POSSIBLE FIRE SAFETY WARNING.....

[ramblingboy42]

I went to use my propane torch , you know , the one everyone has now , that snaps on
to the left over propane canister from your portable stove.

went to ignite a fire at home and opened the valve and pulled the trigger and gas and flames went everywhere. I had prescence of mind ......people often panic in fire situations.....to snap the valve closed and toss the lot away from me.

the flames went out and I brushed all the burnt hair off my arms , went over and checked it wasn't too hot to touch and disconnected the canister which wasn't leaking.

something had happened between the valve and the ignition system which was now cactus and appeared to have caused the problem.

No user accessible bits there to look at so in the bin it went.

I got out the stove which had been used to cook breakfast at home following a storm related power outage recently and put the suspect cannister in and gingerly fired it up.

worked perfect.

I contacted Qld Fires Services about the matter and they said they regularly get reports on these types of propane products all sold regularly at 4x4 outlets and the well known camping stores.

they sent me safe operating booklet for best safe operation of portable butane/lpg campware which is available online if you wish to see it.

just thought I'd throw this up here and as you all have these items go out asap and do a safety check on them, open the valve(s) , DO NOT TOUCH THE IGNITER , if there is any leakage you will quickly feel the cold gas or smell it. Or conversely ring the fire brigade and tell them you'd like a safety test done on your equipment and offer them a tray of lamingtons for their effort.

cheers Dennis

[RANDLOVER]

Another thing to watch out for with these is they can be left in the on/open position, so when snapped onto a can immediately start dispensing gas, as they don't have the safety feature like stoves, bbq's, heaters, that stop the gas when the can is removed, and will not reset the interlock until the gas control dial is turned to off.

[Slunnie]

This type? I thought they had been banned. They're as sketchy as they can get!

https://media.prod.bunnings.com.au/api/public/content/a9b4799d793949b6a062a040733b6a5d?v=1ee271ea&t=w500dpr1

[spudfan]

I have one of those in the shed. Have not used it for a few years.

[RANDLOVER]

The OP and I are referring to blow torches that fit on a spray paint can style gas cannister.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcT6JBnHmiBhFgwy-Hf63aSsRg93WZg7857hZGN2FOISGUW5oauRoroH1oJfKtPbLqr pzq503b9EKm7wzbRvAHS5W5jiKlLomKaWib_qkrNcmGYgOL-f289u&usqp=CAE

[p38arover]

I went to use my propane torch , you know , the one everyone has now , that snaps on to the left over propane canister from your portable stove



I don’t have one of these torches. I’ll have to look in Bunnings for one. I have two of the stoves, one travels everywhere with me in my Rangie. Never had an issue with it.

[scarry]

We use the yellow LPG canister for work all day with no issues.

In the vans we keep them in a sealed box vented through the floor,and always disconnect the torch from the bottle.
Some companies won't allowe them stored even in a canopy of a dual cab ute,they have a container built onto the roof rack or roof rails,for the bottles.
These small bottles are very common in our industry now as most also have small portable welding/brazing set,with one yellow LPG canister and an oxy bottle.
More expensive to run than the old D size Oxy/Acet,but more convenient.

There were a batch of cylinders that had leaking valves a few years ago and caused a couple of fatalities.[bigsad]

[trout1105]

This type? I thought they had been banned. They're as sketchy as they can get!

https://media.prod.bunnings.com.au/api/public/content/a9b4799d793949b6a062a040733b6a5d?v=1ee271ea&t=w500dpr1


I can remember that they were taken off the market for a while because of issues with then , One of which was people putting hot plates and oversize pots/pans on them and blowing them up despite the warnings on the stoves (The new ones havs a raised area over the gas canister that prevents morons doing this).
The other issue with some of the early ones was that the gas would ignite at the canister.
I dumped the 2x early models I had when the new designs were introduced and got the newer type that I haven't had ANY dramas at all with other than the gas freezing up in really cold weather.
I find them to be very efficiant and safe also the canisters are available pretty much Australia wide as well.

I have had a couple of the little blow torches and I have binned them both, Dodgy dangerous little buggers I found then to be.

[ozscott]

I think I have one of each generation of these stoves including a Greenstar from the first year they were released at least 20 years ago. Anyway I reckon they are excellent except in near freezing or lower temp conditions.

This is my favourite. It is a weapon and very safe. Japanese made. 35FW Portable Butane Stove | Iwatani (https://www.iwatani.com/35-fw)

[1950landy]

When we did our house renovations about 10 years back we cooked on one of these stoves for about 3 months plus . Our builder pulled out the old kitchen before the new kitchen had been ordered [bighmmm] And again earlier this year we cooked on it for 2 1/2 months when we needed to replace our cook top , we were told cook top was in stock when ordered & paid for , then delivery was 4 weeks , then another 4 weeks , then another 2 weeks . We had to stick with this one because it was the only one that fitted the hole in the stone bench top.
I don't like BBQ's so we don't have one .

[ramblingboy42]

are you fair dinkum mate?

you dont like using the bbq or dont like what you've cooked?

[1950landy]

are you fair dinkum mate?

you dont like using the bbq or dont like what you've cooked?

