Propane Versus Butane?

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yamsack

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Hi all,<br>After my recent disaster with using an alcohol stove, I've decided to go with either a propane or butane portable stove.<br><br>From what I've seen, the butane stoves have a flatter, more stable design than the propane stoves.&nbsp; Secondly, I come from a culinary background and have seen butane stoves used commonly for catering/indoor cooking.&nbsp; While I'm sure it's doable, I've never seen propane stoves used in indoor applications.<br><br>I'd like to get some feedback from you all regarding which type of gas/stove is better, propane or butane.&nbsp; Secondly, since the gas canister will be stored in my campervan, would there be any concerns with excessive temperatures (inside the van) causing the canister to rupture/explode?<br><br>
 
<p style="margin: 0px;">The butane stoves have some great advantages. The small, compact&nbsp;size is really nice and the pietzo starter is a big plus. But it has some big disadvantages too:</p><ul><li><div style="margin: 0px;">The bottles can be hard to find.</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;">When you do find them they can be really expensive.</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;">You can't hook it up to a refillable bulk bottle.</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;">Butane doesn't work well at temperatures below freezing (32 degrees). </div></li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;">Propane is better in every way except the metal arm coming off makes it take up more space and most don't come with a pietzo lighter. Here are propanes advantages:</p><ul><li><div style="margin: 0px;">The green bottles are available nearly everywhere.</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;">You can buy an adapter that lets you refill the green bottles.&nbsp;</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;">Hooking up to a bulk bottle makes the cost of the fuel very cheap. I have a one gallon tank which is very small and fits in the van easily.</div></li><li><div style="margin: 0px;">Propane works down to minus 30 degrees.</div></li></ul><p style="margin: 0px;">To me the advantages of propane are overwhelming so I never even considered butane, but I know&nbsp;a lot of people who love their&nbsp;butane stoves and would not consider switching.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Don't worry about storing the bottles inside, they should never be a problem. Bob</p>
 
Ditto everything Bob has said... Also with my bulk propane tank I can use it for my 1 burner stove inside, 2 burner stove outside, my buddy heater, my Lodi shower for hot water and for my propane torch for various projects...<br><br>So with one 1 gal. propane tank and hose I have 5 things that can run off it inside and outside my van... Multitasking is a huge benefit... <br>
 
<p style="margin: 0px;">Great points, Bob.&nbsp; I agree with you on all of them but some of the inconveniences of the butane can be worked around a little bit.&nbsp; Still, I have enough mixed emotions that I might end up trying a propane stove, too!&nbsp; Heck, it's all more convenient than those old Coleman fuel stoves that you had to pump 40 million times...&nbsp; *shudder*</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I&nbsp;strongly agree that the butane can be difficult to find.&nbsp; I'm lucky&nbsp;that the local oriental supermarket carries them for&nbsp;$2.00.&nbsp; That's cheap compared to charcoal but definitely higher than the cost of the green propane bottles which last much longer.&nbsp; If a person goes with butane, buy a case of the canisters.&nbsp; They're about $20 bucks from Amazon&nbsp;for 12 cans and they last a long time...</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">The temperature thing is definitely problematic in very cold weather.&nbsp; I had to cook inside during colder camping trips.&nbsp; Even then, the efficiency was reduced a little.&nbsp; On the upside, during warmer conditions the little stoves cook <u>very</u> hot and make the best stir fried food.&nbsp; I love to cook meats and veggies at very high temperatures and found the butane flame to be hotter.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Though I'm one of the people who&nbsp;really likes&nbsp;the butane stoves,&nbsp;my only worry is the safety of those lightweight canisters with their less-than-rugged valves.&nbsp; By&nbsp;being careless and leaving the butane can in the stove, something caused the bottle to start discharging - that put the fear of God in me!&nbsp; It might be safer to go with propane... It's definitely cheaper!&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Either option is doable and safer than the alcohol, I would think.&nbsp; I do keep a little alcohol in the van but it's the drinkable kind and used for medicinal purpose...&nbsp; :)</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p>
 
That's a better suggestion than what I had in mind. MRE's and vichyssoise for dinner.<div><div><br></div></div>
 
yamsack said:
Hi all,<br>...would there be any concerns with excessive temperatures (inside the van) causing the canister to rupture/explode?<br>
<br>My most used/favorite stove is a butane stove that uses the cans that look like hairspray.&nbsp; I just find it handy, and my propane stove doesn't behave as well as I'd like.<br><br>Restaurant supply stores are a good source for the canisters.&nbsp; Some places sell only by the case; many will sell them individually at a slightly higher price per unit.&nbsp; Either way, they have been much less expensive that way vs. the few outdoor outfitters that stock them here.<br><br>Propane bottles probably don't pose much risk of rupture from heat or impact.&nbsp; I am cautious with the more fragile butane cans.&nbsp; They are stored in their own little cooler for convenience and protection.&nbsp; Moby has been 140*F inside at times. <br><br>Vickie<br>
 
I went propane for all the reasons Bob gave...I too have a 1 gallon bulk propane tank inside and can also use it with my buddy heater...with an easy change of the hose....at some point I will go to my local propane dealer and have them make me another hose for the buddy heater..a little cheaper than the Walmart variety and made to exact lendth...<br>Bri<br><br>
 
I like the idea of the custom propane hose... I've thought about running the Mr Buddy from a larger tank but would have to likely put the tank in the back of the van and run a lengthy hose, cut holes in the walls of the kitchen cabinet, etc.&nbsp; Then there's the fear of rupture or leaks.<br><br>My Mr. Buddy is hung on the side door of the van.&nbsp; It's a convenient place to locate him but kind of a pain figuring how where to put the fuel... Are the hoses pretty rugged?&nbsp; I guess if it's protected from vibration/abrasion while on the road, the hose should be okay.&nbsp; Do you know the max. length it can be?<br>
 
Hey Van, I don't know what the max length is but on my bus conversion I had one made up that is 16' long. and it does like you suggest, runs through holes in cabinet, a steel bulkhead, and feeds from an outside mounted 5 gallon propane tank to the three burner stove.<br><br>I was careful to run it through a rubber grommet in the bulkhead....and it is held up in several spots with a nylon wire clamp. <br><br>If you go and talk to the guys at your local propane dealer, they can fix you up. They will only use the proper hose and fittings, etc. You can buy all the fittings from them as well....<br><br>The proper rubber, re-enforced pressure hose is the very best thing to use...copper tube can flex with vibrations and crack....<br><br>There is no-one who can do it better....that is their business....<br>Bri <br><br>
 
<p style="margin: 0px;">I was just looking inside the van and found a couple of places where I could locate a little 1 gallon (4.5 lb) tank.&nbsp; It would fit perfectly about three feet from the heater or six feet from the heater.&nbsp; I'm not sure what would be safest...&nbsp; I'm inclined to say further away.&nbsp; I've got a little cupboard where I might even be able to squeeze in a 20 lb tank!&nbsp; (Not sure how legal that is)</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Well, it's a great idea for a summer project.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Thanks Bri.</p>
 

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