Butane Propane Mixed Gas

CCairns · Butane Propane Mixed Gas

Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience as myself using a Butane/Propane Mixed gas.

I have a couple of Cheddar Models engines (Pintails), and they recommended using a Butane/Propane mix in normal ambient conditions. They recommended Epigas, but I could not get that and used a similar gas from a camping store at first, but only small canisters available.

Later I found bigger canisters at Wickes and was using Bernzomatic 600ml, which is actually Butane 65%/Propane 35% net weight 330g, made in Italy. Actually Cheddar state 'propane content must not exceed 30%', but this was the only gas I could find at the time.

When I got my Mamod William I used the above gas, and following Titan's joining the Mamod William club I tried Butane only, but this did not produce as much heat as the Butane/Propane Mix above.

I've now finished the Bernzomatic, and as I was at Homebase getting some parts for my Father, I bought 2 x 600ml Canisters of Taymar T3500, Butane 70%/Propane 30% and net weight 350g, made in France.

I have just tried this in the William and got a different result to the Bernzomatic. Firstly I seemed to be unable to get the gas tank fully filled up, and this was confirmed when the gas ran out during the first steaming. I also had to have the gas valve turned up more to get the safety valve lifting.

Does that extra 5% Propane really make that much of a difference, or is this gas subject to the same quality control as meths and thus produces variable results depending on where it comes from/is bought from/etc?

Chris Cairns.

tmuir

Don't know how much difference 5% makes but Propane burns a lot hotter than just butane.

Roundhouse actually specifies use butane only not propane.

For Christmas I was making a necklace for my wife where I would take 32mm of 1mm fine silver wire and ball up the ends and then enamel them before fitting it to the necklace.

I ran out of butane and used some 90% butane, 10% propane stuff I had with disastrous results. I found out I had a 75% failure rate on enamelling using this gas. I'm only guessing that extra heat was too much so there is a big difference between no propane and 10% propane.

MooseMan

I use butane in my gas burners.....a while ago a ran out and used the 30/70 propane/butane mix I use for soldering, and the gas burner started overheating quite badly. If you want to use different gases in the same burner you need to retune the jets so they don't run too hot - it's all in the oxygen to gas ratio apparently.

bessytractor

Dick Moger (I think thats his name) from the Gauge One Association say's that butane/propane mixes in steam engines are not a good idea. I wouldn't know (only stuff I burn is meths and coal!), but thought I'd quote him as he seemed quite anxiously against it in this article I have on gas firing.

Cranko

As Tony stated Propane burns much hotter and usually much cleaner. The lpg we buy in NZ is a mixture of both at about 40/60 I believe. When we use the furnace the melt time is about 1/2 if we use straight propane and the price is only about 15% greater. Unfortunatly we have to travel 30 miles to get the propane

I wouldn't have thought 5% would make a great deal of dfference

CCairns

Thanks everyone for your great responses.

Yes I do need to look into the gas jet setting. When I got my second Cheddar engine I had to phone Cheddar Models for advice on setting the jet as it had not been marked up as per the instructions. This was relatively easy to set up as it is a centre flue boiler with the burnt gas being vented up the chimney.

I have one of the Cheddar style Mamod loco burners, which is currently removed from the loco it was fitted to, and again this is relatively easy to adjust the jet setting whilst looking at the burn pattern on the ceramic burner, although that was on Butane gas only.

However not quite sure how easy the burner can be removed from the William as the chassis is rivetted together. However I've just been ready some online instructions on an American website about how to set up a ceramic burner, so hopefully this will help.

Will let you know the results when I get home and play around with the William, as I'd like to get a video of it running to post up on the Forum.

Chris Cairns.