Daverw
Well-known member
I will continue filling from large 15kg cylinder, takes 20 minutes and saves money as well
Calor 4.5 Butane and 3.5 Propane to be discontinued
- Thread starter jimi
- Start date
st599
Well-known member
Ease of getting a replacement? Last summer campingaz was almost impossible to find. There was a race to Cowes as someone said on VHF there were 3 on sale at £60+
lustyd
Well-known member
The trucks still turn up so not true at all. Other cylinders are being exchanged.
Momac
Well-known member
I am sure there have been issues with smaller butane refills for years
I had no trouble obtaining campingaz refils last summer but perhaps just lucky.
Caravan/motorhome retailers seem to be a more reliable and usually cheaper source than marinas.
.
I had no trouble obtaining campingaz refils last summer but perhaps just lucky.
Caravan/motorhome retailers seem to be a more reliable and usually cheaper source than marinas.
.
lustyd
Well-known member
There were fewer problems but still lots of problems. I think just due to the sheer number of cylinders for Campingaz. Of course, the cynic in me also suspects it's the higher profit margin Calor get for filling smaller cylinders for more money...
Boathook
Well-known member
If that is true why aren't the smaller calor cylinders available to keep the calor name going ?
oldgit
Well-known member
......the curious thing is some of the 4.5k bottles still appear to be turning up ?
....however certainly not in probably the most caravan and boat infested part of the world, Kent !
....however certainly not in probably the most caravan and boat infested part of the world, Kent !
lustyd
Well-known member
Keeps the disciples interested. This is how a monopoly operates, do just enough to keep a stranglehold of the market. If they had any business sense they'd take advantage of it and sell more gas, but for some reason this monopoly isn't interested in money.
You only have to read this and the other thread to see how some people use the appearance of two cylinders to tell everyone switching is a bad idea and Calor will return any day now.
dunedin
Well-known member
That was one excuse they tried back in 2020 - perhaps a management issue if it was genuine but not solved more than 2 years later.
Certainly not the case in practice - how lorry drivers exist for bigger cylinders but not smaller ones
PCUK
Well-known member
Are the 3.9s still OK?
Stemar
Well-known member
The other day I was in a local chandlery looking for something else and had this conversation:
"Can I ask a silly question?"
"There are no silly questions"
"4.5 kilo butane?"
"Silly question"
Another offered to swap my butane bottle for a full propane equivalent.
I still have nearly two bottles of butane, so I'm not going to do anything yet but, when I'm down to my last Calor, if they haven't got their act together, I reckon I'll be going for Flogas unless there's an equivalent more local to me. They look good with stockists scattered around, but when you look more closely, the stockist's websites either don't mention Flogas at all, or only have bigger bottles.
"Can I ask a silly question?"
"There are no silly questions"
"4.5 kilo butane?"
"Silly question"
Another offered to swap my butane bottle for a full propane equivalent.
I still have nearly two bottles of butane, so I'm not going to do anything yet but, when I'm down to my last Calor, if they haven't got their act together, I reckon I'll be going for Flogas unless there's an equivalent more local to me. They look good with stockists scattered around, but when you look more closely, the stockist's websites either don't mention Flogas at all, or only have bigger bottles.
Whaup367
Active member
lustyd
Well-known member
Calor says no fix after 3 years, as reported on this thread
not a religion, other suppliers are available
jimi
Well-known member
Calor don't seem to know their arse from their elbow. When I contacted them they put me in touch with a "local" supplier who had 3. Local was 90 miles away.
Ian_Edwards
Well-known member
I've posted this on a similar threat on Scuttlebutt
Hi,
I emailed Calor directly, to a contact I've used before.
This the email I sent:
I hear persistent rumors that Calor are phasing out the 4kg butane and 3.9kg propane gas cylinders.
Is this true?
Many caravans, motorhomes and yachts have dedicated gas storage, designed for the 4kg/3.9kg gas cylinders. If these cylinders are withdrawn you’ll have lot of very unhappy people looking for alternatives to Calor.
This is the reply from Calor:
Good morning,
We have made no decisions to supress the 4.5kgs or the 3.9kgs. We are still continuing to fill and distribute all cylinders that pass through our health and safety checks.
Kind regards,
Make of it as you will, but as far as I can see, they are probably still struggling with the rise in demand for 4kg and 3.9kg cylinder, most of which are probably sitting disused in garages and shed, and an inability to secure a supply of new cylinders which pass their safety inspection.
Hi,
I emailed Calor directly, to a contact I've used before.
This the email I sent:
I hear persistent rumors that Calor are phasing out the 4kg butane and 3.9kg propane gas cylinders.
Is this true?
