well for sure .............the 'jury rigged' factor.
I've sure seen enough of that in vanagons ! ........but never in propane
systems, but that is a wise thing to watch out for.

very interesting to read ............... " USA based Injury Board claims
domestic propane tank explosions are a
 major source of personal injury in the United States each year."

news to me, but I'll factor that in.
I think i've only seen brass fittings on propane tanks, never anything but
that.
scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Whittaker" <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2008 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: From rags to westy in a week.

> dear all
> regarding the brass monkey ...
> i mean brass wrenches ...
> nearly 7 years of work in several different refineries has got me always
> thinking of explosions when dealing with older installations and stuff
> with
> LEL
> and yes ..i understand that all approved propane fittings are brass,
> copper,
> plated, or something to keep them from sparking. but-
> when working on a series of vehicles that are already >15 years old  ...
> most do not have the new generation quick connect propane  hook up
> any sort of great weirdness could have been jury rigged together by
> previous
> owner and those not conversant in propane approved hardware ...
> might not know ...
> i certainly would not fully understand everything i was looking at in the
> propane assembly
> -specifically  what was westfalia factory and what was jury rigged -if it
> were not clearly different
> so my note was simply one of caution ...
> the USA based Injury Board claims domestic propane tank explosions are a
> major source of personal injury in the United States each year.
> i have also seen more than my share of ... "It was never supposed to
> happen
> like that ..." accidents and incidents in workshops and sites-
> simply my own over whelming need to imbibe the oft over looked aspect of
> safety  when dealing with our westies
> yours
>
>
>
> On Mon, Aug 4, 2008 at 5:46 AM, Dennis Haynes
> <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:
>
>> You definitely need to be careful that the propane is under control. As
>> for
>> the need for Brass wrenches, all approved propane fittings are brass,
>> copper, plated, or something to keep them from sparking. The Brass tools
>> only become a true necessity when working in what may be a hazardous
>> location and if using steel fittings.
>>
>> BTW, once a vehicle is in a garage, the lowest 18 inches is a hazardous
>> location. Does anyone here use XP rated drop lights and power tools?
>> Think
>> of that if using one of those kerosene floor heaters for heat.
>>
>>
>>  From: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
>>> Reply-To: Roger Whittaker <rogerwhitt1@GMAIL.COM>
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: From rags to westy in a week.
>>> Date: Sun, 3 Aug 2008 22:28:35 -0700
>>>
>>>
>>> dear craig
>>> i hope you are storing the propane tank outside and away from errant
>>> sparks
>>> while you work
>>> hook it together with brass wrenches ... check for leaks constantly
>>> use only new fittings and hoses
>>> be safe
>>> yours
>>>
>>> On Sun, Aug 3, 2008 at 7:40 PM, craig cowan <phishman068@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Well the weekend has passed, and boy do i have alot to show for it! I
>>> > started out friday night with a 1980 westy in deplorable shape, and a
>>> 1985
>>> > vanagon with a full interior, and after only 26 hours of work (14
>>> > hours
>>> > saturday, only 12 today), i have a fully gutted westy, with the entire
>>> > interior in my garage and most of it cleaned up, a fully gutted '85GL,
>>> all
>>> > the curtains and curatin hardware has been transfered to the '85, the
>>> rear
>>> > cabinet has been cut down 3 inches and installed (It worked out
>>> > great!),
>>> > The
>>> > propane tank and all the westy accessories are off and ready to go,
>>> > i've
>>> > removed the westy floor, and the vanagon floor is recieving some
>>> > holes.
>>> I
>>> > borrowed a welder today in anticipation of cutting and welding in the
>>> seat
>>> > brackets (And the one under the kitchen), have removed the rear heater
>>> core
>>> > (which will have to be relocated or negated for the time being),
>>> Replaced
>>> > all my rear seatbelts with the westy configuration, and cleaned up and
>>> > addressed the start of some rust behind where the fridge will sit on
>>> > my
>>> > '85.
>>> > Oh ya, i also found time to pull the engine and transmission, and they
>>> went
>>> > off to a loving home. I would say a pretty fullfilling weekend as a
>>> whole.
>>> > Tommorow evening i will try to get these holes cut, the floor secured,
>>> and
>>> > start cutting/welding in the brackets that need to be addressed. I
>>> > also
>>> > plan
>>> > to figure out how to mount the propane tank on the '85. I'm guessing i
>>> need
>>> > to drill some holes, send some bolts through, and weld the heads
>>> inplace?
>>> >
>>> > I hope to have a 'roof removal party' friday, so i need to have almost
>>> > everything done by then so I can gather my friends with their favorite
>>> > cutting instruments, to do some serious damage. So, who thinks a westy
>>> can
>>> > be built in a week?   : )
>>> >
>>> > -Craig
>>> > '85(Gutted)
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> roger w
>>> There are two kinds of jobs in the world:
>>> Picking up garbage and telling people things.
>>> Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw)
>>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>>> View the growing list of video work at:
>>> http://revver.com/find/video/?query=LastonLastof&search_on=owners
>>> and ... older work at
>>> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7135104650374818257
>>> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3259745150182742364
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> roger w
> There are two kinds of jobs in the world:
> Picking up garbage and telling people things.
> Successful people do both, with the same good attitude. (riw)
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> View the growing list of video work at:
> http://revver.com/find/video/?query=LastonLastof&search_on=owners
> and ... older work at
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7135104650374818257
> http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3259745150182742364