throw all my parts in the truck and go over to the local old-time hardware store to see what we can whip up. I got the Reil burner built, now I wanna fire that puppy up!

Dave
 
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