How to empty a propane tank (old style)

[sixball]

Been checking out the site, alot of good info. I did afew searches and couldn't find what I was looking for on my subject, so here goes:

I've got an old style propane tank off an old BBQ grill. I took it off a grill probably 10 years ago (charcoal grill's the way to go for me) and it's been sitting around ever since. It's pretty heavy and I can hear the slosh, so it's pretty full.

I had an old style bun tank top heater I used on the new style propane tanks for my garden tractor shed if I was working on it in the winter (with door open) but I screwed up the thumb screw thing that adjusts the ammount of heat, so after screwing with it all day, it's useless and wont work, so I go and buy a new Mr.Heater tank top bun, and it doesn't thread into the old tank. I bought it just to hook up to the old tank to burn off the propane. 35 bucks down the drain, I don't have a use for it since I bought a new place with plenty of room for the tractor in the garage.

So, how do I empty the old tank? I don't need it, I've got an empty new style that I can use for exchange when/if I need to, but I don't see me needing to use propane anymore. I just want it empty so I don't have to worry about it sitting in the corner of the garage full.

Granted, it's been sitting for 10 years now, but now that I've read through this forum, my paranoia has the best of me, and I don't like it in my garage.

So any help/suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks
Sixball

 

[Steevo]

Um, set it outside on a windy day with the valve cracked open?
Don't tell any Greenpeace or Sierra-Club types I said this . . .

 

[OccupantRJ]

Put it by the curb with a "Free" sign on it? Or no sign at all? Some scavenger type will get it for sure.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Um, set it outside on a windy day with the valve cracked open?
Don't tell any Greenpeace or Sierra-Club types I said this . . .

You don't want to go there.......

 

[Red Green]

The Mr heater should thread into the center of the Tank valve. They did not change the threads. You do remember that the treads are left handed on the inside right?

Other than that put up a sign that says free and it will be gone as OccupantRJ said.

 

[sixball]

Put it by the curb with a "Free" sign on it? Or no sign at all? Some scavenger type will get it for sure.

Sidenote funny story on that: I had a lawnmower blow up on me, I set it out in the alley and it sat for a week, nobody picked it up. I told a guy at work I was gona have to load it up and take it to the dump, he tells me to cut my lawn with my new lawnmower, but don't finish, leave afew passes, then put the blown up mower right where I left off and leave it. Sure thing, I wake up the next morning and the blown up mower was gone ! Some theif thought I ran out of gas and left it. That was a good neighborhood too !
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The Mr heater should thread into the center of the Tank valve. They did not change the threads. You do remember that the treads are left handed on the inside right?

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Yeah, I know the threads are left, it seems like the new Mr.Heater has a longer flange on it, and it won't seat right on there, so the nut doesn't reach the threads.

Thanks
Sixball

 

[Stuey]

Actually, don't put a "free" sign, put a "$10 or best offer" sign. Someone here once mentioned how they couldn't give a fridge or something similar for free, but once they put up a $50 sign, it was gone that day.

 

[sixball]

UPDATE: I ended up getting the Mr.Heater to thread into the old tank. I musta not been pushing it in all the way before trying to thread it in. The flange is longer, but it threads in there fine and I fired it up and burnt off allittle last night.

Thanks for all the insight

Sixball

 

[Red Green]

After you use up the propane you can take the old tank to Menards and exchange it for a new style that is full. The last time I did it was about $30.