The Tuesday my propane tank froze mid-forge in the middle of January
Cold shop, single digit temps outside, and I'm about 20 minutes into drawing out a leaf for a gate commission. Then the flame starts sputtering and dies. Propane tank frozen solid, regulator frosting over like a bad ice cream cake. I spent the next hour with a space heater pointed at the tank and a hairdryer on the regulator, looking like a fool in my own forge. Finally got it going around 10am, but the whole rhythm was shot. The leaf came out lopsided and I had to cut it off and start again. Has anyone else dealt with propane freeze-up in cold weather? I'm thinking about a heated blanket wrap for the tank next winter, but I want to hear what actually works before I spend the cash.
Skip the blanket and hairdryer next time, just get a bigger tank or bring it inside overnight. Small tanks freeze way faster and all that wrapping stuff barely helps once its already cold. Plus a frozen regulator is a sign your tank was too small for the draw in the first place.