Calor has change of heart on small cylinders

[Stork_III]

May be of interest to those using 3.9kg propane and 4.5 kg butane bottles. Temporary respite on supplies.

https://www.boatsafetyscheme.org/me...tion-on-small-cylinder-filling-6apr23-wip.pdf

 

[rwt]

I'll believe it when I find suppliers with actual bottles - it doesn't appear to be a viable scheme to me. Face saving at best.

 

[fredrussell]

I believe this about-turn is a result of Calor employing a new manager at their Arse Elbow Differentiation Department.

 

[neilf39]

I wonder how many bottles will be 'in need' of refurbishment. I can't square this with their reasons for withdrawal. They were hard enough to get hold of anyway so taking them out of service, possibly a bit more slowly won't have any noticeable effect. Just a fob off to get people off their backs.

 

[Stemar]

I shall still be looking for a non-Calor replacement.

"We care for our customers, so we're bring the boaty bottles back". Not convinced. More likely, "We've realised that we've got a lot of captive(-ish) customers we can make some money out of before we drop them in the sh!t", and with no investment.

 

[Boathook]

Also discussed here Calor 4.5 Butane and 3.5 Propane to be discontinued

 

[Daydream believer]

A Friend of mine bought a Gaz refill for £45-00 at a recognised cheap supplier yesterday. So that is not a good alternative

 

[KeithMD]

I'm confused. Are we meant to use bigger bottles from Calor Gas, or a different supplier, or what? I'm not sure how I would use a bigger bottle, unless it's the same diameter, as the old small blue bottles only just fit through the hatch on the stern locker on my boat.

 

[lustyd]

A Friend of mine bought a Gaz refill for £45-00 at a recognised cheap supplier yesterday. So that is not a good alternative

In fact it’s not an alternative since Calor fill those too when they’re in the mood.

 

[lustyd]

Are we meant to use bigger bottles from Calor Gas, or a different supplier, or what?

FloGas, different supplier. Better in every way than Calor although still not perfect. The bottles are very similar in size to Calor.

 

[Daydream believer]

In fact it’s not an alternative since Calor fill those too when they’re in the mood.

I watched them doing it when my father built the extension on their mini bottle re filling factory in Shell Haven, 60 years ago. A lot of bottles came back with gas in them (often 50% full). They had tanks to collect this gas. The bottles had to be emptied first & some had to be re painted etc.

However, discharging the gas into the containment tanks slowed the men on peacework. So they had a handle that fitted the neck of the bottle & then depressed the ball in the centres releasing the gas in a white cloud. They aimed this onto the floor. I was working on some column bolts on the floor & they had great delight in surrounding me in the gas cloud. I was only 16 & I had been sent there by my father to work my school hols. Hence the men in the factory would play the odd trick, squirting me with gas. There was often so much that they would be standing in 18 inches of white vapour.
This then flowed out of the grills all around the bottom of the building, down a muddy slope, into the small creek alongside the building. The gas then flowed along the water line to disperse away from the site.

I had to cut holes in the floor for the bolts & I had to use a rubber hammer & surround the chisel with a damp rag to avoid sparks. I was VERY careful about this as I could imagine the place going up like a massive bomb with me in the middle. Took me days to do just a few holes, so they let us do some at the weekend. I also had to work up a ladder drilling the steel with a belly brace, as they did not allow the use of electric. I managed to get swarf in my eye & was instantly rushed in the Calor ambulance to the Shell medical site, where they had all the facilities of a mini hospital. It was fully staffed & state of the art stuff for the workers in the refinery etc. The swarf was removed in minutes & I was given a lecture on the use of goggles, which I have never forgotten

 

[Stemar]

A Friend of mine bought a Gaz refill for £45-00 at a recognised cheap supplier yesterday. So that is not a good alternative

In fact it’s not an alternative since Calor fill those too when they’re in the mood.

My conspiracy theory on this is that they're trying to make us switch to Camping Gaz because they make twice as much on the ridiculous price of the CG.

 

[Daydream believer]

My conspiracy theory on this is that they're trying to make us switch to Camping Gaz because they make twice as much on the ridiculous price of the CG.

