Gas Bottle Swap

[Chuck]

WOW!!!

Not gonna put any of that stuff in my gas bottles... !!

[Greynomad]

It'd make the snags taste funny!

[Pokey]

Forget the BCF, you are only lining the pockets of a listed company. Most local hardware stores do refills and, though not as plentiful, BBQ's galore do refills as well. My local one is as cheap as anyone at $19.90.

I only use pre filled gas to replace a bottle that is nearing expiry date although you sometimes get specials at Mitre 10 etc for new bottles with gas that are similar. WHS has a lot to answer for, getting a bottle filled these days is a PIA. Only two bottles is going into a car, must have a plug, bottle must be stored upright etc etc. Geez I remember as a kid the hardware blokes actually used to sell the gas by weight, no matter what size the bottle and they weighed the bottle everytime. I also recall as a kid working over Xmas in the electrical store my mum worked at, being trained to fill gas bottles. No need to have gloves or any of that crap and let the bottle vent well before closing it of, make sure that you give the customer a full bottle. Today it is all about screwing the customer and setting rules to the lowest form of unintelligent life instead of the norm.

[BruceS]

You're right of course Pokey but one place that loves filling them for you is the Shell Roadhouse in Kingston SE, SA.
I doubt he'll stop doing it any time soon as he does many cylinders for locals. (fishing boats especially)
Why fishing boats you ask?? Inspectors can't measure for undersized fish once in your belly!!

[homeless]

One of the joys of correct batteries.
My gas bottle receptacle holds my ropes etc for camping as well as hoses etc.
The only gas I have is the small bottles for my fire lighter and a small stove if I need a second burner to cook a meal. eg mash with my steak.
I have the same 4 bottle pack I bought about two years ago so perhaps $1 a year is my gas expenditure so if the price goes up it will not effect me that much.
Regards
Brian

[generdawg]

...The only gas I have is the small bottles for my fire lighter and a small stove...

Don't ya jus luv it when the have's (or the have not in this case), rub it in that they do not suffer the same malady?

Are you sure that is the only gas Brian?

dawg in A van

[T1 Terry]

The 8.5kg fill is because they fill the cyl by weight. They do not weigh the cyl first, so by allowing a 500g variation between lightest and heaviest cyl, 8.5kg fill will ensure no bottle is filled past the 80% level.
Now for the tricky part with decanter type filling from the bulk cyl. as the temp rises, so does the liquid volume, but not weight, the big decanter cyl sitting in the sun is growing $$ worth of gas every degC hotter it gets, so a fill to the liquid reaching the upper level where the vent extension reaches may be 18ltr, but not necessarily 9kg. The person who sells decanted gas by weight, weighing the bottle before and after is the very rare honest seller.
Don't get me started on the verification of the Aust standards of 9kg and 4.5kg capacity gas bottles, let's just say, the collar on the bottle is welded on where it is produced, already stamped, complete with inspection number, yet the inspector never leaves Aust.....

as an interesting exercise, take your portable scales to a shop selling new cyl, read the weight marked on the collar, then weigh the cyl, try a number of them, see if there is any relevance between what is stamped on the cyl and what it actually weighs

[slowhand]

For anyone interested when visiting Tas, Ray's outdoors Cambridge has 9kg refills for $23 and Super cheap a few doors away has swap and go for $25, BP Sorell refills for $22.

Most places here are now selling 8.2kg bottle which holds 7.5kg gas, as 9kg and charge $38 to buy an new empty bottle. Tried to tell me it was to expensive to get my 9kg bottle tested and cheaper to buy a new one, which would cost $60 filled. Supa gas charges $44 for a test and full fill, they will also pick it up from you and return it free of charge if they have a delivery in your area, love the service you get in Tas.

We won't be needing gas at home soon, putting together a biogas/methane digester after our next trip. Visited a house with one not far from us and learnt they get enough gas to use all year round, supported by a combustion stove. They told us of a combustion stove in excellent condition for $350, way up in the central highlands, when I told them we would come with a trailer to get it, ( putting in really classy new one), they offered to delivery it for free, 250klm away, it arrives Tuesday. Will have beer, wine and food for when they arrive.

[generdawg]

LPG refill Qld 2014;

BCF Mount Isa: $28.95

BCF Rochampton: $19.95

go figure.

[bagmaker]

as T1 Terry alludes to, its best to get them re-filled as early in the morning as possible, before the day heats up