OK this is another disaster story but as always I rank safety #1 above all else.

I was working with my firebricks and the torch head (old style) was twisted at an odd angle so after the burning trials I decided to twist it where it should be. Well an oversight of mine I did not have it sealed up enough and it was leaking gas when I lit the head. Well from there after about a minute the neck of the bottle where the torch head meets the bottle caught fire and the entire head was in flames. The on/off valve was melted as is all the couplings and those internal plastic/nylon/etc non-metal parts. So I threw it on the ground and grabed my ABC fire extinguisher and put it out. I thought I checked for leaks good but as an oversight of mine I failed to find it.

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/22623-2/IMG_1827.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/22627-2/IMG_1830.JPG

These images does not look that bad because I got the extinguisher in time and put it out. It was not that hot but the entire tank could have exploded which would have been very bad for me and everything 100 feet around me.

I had flames coming out from both sides of the valve. When it caught fire you could see the flame arching from the tip to the base. So learn from this and dont try it!

p.s. The brass was all shiny and non-black before this.

Ed

I am glad that you did not get burnt and that it did not start any larger fires. Fortunately LPG tanks don't explode (BLEVE) until the bottle/tank is nearly empty so it buys you some time to get the fire out.

Crap happens even when you are careful. Some of my worst accidents/injuries were not even from carelessness, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Glad your still in one piece as my mom used to say to me (alot!).

this is the bottle

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/22631-2/IMG_1834.JPG

http://wetlands.simplyaquatics.com/d/22635-2/IMG_1837.JPG

This can is mostly empty and this apears to be just residue. The neck looks good and it does look like I put it out in time.

Ed