by gyroguy » Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:36 pm
The Crocodile Tear has a 2-burner propane stove with space below it for a 20-lb. propane tank. I I were going to do it again, I'd just use the 1-lb. green cannisters instead of the 20 lb. tank.
The green cannisters of propane sell for about $2.50 in Wal-Mart. As someone wrote, they last 2-5 hours. But don't throw them away! There is an adapter that screws onto a 20-lb. propane tank and will fill the used green cannisters in about a minute. My adapter cost $19 at Northern Tool.
When I refill the 20 lb. tank, it costs $2.30 per gallon. The 20-lb. tank can safely hold 17 pounds ofpropane when 80% full. They never fill the tank completely full because it can heat up and vent liquid propane... that's a no-no!
When I refill the green cannisters, the propane costs about about 60¢ when it comes from my 20-lb. tank. Be sure to check that the refilled cartridge isn't leaking at the valve. If it is, put it outside til it emptys. Then discard it.
How to know how much propane is in your 20-lb. tank? On the lip of your tank you'll find Tare Weight or TW, which is the weight of the empty tank. Typically it is around 16 to 18 pounds. Weigh your tank, deduct the tare weight, and everything left is propane in your tank. Example:
34.5 pounds Weight of tank
17.2 pounds Tare Weight of tank
=17.3 pounds of propane in tank (tank is full)
You can do the same thing with the green cannisters. But you'll have to empty one first and get its weight in ounces. Then weigh a full one, and get its weight in ounces. Deduct one from the other, and you have the weight of the propane in the green cannister. I'd do the math here again, but all brands of green cannisters don't weigh the same.
Now, why propane instead of white gas?
1) It's is dangerous -- maybe stupid, too -- to refill a hot white gas stove with fuel. That's the cause of many fires. If you have your propane bottle at the end of a long hose, swapping bottles is no problem.
2) White gas evaporates slowly. A friend of mine, Craig Dixon, just spread most of a gallon on a brush pile to get it burning. The explosion that resulted was heard all over town. Many people saw the fireball, too. He was blown backward about 30 feet. He is recovering from 2nd degree burns on face, arms, hands, and legs. Propane is heavier than air but dissipates rapidly in a breeze.
3) Because it's liquid, white gas can spill. In an enclosed area, the vapors can be explosive. Propane doesn't spill. Your teardrop should have a hole in the bottom of the propane storage area to let out any propane vapors.
4) White gas eventually goes bad in storage, though not as quickly as reformulated gasoline does. Propane lasts forever.
I have several propane stoves which I use, and a Coleman white gas stove that's an antique. The only time it gets used is to demonstrate it to my Boy Scouts... and tell them to get a propane stove.
For info on the Crocodile Tear, go to my website: <crocodiletear.com>
For build pix of Crocodile Tear, completed 10/26/06 -- Look at my album or new website <www.crocodiletear.com> (website has more info)