The (propane ?) in a Paslode Nail Gun is in a sealed container. It bears a 'best before' date code, and various sources say that it does actually deteriorate over time. Has anyone actual evidence that it does?
Andrew
Butylene and Propylene
They will both polymerise, but I would be surprised if the reaction rate is significant without a suitable catalyst and perhaps elevated temperature. (Havn't actually looked this up, though).
I'd have thought the main age-related factor would be leakage through rubber seals, although I know from experience that propane and butane are fine for many years both in heavy "Calor" type cylinders and the cheap tin containers used for cigarette lighter refils.
They may be covering themselves against storage at comparatively elevated temperatures, I'm thinking about a tin shed in the tropics where the temperature might reach 50 C or more.
Compatibility charts suggest that you need fluorocarbon (viton) seals for propylene. Perhaps their containers just use nitrile (which would be fine with propane/butane) but might have more limited life with the Paslode gas mix.
I'd imagine it leaks out gradually, like many gasses do. Brian
I can add a further data point having recently unearthed a Campinggaz lantern which had been stored with a part-used pierceable canister for
30 years. Still had gas and worked OK (although sadly glass was broken).
OK I've concluded some tests - Paslode gas DOES 'Go Off'
IM250 -F16 second fix gun.
With genuine Paslode "Winter Fuel" cans expiry 2013 that are definitely still full and gas smells right - ZILCH - no firing at all.
With genuine Paslode ordinary gas expiry 2008 - intermittent firing - too occasional to be any use
With genuine Paslode ordinary gas expiry 2017 - utterly no issues - fires every time.
The above results were absolutely repeatable, swapping cans in and out.
So the question is what is deteriorating in a sealed can of gas? (Leakage is not an issue - all the old cans still had liquefied gas that could be detected by shaking)
Andrew
Maybe it relies on the more volatile propylene for ignition, and this has evaporated / leaked / diffused through the seal leaving you with an apparently full can containing only butylene?
I have a vague recollection that some light unsaturated compound polymerises fast enough to "go off" in storage at a significant rate. Need a proper organic chemist to advise.
Looking again at the MSDS, the contents are described as fuel and propellant, tempting to say butylene is the fuel and propylene the propellant (although both will burn, and the butylene has some vapour pressure).
So loss of propylene will also cause significant loss of pressure, perhaps the problem is that you are not getting an explosive mixture from the old cylinders.
You might try warming up the cylinders gently, especially in cold weather. I'm sure they are labelled with something like "Don't expose to more than 30 C" but they are not going to explode on you at (say) 40 to
50 C. Stick them in a bucket of warm water to give them a chance to get up to temperature, outside if you are a bit paranoid.I don't think smell is a clue, I'd expect both compounds to smell similar.
replying to Andrew Mawson, Woodchuck wrote: It's amazing what useful information one can find on the Internet. Thanks lots for this!!!
It leaks. The seams are not perfectly gas tight.
Answered in the nick of time.
Maybe it is, but if you look on that site your internet street cred will plummet. Brian
I don't know what deteriotate is, but if you mean are cheapo gas in various tins storable, then the answer is that it does leak out. I remember our camping gaz mini stove canisters did after a couple of years not used. Brian
Yes hence my comment about 2 years and the street cred etc going down if that site is where you get your news! Brian
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