I do not have a choice. Hanse only make the gas locker big enough for the Gaz bottle

 

[bignick]

As Lustyd says above, I would recommend a change to BP Flogas. The bottles are GRP, so don’t rust, are transparent so you can see how much you have, and are lighter too. Much better solution for a boat, and from memory the valve is common with Calor.

We had one on our bbq for quite a while, then our local stockist decided to change to Calor. I’d be more than happy to swap on the boat.

 

[mjcoon]

I watched them doing it when my father built the extension on their mini bottle re filling factory in Shell Haven, 60 years ago. A lot of bottles came back with gas in them (often 50% full). They had tanks to collect this gas. The bottles had to be emptied first & some had to be re painted etc.

However, discharging the gas into the containment tanks slowed the men on peacework. So they had a handle that fitted the neck of the bottle & then depressed the ball in the centres releasing the gas in a white cloud. They aimed this onto the floor. I was working on some column bolts on the floor & they had great delight in surrounding me in the gas cloud. I was only 16 & I had been sent there by my father to work my school hols. Hence the men in the factory would play the odd trick, squirting me with gas. There was often so much that they would be standing in 18 inches of white vapour.
This then flowed out of the grills all around the bottom of the building, down a muddy slope, into the small creek alongside the building. The gas then flowed along the water line to disperse away from the site.

I had to cut holes in the floor for the bolts & I had to use a rubber hammer & surround the chisel with a damp rag to avoid sparks. I was VERY careful about this as I could imagine the place going up like a massive bomb with me in the middle. Took me days to do just a few holes, so they let us do some at the weekend. I also had to work up a ladder drilling the steel with a belly brace, as they did not allow the use of electric. I managed to get swarf in my eye & was instantly rushed in the Calor ambulance to the Shell medical site, where they had all the facilities of a mini hospital. It was fully staffed & state of the art stuff for the workers in the refinery etc. The swarf was removed in minutes & I was given a lecture on the use of goggles, which I have never forgotten

Sounds like goggles would be good to stop your eyebrows being burnt off, too... ;-)

 

[shortjohnsilver]

As Lustyd says above, I would recommend a change to BP Flogas. The bottles are GRP, so don’t rust, are transparent so you can see how much you have, and are lighter too. Much better solution for a boat, and from memory the valve is common with Calor.

We had one on our bbq for quite a while, then our local stockist decided to change to Calor. I’d be more than happy to swap on the boat.

Huge issues with replacement of Calor 4.5 butane and 3.9 propane. Every distributor I’ve spoken with - locally to me - say the same.. these are discontinued and when I mention that Calor have delayed their intention somewhat, they say, that they’ve heard this too, but no change as far as they see. The situation is not going to improve, even short term.

So, I’m looking to swap over to Flogas.

Bignick, you mention that the valve utilised by Flogas is common with that of Calor. Is that the screw on regular valve or the push in and clip version? I have the screw on version. Thanks.

 

[bignick]

The 10kg bottles we used with our BBQ was the push on type.

I just checked - the BBQ has a 27mm clip on (propane) regulator.
it seems there are a more types than I realised.
Gas bottle regulators guide | Flogas

It looks like the 5kg gaslight bottle also takes a 27mm clip on propane regulator.

 

[lustyd]

Bignick, you mention that the valve utilised by Flogas is common with that of Calor. Is that the screw on regular valve or the push in and clip version? I have the screw on version. Thanks.

As far as I can tell the screw in connector is peculiar to Calor. FloGas use standard push fits, although have some different sizes. they have just started phasing one size out to standardise, the small yellow butane have the new standard one.

 

[ctva]

I do not have a choice. Hanse only make the gas locker big enough for the Gaz bottle

Do as I did with our Jeanneau 18 years ago. Rip out the Camping Gaz molded bottle holder and make a fiberglass lined ply one to fit the Calor 3.9 propane bottle. Or now do it to fit a Flogas bottle. My home made 'gas locker' even satisfies the beauracrats at the BSS.

 

[bignick]

Flogas do appear to sell 907 Campingas cyclinders..
I’m not sure how their supply system or pricing works though.

907 Campingaz bottle | Flogas