Managing propane bottles in a shop

[Gunmerc]

How do you guys manage your propane bottles for your forge in your shop. I just got off the phone with the city building inspector and they do not allow external propane tanks in the city limits. I was considering having a 500 lb tank installed to avoid swapping bottles in and out. It just seems like a pain in the butt swapping tanks out all the time and waiting for them to warm back up after freezing.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Since you haven't filled out your profile ( which you should do ), so I have to ask - what city do you live in?

Some big cities don't allow any propane tanks at all. Most cities don't allow a 20# or larger tank to be inside a building.

Just because you got a NO answer from a building inspector, don't take that as gospel. Call the local propane supplier and ask them what size/type of tanks are allowed. Usually, the vertical and heavier 100# or 200# tanks are allowed on a patio (they often run gas fireplace logs). In some cases only 20# tanks for BBQ grills are allowed on a patio.

 

[Gunmerc]

Im in Great Bend. My building is a commercial building. I'm trying to see if he will let me plumb in a new line from my meter and up my pressure therefore allowing me to run a natural gas forge. The plumbing requires a permit, so I have to go through the building inspector. I'm waiting on him to call me back. If not I'll just use the small bottles and forge onward.