Cutting a small propane bottle

I've cut open a few of the squat one lb size tanks to make into funnels. I just used them until they would not make any sort of flame with the torch head....actually they still will make a flame for quite a while after it is not worth using for soldering. Just leave that flame running until the thing won't light at all.



I then cut the tank with a metal cutting bandsaw. Its a slow moving blade so there isn't much chance of a spark. Never had so much as a pop with it. If you don't have one of these, I'd take a nice brand new (sharp) hand hacksaw blade and cut into the tank. Once you cut into it enough to let air into it, you should be home free to finish the cut with a sawzall or zipcut.

YMMV.

Jon.

I have also cut many of these small propane/mapp gas containers. I use them to make tool racks (shovels, rakes, picks etc.). I also use a band saw to cut them. I take a small (1/8th) drill bit and cordless drill motor, drill a hole in near top of cylinder and let it vent first. Just a added safety measure before I cut into the tank and I have never had a problem.

Just to add to this, most scrap yards wont take these cans unless you put a hole in the container first. We use a lot of these for pipe soldering and we now recycle them as shred steel.