Meet The Fat Boy™
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It’s finally happened! BernzOmatic has finally released a recyclable line of fuel cylinders they’ve dubbed the Fat Boy™.
I mean, I don’t know about you, but for me, dealing with spent propane and MAPP gas cylinders has just been a pain. You’re not supposed to throw them into the trash, though many people do. And you can’t put them into the recycling bin, because even though you’ve used all the gas, they’re still under pressure and explosive. Technically they’re hazardous waste — though in all honesty, the vast majority have ended up in our land fills.
Up until now, the best I’ve seen anybody do with an empty propane cylinder is to (illegally) refill it and reuse it until the seals gave out. But you’re not supposed to do that either.
Finally addressing growing environmental demands of professionals and do-it-yourselfers, BernzOmatic developed what it’s labeled its Green Key® technology. It allows consumers to completely discharge an empty Fat Boy™ cylinder. Empty cylinders can therefore be taken to the local recyclers.
Another bonus, the Fat Boy™ is bigger than the old cylinders. You, like me, have probably seen folks screwing their torch head onto those larger camp stove gas cylinders. Well, that might slow down some as the Fat Boy™ gets into the distribution stream, because it contains 20% more fuel that the old tall, slim cylinders. Another, more dubious bonus, the Fat Boy™ is 25% shorter than the old cylinders, to allow “greater accessibility in tight spaces,” a company press release said.
Well, maybe. A loss in height means an increase in girth — doubly so because it holds more fuel. So what’s lost in one dimension will no doubt be gained in another. We’ll have to see.
The Fat Boy™ is apparently not yet in full roll out, though I gather the company will do so soon. I’ve asked a rep to send me a Fat Boy™ to try out. If they do, you’ll be reading about how well it worked in the field right here!
Technorati Tags: BernzOmatic, Fat Boy™, propane torch, MAPP gas torch, recycling
