Propane Fire Pits

[jim00]

At this point the boxes are already returned and I got my money back. I may try that Tripod Torch but my only worry is that I accidentally kick it over and start a forest fire or something.

Edit: I just read a review of the Tripod Torch and it had the same issue of flame dying down and having to keep turning it back up. That was related to the tank cooling off and pressure dropping (which may have been my issues as well although Lavabox says they've never seen what happened to me happen to anyone else).

Right, that is what I mentioned, the tank cools off and throwing ambient temp water on the tank brings temps back up - you see the flame spike back up the moment you do it. You can see the frost on the tank as well. Only happens with sub-20lb tanks.

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[SadRobot]

Right, that is what I mentioned, the tank cools off and throwing ambient temp water on the tank brings temps back up - you see the flame spike back up the moment you do it. You can see the frost on the tank as well. Only happens with sub-20lb tanks.

I did try that in a test but the tank wasn't cool when the flame had died so the water had no affect.

I have to rethink if I want to get a propane pit at all. Realistically when camping I'm not bringing extra water just to waste it by throwing it onto the propane tank every 10 minutes. I also can't be bringing a 20LB propane tank camping.

I guess this was a nice lesson in science. It never would have occurred to me as being as issue because in all the videos you watch of these fire cans they aren't on long enough to show that they all die down after 10 minutes. I wouldn't mind so much if these things were like $50 but at $200-300 it just seems like a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't really work the way you want it to.

 

[Terrymo]

Sheeeet, it's 64F at my house now. I may get to test out that fire pit 2 stage regulator.

That’s a cold spell in SoCal right now

 

[SadRobot]

That’s a cold spell in SoCal right now

I haven't had to use my AC for 2 days.

 

[roaniecowpony]

... Only happens with sub-20lb tanks.

It happens with my 5 gal tanks on my fire pit too.

I received the 2 stage regulator. If I don't work on the Jeep until dark, maybe I'll fire up the pit tonight and do some tests with the regulators.

 

[dragoneggs]

Used my Tripod Torch camping a couple nights in BC Canada (6000ft+ elevation) running on a 20lb tank. No issues. Very happy with its compactness, and heat throw.

As a rule, I ignite my propane burning stoves, flame thrower (weed burner), charcoal starter, and now the TT on low, and slowly turn up the gas flow to desired flame.

 

[dstevens]

Just back from a week camping. No fires allowed which are not propane, so we used the propane master forge from lowes.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Master-For...ortable-Steel-Propane-Gas-Fire-Pit/5013610893

Worked great. Glad we had it.

 

[ArmyRN]

Just came back from running the Vancouver Island Grand Loop. Got to try out my new Ignik Fire Can.

The Grapenuts tin holds the lava rocks. Used with a 5lb propane cylinder. Worked great. Nice and compact, easy to pack.

 

[roaniecowpony]

OK, Friday night was happy hour for the neighborhood. I lit up the fire pit hooked to the very same tank it would die down with, without refilling it. I used the new cheapo Amazon 2 stage regulator. It worked flawlessly throughout the night. The tank had ice on the outside but the flame was the same as when it was first lit. Perfect.

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[gdeyarmond]

I just test ran my homemade one in prep for hopefully cooler weather to come in Southern California...still works great. I think I burned a hole in the atmosphere at full blast.

A few posts back about the tank starting to freeze, or at least get too cold to function well. I absolutely can see that being an issue if you're pulling propane as hard as you can on the fancier pits with a burner that might require more propane volume to maintain a consistent flame throughout the pit. In the case of my homemade one, it's a burner for an outdoor stove that has the flame toward one end of the pit.

 

[roaniecowpony]

I just test ran my homemade one in prep for hopefully cooler weather to come in Southern California...still works great. I think I burned a hole in the atmosphere at full blast.

A few posts back about the tank starting to freeze, or at least get too cold to function well. I absolutely can see that being an issue if you're pulling propane as hard as you can on the fancier pits with a burner that might require more propane volume to maintain a consistent flame throughout the pit. In the case of my homemade one, it's a burner for an outdoor stove that has the flame toward one end of the pit.

It happens with low pressure (11" water) on cool nights with high humidity too. But more importantly it freees the regulator and restricts it . Apparently the 2 stage regulator is enough to prevent this...or so the interweb says.

 

[gdeyarmond]

It happens with low pressure (11" water) on cool nights with high humidity too. But more importantly it freees the regulator and restricts it . Apparently the 2 stage regulator is enough to prevent this...or so the interweb says.

What is this "humidity" you speak of?

As far as a 2-stage regulator...I wonder if that is why our backyard fire pit never freezes a bottle over, even at WTFO, where my little pit gets close to freezing a 20-lber running WTFO for 10 or 15 minutes. The backyard fire pit looks like it has a second regulator at the control knob.

 

[SadRobot]

Reviving this thread because I found this interesting video of reviews. This guy had the same problem I had with the Lavabox (big flame for about 5 minutes then slowly dies to almost nothing). He said it happened with the 5lb and 20lb tanks which is what I experienced as well with my tests.

It seems like even though the tank and regulator itself did not feel cold they must have just been freezing up. Although I did test that by pouring water on mine and the flame never came back unless I kept opening up the regulator. Then after 8 minutes dead again.

LavaBox did take my box back and refunded me but also said they'd never heard of this happening to any box they tested. So I dunno, maybe it's just me and this youtube guy but I highly doubt it.

They also tested the Tripod Torch which is the one I've been looking into. I imagine it's going to have the same problem with the tank/regulator. I really like how compact it is but the complaints about it may just outweigh that benefit. I've read of people cutting themselves on the sharp metal legs, heat output not great plus if you are in an area you can't stake in the thing is going to tip over.

 

[dragoneggs]

Reviving this thread because I found this interesting video of reviews. This guy had the same problem I had with the Lavabox (big flame for about 5 minutes then slowly dies to almost nothing). He said it happened with the 5lb and 20lb tanks which is what I experienced as well with my tests.

It seems like even though the tank and regulator itself did not feel cold they must have just been freezing up. Although I did test that by pouring water on mine and the flame never came back unless I kept opening up the regulator. Then after 8 minutes dead again.

LavaBox did take my box back and refunded me but also said they'd never heard of this happening to any box they tested. So I dunno, maybe it's just me and this youtube guy but I highly doubt it.

They also tested the Tripod Torch which is the one I've been looking into. I imagine it's going to have the same problem with the tank/regulator. I really like how compact it is but the complaints about it may just outweigh that benefit. I've read of people cutting themselves on the sharp metal legs, heat output not great plus if you are in an area you can't stake in the thing is going to tip over.

I have the tripod torch and no issues running for more than an hour multiple times off of a 20lb tank.

 

[SadRobot]

I have the tripod torch and no issues running for more than an hour multiple times off of a 20lb tank.

What do you do if you can't stake into the ground?

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