Calor 4.5 Butane and 3.5 Propane to be discontinued

[Whaup367]

.... they said calor gas won’t accept rusty bottles . ..Any thoughts or suggestion
Chris

1. Try other outlets, they may not be so fussy
2. Look out for abandoned 907s in marinas, campsites, by gas cages
3. Your local recycling centre may have good ones that people have dumped; ours will point you in the right direction, then look the other way when you take away good ones, as it saves them having to process them and means they get re-used. Often, they leave logging in gas cylinders they have received until just before closing.
4. eBay, facebook marketplace, gumtree, marina notice board, ask here or on local sailing/camping facebook groups

 

[Hoolie]

not sure where I go from here to obtain a replacement bottle …. Any thoughts or suggestion

Some wet and dry and a can of spray paint?

 

[PCUK]

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And I have just checked, people are selling small propane cylinders on ebay and Facebook with outdated hose or battered Bullfinch torches for about £10 each.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.

Tim, It says on the Calor Gas link in the Q & As that the POL hose is fitted with a non return valve to make filling from bottle to bottle impossible. Is that nonsense and do you use that hose? Thanks, Peter

 

[sarabande]

Pete, If there's "S/T" on the label it's a straight through hose. Calor trying to stop the decanting market, it seems

The hose I have is definitely from Calor Exeter about four years ago, so they may

1... have changed the design

2... be telling lies

Other sources of S/T POL to S/T POL hoses are available

e.g.

Propane Pigtail Hose Assembly - 20" POL x POL - 12642 (bes.co.uk)

EDIT more sources

pol to pol propane hose S/T at DuckDuckGo


Do you want to borrow mine to fill a few small cylinders ?

 

[PCUK]

Thanks Tim, I've now ordered one as it will be handy for me and Malc' in the future.
All the best, Peter

 

[Stork_III]

Now confirmed. From 1 Feb 2023, the following are discontinued. Cube, 3.9kg Propane, 4.5kg Butane, 6Lite Propane and 12kg Butane cylinders

Your questions about our Cylinder range simplification, answered.

 

[lustyd]

Blimey, didn't think that would ever happen! At least we have an answer now though, and with this might be able to convince more marinas to carry FloGas 4.5kg

 

[jimi]

Now confirmed. From 1 Feb 2023, the following are discontinued. Cube, 3.9kg Propane, 4.5kg Butane, 6Lite Propane and 12kg Butane cylinders

Your questions about our Cylinder range simplification, answered.

Get out of that Whaup367!

Only option for me is to retain current bottles and decant.

 

[Boathook]

Now confirmed. From 1 Feb 2023, the following are discontinued. Cube, 3.9kg Propane, 4.5kg Butane, 6Lite Propane and 12kg Butane cylinders

Your questions about our Cylinder range simplification, answered.

I willl have to look into the 7.5kg bottles. If I modify my mountings they might fit. I will also look into the flogas 4.5kg ones as it might be less modifications. As I decant I haven't changed cylinders for a while and then the shortage ....
I think that calor will lose trade if people swap and keep asking for another make.

 

[PeterWright]

Calor have been giving all sorts of weasel words for 2+ years on this topic, blaming all sorts of things for their failure to be able to supply these cylinders - without seeming to actually try to do anything about it, in spite of many challenges to their head office.

There have also been lots of semi accurate messages from various gas outlets - not always consistent. Hence it might be very helpful if it were possible to get a copy of the “notification” message from Calor - both to be clear precisely what they have said, and to allow clarification with Calor HQ.

Think Yachting Monthly had a small item on this recently - with usual Calor waffle in response. Hence they might be interested if have a (depersonalised) copy of an actual Calor communication

Calor have waffled from the start of this problem, the Covid pandemic giving some credence to their waffle. I don't expect them to change their approach unless someone different gets to be in charge of the business.

The Calor company clearly do not see the Marine sector as of significant value to their business - a brief visit to their website will show you this, there is not a mention of marine use of their product. In that environment, it's of little use telling them that our (British) built boats were built with the Calor 4.5 kg bottles in mind.

For the future, I see little alternative to adopting the Camping Gaz 907 bottles and wearing the increased cost and reduced capacity that entails. Of course, Calor don't see this as a loss of business as they are the UK agents for Camping Gaz - they will just be selling us LPG at a higher price!

The problem with the decant approach iis that the bottles you decant into become past their date for retest, so an increasing number of yachts will be sailing around with bottles past their retest date. The corrosive marine environment is the last place that this sounds safe.

Peter

 

[lustyd]

For the future, I see little alternative to adopting the Camping Gaz 907 bottles and wearing the increased cost

Or FloGas. Campingaz means Calor wins and you pay more. FloGas 4.5 is same dimensions so should fit most

 

[jimi]

Calor have waffled from the start of this problem, the Covid pandemic giving some credence to their waffle. I don't expect them to change their approach unless someone different gets to be in charge of the business.

The Calor company clearly do not see the Marine sector as of significant value to their business - a brief visit to their website will show you this, there is not a mention of marine use of their product. In that environment, it's of little use telling them that our (British) built boats were built with the Calor 4.5 kg bottles in mind.

For the future, I see little alternative to adopting the Camping Gaz 907 bottles and wearing the increased cost and reduced capacity that entails. Of course, Calor don't see this as a loss of business as they are the UK agents for Camping Gaz - they will just be selling us LPG at a higher price!

The problem with the decant approach iis that the bottles you decant into become past their date for retest, so an increasing number of yachts will be sailing around with bottles past their retest date. The corrosive marine environment is the last place that this sounds safe.

Peter

I'm wondering if Watchdog might be interested. As you say, there is a significant safety concern associated with this.

 

[st599]

CampinGaz 907s were rare as hen's teeth on the South Coast last summer - this summer will be fun with more people after them.

 

[LadyInBed]

Now confirmed. From 1 Feb 2023, the following are discontinued.

FAQ 10) My storage is restricted specifically to a 4.5kg Butane cylinder, what’s the alternative?
If you’re unable to increase your storage facilities, an alternative could be found through Campingaz (907 = 2.72kg). We recommend reaching out to a local gas safe registered engineer who can safely advise on any changes required to your gas cylinder set up

They don't mention Flogas ?

 

[riverliver]

seems lustyd is vindicated which no one wanted!
I can't see a 4.5 on the flogas website only a 5kg which is 384 in height a fair bit more than calor (and my locker) Is there a 4.5 I have missed?

 

[Parabordi]

seems lustyd is vindicated which no one wanted!
I can't see a 4.5 on the flogas website only a 5kg which is 384 in height a fair bit more than calor (and my locker) Is there a 4.5 I have missed?

4.5kg Butane Gas Cylinder With 21mm Regulator | Flogas

 

[riverliver]

sorry - on page 2 its butane 4.5 and in theory same dimensions as the calorgas. Just needs a different connector

 

[riverliver]

what parabordi said.
Back to the boat tomorrow with a measuring tape.
Is there any issue swapping to butane part from the regulator?

 

[riverliver]

being dumb - both butane so ignore me

 

[oldgit]

Flo gas.
Is that £4.70 + VAT on every bottle you buy or just the first ?