I don't like the fact that I need to clean the BBQ before I use it , then clean it after I use , then clean it again before I use it the next time . It is easer to just cook on stove or in oven 7 stick everything in the dish washer.

[Slunnie]

I don't like the fact that I need to clean the BBQ before I use it , then clean it after I use , then clean it again before I use it the next time . It is easer to just cook on stove or in oven 7 stick everything in the dish washer.

I love the BBQ because its so easy. All of my slab meat and sausages get done on the BBQ. I cook everything on the hotplate. I just scrape and wipe with a paper towel. I thought it was so easy!

[loanrangie]

I love the BBQ because its so easy. All of my slab meat and sausages get done on the BBQ. I cook everything on the hotplate. I just scrape and wipe with a paper towel. I thought it was so easy!

I don't clean up after using it, just remove the big bits and when i fire it the next time i clean it while its hot.

[Aaron IIA]

I thought standard procedure was to scrape the rat faeces off, light, apply oil and heat to the smoke point to "clean" then good to go.

Aaron

[PhilipA]

The latest Oneshave an interlock that prevents ignition unless the lever pushing the cylinder in is down. I have one for cooking breakfast outside my van to stop the bloody smoke alarm going off.
regards PhilipA

[Saitch]

I thought standard procedure was to scrape the rat faeces off, light, apply oil and heat to the smoke point to "clean" then good to go.

Aaron

Aaargh! That's so gross, Aaron!




One should always apply the oil before ignition!:bat:[biggrin]

[loanrangie]

The latest Oneshave an interlock that prevents ignition unless the lever pushing the cylinder in is down. I have one for cooking breakfast outside my van to stop the bloody smoke alarm going off.
regards PhilipAI'm going to fit one of those fold down tables for that purpose or for a small BBQ.

[trout1105]

I'm going to fit one of those fold down tables for that purpose or for a small BBQ.

Make sure you use a fireproof surface (A 400x400 ceramic tile is perfect) under the cooker as they tend to melt the plastic on them fold down tables, Don't ask me how I know [thumbsupbig]

[ozscott]

The latest Oneshave an interlock that prevents ignition unless the lever pushing the cylinder in is down. I have one for cooking breakfast outside my van to stop the bloody smoke alarm going off.
regards PhilipAThe Japanese ones like the one I posted have a safety system where the bottle magnetically locks in and in so doing works the same way as the lever being depressed on the other types. Bloody good set up. Some of the lever types can be painful, others work well. Cheers

[Aaron IIA]

Aaargh! That's so gross, Aaron!




One should always apply the oil before ignition!:bat:[biggrin]Most of the time additional oil is not needed. Usually plenty of fat left on the plate from the previous cooking session.

Aaron

[RANDLOVER]

Make sure you use a fireproof surface (A 400x400 ceramic tile is perfect) under the cooker as they tend to melt the plastic on them fold down tables, Don't ask me how I know [thumbsupbig]

Especially if you buy one of those low profile models, which makes the heat source even closer to the surface underneath.

[RANDLOVER]

I don't clean up after using it, just remove the big bits and when i fire it the next time i clean it while its hot.

In my younger days I found this method also worked well for baking pans used to make toasties, oven chips, etc. [biggrin]

[loanrangie]

In my younger days I found this method also worked well for baking pans used to make toasties, oven chips, etc. [biggrin]


I always do that, most only need a wipe out with paper towel then back into the cupboard.

[ramblingboy42]

So, back to the OP .

I tried to buy a new butane torch today.

In 3 major camping stores none had any but couldn't give a reason.

There are a lot more butane stoves/ovens on the market now , with improved safety features.

There will be a lot of canisters in the bins after Birdsville Races next weekend.

I have a feeling a lot of nomads will pull their vans to Birdsville after last w/e's Mundi Mundi bash outside Broken Hill.

I'll be there and have organised free camping in central Birdsville in a very prominent spot which shall remain undisclosed til a later date.

[RANDLOVER]

So, back to the OP .

I tried to buy a new butane torch today.

In 3 major camping stores none had any but couldn't give a reason................


...........I'll be there and have organised free camping in central Birdsville in a very prominent spot which shall remain undisclosed til a later date.

Bunnings also keep the blow torches.

Don't tell us you've got Farnsy's spot at Birdsville?

[ramblingboy42]

Don't tell us you've got Farnsy's spot at Birdsville?

nope I wont tell you that.

In fact I've chickened out , much to my SA mates' disgust.

I do not enjoy rainy muddy bush trips and the BOM can't promise me better than about 3 days without rain or thunderstorms possibly for the period I'll be away.

And I don't fancy the idea of a $5000 fine for cutting a wet Strezeleckie or Birdsville Track.

I hope those who risk the weather do enjoy themselves unlike this chicken charlie.

mmm I'd be just around Cunnamulla now.

[RANDLOVER]

Don't tell us you've got Farnsy's spot at Birdsville?

nope I wont tell you that.

In fact I've chickened out , much to my SA mates' disgust....................

Just as well, if you get Farnsy's camping spot you have to sing on stage.