Many caravans, motorhomes and yachts have dedicated gas storage, designed for the 4kg/3.9kg gas cylinders. If these cylinders are withdrawn you’ll have lot of very unhappy people looking for alternatives to Calor.
This is the reply from Calor:
Good morning,
We have made no decisions to supress the 4.5kgs or the 3.9kgs. We are still continuing to fill and distribute all cylinders that pass through our health and safety checks.
Kind regards,
Make of it as you will, but as far as I can see, they are probably still struggling with the rise in demand for 4kg and 3.9kg cylinder, most of which are probably sitting disused in garages and shed, and an inability to secure a supply of new cylinders which pass their safety inspection.
sarabande
Well-known member
Can I revert to jimi's earliest post, including his refill question.
Refilling on a DIY basis is the easiest process apart from making scrambled eggs. You need a Calor POL to POL hose. Something just over £10
Calor Essentials 0.75m (30") POL x POL Standard Hose | Hoses and Pigtails | Calor Gas Appliances
Note that Calor don't say anything about refilling the baby 3.9 propane cylinder (guess why !).
Take any full(ish) big propane cylinder and an empty(ish) smaller one. With both upright, connect the POL/POL hose.
Lay the large one down, with the hose end lower than the base, and place the small cylinder as low as you can below the big cylinder, with the valve end at the top.
Open the valves carefully.
Propane will flow from the upper cylinder down to the lower cylinder. If you drape a towel dipped in very hot water over the bigger cylinder , it will speed up the process.
And here's the only techy bit. DON'T OVERFILL the small cylinder. Do clever things like weighing it or shaking it to see if the liquid still sloshes. If you do overfill it, then liquid propane will be forced out of the valve into the oven. This is NOT a Good Idea.
When finished , close both valves, and with both cylinders upright, disconnect the POL/POL hose. There will be a whoosh for a second or two as residual propane escapes.
You now have a full small cylinder, at about 60% of the shop price.
It really is very easy.
And I have just checked, people are selling small propane cylinders on ebay and Facebook with outdated hose or battered Bullfinch torches for about £10 each. Yadda, yaddah about "Calor only rent the bottles". In theory.
Refilling on a DIY basis is the easiest process apart from making scrambled eggs. You need a Calor POL to POL hose. Something just over £10
Calor Essentials 0.75m (30") POL x POL Standard Hose | Hoses and Pigtails | Calor Gas Appliances
Note that Calor don't say anything about refilling the baby 3.9 propane cylinder (guess why !).
Take any full(ish) big propane cylinder and an empty(ish) smaller one. With both upright, connect the POL/POL hose.
Lay the large one down, with the hose end lower than the base, and place the small cylinder as low as you can below the big cylinder, with the valve end at the top.
Open the valves carefully.
Propane will flow from the upper cylinder down to the lower cylinder. If you drape a towel dipped in very hot water over the bigger cylinder , it will speed up the process.
And here's the only techy bit. DON'T OVERFILL the small cylinder. Do clever things like weighing it or shaking it to see if the liquid still sloshes. If you do overfill it, then liquid propane will be forced out of the valve into the oven. This is NOT a Good Idea.
When finished , close both valves, and with both cylinders upright, disconnect the POL/POL hose. There will be a whoosh for a second or two as residual propane escapes.
You now have a full small cylinder, at about 60% of the shop price.
It really is very easy.
And I have just checked, people are selling small propane cylinders on ebay and Facebook with outdated hose or battered Bullfinch torches for about £10 each. Yadda, yaddah about "Calor only rent the bottles". In theory.
Humblebee
Well-known member
Good post Sarabande, thanks.
jimi
Well-known member
I don’t get there was a rise in demand for those cylinders. That is bollox IMHO, caravans tend to use 7kg bottles. Campers in the main use camping gaz. The main users of 4.5 are boaters. I suspect the main reason is internal problems at Calor around bottles. The Calor words above refer to passing safety checks. I wonder how many bottles are failing. Personally I’m going to investigate decanting from a larger cylinder.
jimi
Well-known member
Thanks , Sir. Cross posting with my post below
sarabande
Well-known member
It really is easy, jimi. Decent hose, proper adapters, and you can decant from any biggish bottle to almost any smaller one, even plumbers minitorches.
(2) How to refill gas propane cylinder yourself - YouTube
Note, he is not using POL to POL transfer but the same process with different adapters.
PS. I don't have any dealings with butane. A single gas protocol for the house, caravan, workshop, boat. Main source is a 47kg Calor propane cylinder; just about handleable on one's own.
(2) How to refill gas propane cylinder yourself - YouTube
Note, he is not using POL to POL transfer but the same process with different adapters.
PS. I don't have any dealings with butane. A single gas protocol for the house, caravan, workshop, boat. Main source is a 47kg Calor propane cylinder; just about handleable on one's own.