Garden Railway Forum

These are the most economical cylinders for me. I got 184 minutes of burner-on time from this cylinder. It's the first time I've recorded how long it lasts.

Same for me Dave,
I always scratch an area on the tin to count the number of fills and find its generally 9. During Winter with my boats I have to go for the larger screw top cans to get the 30/70 propane Butane mix which are way more expensive.
Grant.

That was the last of the 21 Century gas, I'm using Gasmate now Grant

Haven't come across the 21st Century brand Dave, certainly Gasmate most often, but other brands too. I buy it in 12 can packs, cheaper still.
Have you had the need for the propane/Butane mix in your winters over there as they appear somewhat colder than ours. I don't have to use it for my locos, find holding my hand on the top of the tank is enough warmth. Boats out in the wind and cold are a different matter.
Grant.

LNR wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 7:46 am Haven't come across the 21st Century brand Dave, certainly Gasmate most often, but other brands too. I buy it in 12 can packs, cheaper still.
Have you had the need for the propane/Butane mix in your winters over there as they appear somewhat colder than ours. I don't have to use it for my locos, find holding my hand on the top of the tank is enough warmth. Boats out in the wind and cold are a different matter.
Grant.

I got them from a local Asian supermarket where I famously asked a lady staff member if she "had gas"

I did experience some temperature difficulties when testing in the garage in spring and had to use a water bath. But I was using a small 0.15/.17 jet. Hopefully, the 0.3mm jet will do better to flow gas at lower temperatures.

I haven't used any mixed gas, and don't think I've run a gas loco in the winter

We certainly get frost on the line Grant

dewintondave wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 6:59 am That was the last of the 21 Century gas, I'm using Gasmate now Grant

I used a can of Gasmate butane a few years ago and have avoided it since. The only loco gas jet blockage I've had was when using that can, as a brown waxy residue built up on the jet. Somebody else in Oz reported problems with Gasmate butane around that time, so it might have just been a dud batch.

I’ve only used CampMaster ‘premium’ butane since then and have had no more blockage problems. It also contains about 30% iso-butane, so the cold weather performance is probably a little better than the normal commercial grade of Butane available in Oz. I think we still get frosts here in winter, but I’m not likely to be up that early and certainly not likely to be running trains.

For most of my locos I get 10 fills per 220g can, which works out at about 320 minutes of running time per can.

The exceptions to the above are the Accucraft based locos which are less efficient and get about 250 minutes running out of a can. Plus the Garratt of course, with it’s two burners and four cylinders, which gets only 5 runs per can, but still manages about 160 minutes running time per can.

Regards,
Graeme

ps. Just been looking on the net, we pay about a third of what you do for the same brands of butane. Someone in the off-shore islands has their thieving paws deep in your pocket......

GTB wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2020 12:27 pm The exceptions to the above are the Accucraft based locos which are less efficient and get about 250 minutes running out of a can. Plus the Garratt of course, with it’s two burners and four cylinders, which gets only 5 runs per can, but still manages about 160 minutes running time per can.

Regards,
Graeme

Very interesting comparisons Graeme.

I teased the Kiwi group guys who because of their adaptor used screw-top gas cans, with this Bunnings advert. In contrast, 220g cans are more widely available. Since I sold my commercial gas steam loco I don't do gas filling anymore
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I'm also too soft to go out in the cold. This photo shows how only the raised line ices up
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These images are worth seeing again to show the internal arrangement of the 220g can
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I switched over some time back to the style of canister that Dave is using for use with my Roundhouse Silver Lady (no adapter required as the gas tank valve is easily accessible from the cab).

I buy in bulk from whoever is selling them cheapest at the time:

If you need to use the screw on adapter then I use one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hivexagon-Outd ... 37&sr=8-12

Available for a couple of quid if you don't use Prime.

From time to time I find Asda (UK) do good deals on these cannisters as part of their camping promotions.

GTB wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2020 12:27 pm
I used a can of Gasmate butane a few years ago and have avoided it since. The only loco gas jet blockage I've had was when using that can, as a brown waxy residue built up on the jet. Somebody else in Oz reported problems with Gasmate butane around that time, so it might have just been a dud batch.

I just cracked open my first Gasmate can, it looks nice and clean inside (sawing debris in pic), no worries with this gas

Having just bought my first real steam loco this thread is very informative,many thanks.

Jimmyb wrote: ↑Fri Mar 27, 2020 12:24 pm Having just bought my first real steam loco this thread is very informative,many thanks.

The 220g cylinders are great Jimmy, but you can't get the last bit of liquid out when filling
gas tanks, due to that little internal plastic pipe - these cylinders are designed to be used on their side

dewintondave wrote: ↑Sat Mar 28, 2020 6:55 am these cylinders are designed to be used on their side

.......or vertical, but upright.

I have a gas torch that fits on the 220g cans. It's big enough for brazing pipe fittings, etc. and it uses up the last 20g or so of butane left in the can.

Regards,
Graeme

ps. I also opened up the Gasmate can that caused the problem when it was empty and it was as clean as a whistle inside.