Oh no! A leaky propane meter

Boom! The classic potato gun harnesses the combustion of flammable vapor. Show us your combustion spud gun and discuss fuels, ratios, safety, ignition systems, tools, and more.
User avatar
noname
First Sergeant 4
First Sergeant 4
Posts: 2698
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:19 pm
Location: Bay Area, CA

Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:00 pm

Just a couple pics of my propane meter on fire. I need some more teflon tape on there. :?
The meter is a 3 foot long piece of 3/4" galvanized.
Attachments
leakymeter 010.jpg
leakymeter 010.jpg (35.53 KiB) Viewed 3870 times
leakymeter 009.jpg
leakymeter 009.jpg (39.27 KiB) Viewed 3870 times
leakymeter 007.jpg
leakymeter 006.jpg
User avatar
pyromaniac
Corporal 4
Corporal 4
Posts: 805
Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:18 pm
Location: MO

Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:20 pm

What im about to say is contreversial. Sweet! i like fire! Also o crap thats on fire. did you light it on fire on purpose?
User avatar
mopherman
Corporal 3
Corporal 3
Posts: 788
Joined: Sat Feb 03, 2007 8:20 pm
Been thanked: 1 time

Sat Mar 10, 2007 3:23 pm

pyromaniac wrote:What im about to say is contreversial. Sweet! i like fire! Also o crap thats on fire. did you light it on fire on purpose?
lol my buddie here has fire issues
User avatar
MrCrowley
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10078
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:42 pm
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Been thanked: 3 times

Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:13 pm

Smooth :P
User avatar
Pete Zaria
Corporal 5
Corporal 5
Posts: 954
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2006 6:04 pm
Location: Near Seattle, WA

Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:20 pm

I use a lighter to leak-test my propane meter, too ;)

Use 2-3 wraps of teflon tape on each threaded connection. When wrapping the teflon, wrap it in the same direction that the fitting will thread on - that way when you screw on the fitting, it doesn't take off the teflon.

I've occasionally had a brass fitting that won't hold 120psi (max a propane tank will put out, in my experience) no matter how much teflon you use. In that case, I just put a teeny bit of clear epoxy or superglue on the bottom of the threads, and screw it in. It'll never come back out, but it won't leak either....

Leak testing the entire thing in a bath tub before installing it on the gun is probably a good idea.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.
Killjoy
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 1052
Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:51 am
Location: New Mexico

Sat Mar 10, 2007 5:27 pm

I was trying to pressure test my solinoid valve operated meter with propane. And the spark from connecting the battery to the valve caught a propane leak (which was like every connection, which had been leaking for like 1 minute at 120 psi). As you can guess i was engulfed in a flameball. Sustained minor burns and got yelled at for being stupid at 1am and setting part of the garage on fire. Since then i use a little dawn and water to check for leaks (and compressed air for pressure testing), if bubbles start to form and grow, its leaking. I also use liqiud teflon tape, which works wonders with leaks.
User avatar
noname
First Sergeant 4
First Sergeant 4
Posts: 2698
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:19 pm
Location: Bay Area, CA

Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:51 pm

I always use teflon tape on any threaded fittings, but evidently I didn't use enough.
User avatar
Insomniac
Sergeant 3
Sergeant 3
Posts: 1297
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:47 pm
Location: Australia

Sat Mar 10, 2007 10:55 pm

I thought when teflon buned it gave out toxic fumes (yes I know its the propane burning and not the teflon, but the teflon is still engulfed in flames)
I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.
Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.

Add me on msn!!! insomniac-55@hotmail.com
User avatar
noname
First Sergeant 4
First Sergeant 4
Posts: 2698
Joined: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:19 pm
Location: Bay Area, CA

Sat Mar 10, 2007 11:12 pm

I wouldn't doubt it, that's why I opened my garage door. :D
User avatar
willarddaniels
Specialist 2
Specialist 2
Posts: 286
Joined: Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:34 pm
Location: Idaho

Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:59 am

I guess that is one way to test for leaks...
I also use liquid tape on all my fittings where compressed gasses are concerned.
SpudBlaster15
First Sergeant 3
First Sergeant 3
Seychelles
Posts: 2400
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:12 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Sun Mar 11, 2007 2:19 am

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.
Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Hotwired
First Sergeant 3
First Sergeant 3
Posts: 2599
Joined: Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:51 am
Location: UK

Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:30 am

10 wraps?

Thats a hell of a lot... The most I used when assembling my pneumatic and all the fiddly 1/4" threads was two. Thats leakproof at 200+psi for an indefinite length of time.

Mind you I have heard that gas tape is slightly thicker than the standard tape.

Bathtubs are excellent things for testing for leaks as long as the device is a metre or less long. More than that and you're probably better off with a spray bottle of water and washing-up liquid.
SpudBlaster15
First Sergeant 3
First Sergeant 3
Seychelles
Posts: 2400
Joined: Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:12 pm
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Sun Mar 11, 2007 12:54 pm

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras nec placerat erat. Vivamus dapibus egestas nunc, at eleifend neque. Suspendisse potenti. Sed dictum lacus eu nisl pretium vehicula. Ut faucibus hendrerit nisi. Integer ultricies orci eu ultrices malesuada. Fusce id mauris risus. Suspendisse finibus ligula et nisl rutrum efficitur. Vestibulum posuere erat pellentesque ornare venenatis. Integer commodo fermentum tortor in pharetra. Proin scelerisque consectetur posuere. Vestibulum molestie augue ac nibh feugiat scelerisque. Sed aliquet a nunc in mattis.
Last edited by SpudBlaster15 on Wed Jul 14, 2021 1:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
LGM
Specialist 3
Specialist 3
Posts: 320
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:06 pm

Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:36 pm

Wouldn't the liquid pipe sealer be easier to get enough of?
User avatar
zeigs spud
Corporal 2
Corporal 2
Posts: 657
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 10:39 pm

Sun Mar 11, 2007 5:48 pm

that looks VERY safe. lol yea i say tape that thing up.
Post Reply