Beer Forum

Found on the Green Board, for those of you who exchange, rather than refill:

Many of us use propane tanks. Someone in my brew club just forwarded this warning from the National Propane Gas Association. Apparently, Meth cooks are getting the propane tanks from the exchanges at Wal-Mart, Kroger, etc. and emptying them of the propane. Then, they are filling them with anhydrous ammonia (which they now have a recipe for). After they are finished with them, they return them to the store. They are then refilled with propane and sent back for you and me to buy. Anhydrous ammonia is very corrosive and weakens the structure of the tank. It can be very dangerous when mixed with propane and hooked up to our grills, etc.

According to the web site, you should inspect the propane tank for any blue or greenish residue around the valve areas. If it is present, refuse to purchase that one.

http://www.npga.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=529

While it is a good idea to check your propane tank for blue-greenish corrosion on the valve, it really shouldn't be a problem for two reasons: 1. Meth cooks have no reason to ever return the tank to the store and 2. a propane retailer would (hopefully) never refill a tank that is obviously compromised.

See http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/methtank.asp for more information.

TimC wrote:Meth cooks have no reason to ever return the tank to the store.

Unless meth cooks need propane to say, cook the meth?

TimC wrote:...a propane retailer would (hopefully) never refill a tank that is obviously compromised.

The Mexican car wash workers who do the refills at the gas station I usually go to don't seem too concerned about the condition of the tanks they are filling.

BeerPal wrote:Unless meth cooks need propane to say, cook the meth?

I never do - I always use natural gas. Uhh... I mean... Wait, what was the question?

Beerpal wrote:The Mexican car wash workers who do the refills at the gas station I usually go to don't seem too concerned about the condition of the tanks they are filling.

That's why I added the 'hopefully'.

Buy your own brand new tanks. I have found them for cheap at a warehouse store. I have them filled at a propane distributor and save around 7 bucks per tank over the price of a tank exchange! I only use a tank exchange when I have an emergency like running out of gas in the middle of the boil. I have a spare tank plus the BBQ tank so that rarely happens.

I think what Tim was saying was why would a Meth head return the tank at all> He'd probably sell it to buy more Sudafed.