Safety question on Propane

[Kiah]

I'm gonna be making either a small brick or can forge in the next few days and had a question on indoor use. I know you can get those little propane space heaters that can be used indoors, and obviously lots of homes use it for heat and appliances, but I also have read on some propane powered items, like Coleman stoves, to never use indoors. My Coleman single Burner, for example, has a huge warning label.

I'm gonna to be running it off of a JTH7 torch. Is there a safety issue here other than the obvious clearance issue?

Also, how bad would the output be affected being used outdoors in the winter? I've read that the cold would make it pretty much useless.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

A lot depends on what you call indoors. If you mean a garage, then just opening the door will be fine for most any propane device. If you are talking about the kitchen,or basement, then good ventilation and outside air exchange is important. A propane torch like yours won't create enough carbon monoxide or use up enough oxygen to be a problem. A space heater or gas heater if not properly used and installed can be deadly. For most home use of flame devices, open a window. Odors, smoke and fire hazards are another thing to consider.
Stacy

 

[stefanj]

I don't ever advice the use of anything like a space heater or any such thing indoors in a closed well sealed evironment (a well ventalated environment is another matter and I would say ok)! We have had soldiers die because of using propane stoves in tents and we know those things sure don't seal up well!

Better safe then sorry, plus its easier on the brain cells.

Just my humble opinion.

 

[john0270]

If your going to run it indoors, a C0 detector is a must. My propane forge works well in the cold so far, only run it at -10C so far. I think it would be more wind than anything that would affect it.

 

[Any Cal.]

The cold affects the fuel bottles on things that use small canisters of fuel. If that is what people are referring to, just keep the bottle warm. You might try putting it in a bucket of warm water. Even in the cool, you can see bottles ice up in use. When the bottle gets too cold, the liquid fuel inside will not boil off, so there is no vapor to make pressure in the bottle. You end up with a bottle full of liquid fuel that won't come out. The smaller the container, the bigger the issue.

 

[Kiah]

Thanks for the responses guys. :thumbup: