10 Uses For Old Propane Tanks

What do you do with your propane tank after it’s empty? Do you replace the tank after using it a few times and dispose of the old tank? Most people just get rid of their old propane tank — I thought there must be other ways to use it instead of getting rid of it.

After researching, like nearly every other item in the common household, there are plenty of other uses for old propane tanks that we can do to practice self-sufficiency.

There are many ways to repurpose propane tanks. One of the reasons is because propane tanks are made from extremely durable materials to withstand the pressure required to hold the propane gas inside it. This means that the material of the tank itself have so much potential for a lot of repurposing projects and ideas.

Whether you are a barbecue enthusiast or simply a home owner, you probably have one or two of these tanks lying around and stored somewhere in your garage or basement, slowly collecting rust and dust or you might even have already forgotten about its existence altogether. Hence, we’ve compiled a list of possible projects and ideas that you can try to turn your useless propane tanks into something else entirely.

But before all of that, you have to make sure that you know what you are doing as every project in this article involves welding or cutting metal parts which is a pretty big hazard since the sparks and extreme heat from those processes might react with compressed gases that may still exist inside the tank.

If you are not sure that the tank is 100% empty from such gases, its best that you do not try to attempt these projects or simply let a professional do it for you.

With all of that covered, here is the first item in our list:

1) Wood Burner Pot Belly Stove

These strange looking stoves that used wood or coal were once used in heating up lodges and train stations all over America. It got its name from its shape that looks like a bulging belly of a man and it also has a flat top that could be used for cooking food or heating water. Today, they’re mostly used like a typical fireplace or place inside sheds to keep them warm.

With some scrap metals and fire cement to line the stove, you can turn your old propane tank into a sophisticated looking stove which could help you shave off amount to your gas bill.

2) Vase for Indoor Plants

Your old gas tanks can offer you with a much cheaper alternative with very little work needed. Just cut off your gas tank to your desired length and transfer your favorite houseplant inside.

Now, you have a vase that not only virtually costs nothing but is also very durable and won’t probably need to be replaced anytime soon.

3) Cute Metal Animals

Look closely at your tank and think of any animal.

If you thought of a pig, you are not alone. Just add a snout and four little legs, then details such as a curly tail, ears, and eyes and you pretty much created yourself a cute metal pig which you can put in your lawn as decorations.

But it’s obviously not just pigs that you can make. From animals to famous characters, your imagination is simply your only limit.

4) Lampshade

You can also convert your propane tank into an overhead lighting fixture to add another layer of rustic elegance as you eat your favorite meals in your kitchen.

5) Wall Decoration

Just like with the metal animals, you can easily turn your old propane tanks into another type of decoration to adorn your homes. By taking advantage of the circular shape of the tanks, you can turn them into flowers or a sun-shaped decoration you can display in front of your doors or hang as a backdrop in your living room.

By painting it with chrome and some rust colored highlights, you can basically create something out of a Steampunk themed story.

6) BBQ Grill or Smoker

A 60 lbs propane tank can easily be converted into a smoker while the most common 20 lbs tank can be made into a small grill that you can bring to your next outdoor activity. Just cut your tank horizontally and add some legs and you’re pretty much good to go, but of course, you’re free to add everything you want to improve your makeshift grill.

7) Cowboy Cauldron

Another way to turn your propane tank into something that can be used for cooking is by trimming its base and turning it into a bad boy aptly called cowboy cauldron. All you need to add is the stand to hold the cauldron which pretty much are just metal pipes stuck together to look like a tripod as well as a handle for the cauldron itself.

8) Campfire Ring

Campfires sure are memorable. Especially those scary campfire stories which made us have a hard time sleeping when we were still kids, but although campfires are enjoyable, cleaning the aftermath the next day is not. That’s why we need a campfire ring to contain all the ashes and left over firewood in a small area and you bet our trusty old propane tanks can also be used that way.

Simply cut a segment 0f appropriate length from the tank’s cylindrical body and bring it along with you the next time you’ll have a campfire trip somewhere.

9) Culvert

By cutting both ends of the propane tank, you’ll end up with a wide pipe which is precisely what you want to have for this next project. A culvert is a type of pipe specifically used to carry or drain a heavy stream of water.

You can use your makeshift culvert for irrigation or your pond, which is a good way to save costs without sacrificing quality as propane tank culverts can be even more durable than standard culverts used for such purposes.

10) Feed Bunk

If you are raising animals, you can convert your old propane tanks into feed bunks to easily distribute feeds. A single tank can make two feed bunks which can last you a long time.

These are just some of the many projects you could do to utilize your empty propane tanks and put them back into good use. Do not limit yourselves and let your creative side come out once in a while. However, always keep in mind that safety should always be your number one priority especially, with projects such as this one.

I hope this post helped you learn some practical uses for old propane tanks that  you can use. Instead of disposing your propane tank, use it in one of these ways.

If you liked this post, you might also want to read our post on different survival knife uses or the ultimate guide on survival hacks.

Do you know any other ways to use an old propane tank?