How Government Wrecked the Gas Can

12 Oct 2013 23:03 #1 by Blazer Bob
"Laissez Faire Today

I was a an auction hosted by Kenosha auctions today. Scored 4 with vents. WOO HOO. :camper: :hot dog: :grilling: :lemontea: :fwave:






The Laissez Faire Club Daily e-Letter

Jeffrey Tucker · May 7, 2012

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The gas gauge broke. There was no smartphone app to tell me how much was left, so I ran out. I had to call the local gas station to give me enough to get on my way. The gruff but lovable attendant arrived in his truck and started to pour gas in my car’s tank. And pour. And pour.

“Hmmm, I just hate how slow these gas cans are these days,” he grumbled. “There’s no vent on them.”

- See more at: http://lfb.org/today/how-government-wre ... gjtRU.dpuf

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13 Oct 2013 05:36 #2 by The Boss
Most handy guys have a drill.

Kinda funny though because this has backfired. I know in colorado real work is somewhat rare, but out in the rest of the nation where things happen, this has resulted in countless diesel cans and gas cans with holes drilled in them and leaking fuel all over the place. Look at the bed of a guy who has a few cans in his truck.

This is kinda like what the guys on car talk would say when someone has an oil leak....how often to you have to fill it? It is cheaper to leak the oil here and there than to wait 5 minutes to pour 5 gallons.

The number of unreported spills resulting from this law is countless.

And I ASSUME folks already know that Americans pour more oil directly on the ground than oil tankers spill in the ocean. That was before these new cans increased domestic spills.

Don't forget the number of people that got a splash of gas in their eye due to the back pressure these new cans have. Ah who cares, the wording of the law sounds great. What is the name of the bill,"no drop left behind."

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13 Oct 2013 06:52 #3 by FredHayek
Thanks for posting. More unintended consequences. Before we had a vent that we could open and close. No more.
Another unintended consequence? The value of pre-change gas cans has risen.

Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.

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13 Oct 2013 18:40 #4 by Venturer
Thanks. I haven't ever purchased any of the new gas cans so not aware of this. I still have quite a few of the older type with vents. And not that I would be purchasing any in the near future but is it feasible to use a heavy duty water can?

from the article http://lfb.org/today/how-government-wre ... e-gas-can/

It wouldn’t surprise me to find, for example, a sudden proliferation of heavy-duty “water cans” in 1- and 5-gallon sizes, complete with nice spouts and vents, looking almost exactly like the gas cans you could get anywhere just a few years ago. How very interesting to discover this.

Of course, this law-abiding writer would never advocate buying one of these and using it for some purpose other than what is written on the package. Doing something like that would show profound disrespect for our betters in the bureaucracies. And if I did suggest something like that, there’s no telling the trouble that it would bring down on my head.


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13 Oct 2013 18:46 #5 by Blazer Bob

WindPeak wrote: Thanks. I haven't ever purchased any of the new gas cans so not aware of this. I still have quite a few of the older type with vents. And not that I would be purchasing any in the near future but is it feasible to use a heavy duty water can?

from the article http://lfb.org/today/how-government-wre ... e-gas-can/

It wouldn’t surprise me to find, for example, a sudden proliferation of heavy-duty “water cans” in 1- and 5-gallon sizes, complete with nice spouts and vents, looking almost exactly like the gas cans you could get anywhere just a few years ago. How very interesting to discover this.

Of course, this law-abiding writer would never advocate buying one of these and using it for some purpose other than what is written on the package. Doing something like that would show profound disrespect for our betters in the bureaucracies. And if I did suggest something like that, there’s no telling the trouble that it would bring down on my head.


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I was not aware of it until last year when I purchased a new chain saw and decided to get a new fuel can for it. I did not have any having disposed of such prior to our move to Co from Mi. I now go to garage sales looking for them.

Big government can sneak up on you and stab you in the back before truth puts its shoes on.

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14 Oct 2013 11:36 #6 by Grady
I bought one of those cans last year for my chain saw, now I know why it is such a PITA to use.

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14 Oct 2013 11:57 #7 by RenegadeCJ
Agree with the junky gas cans. I used to spill more gas with the vent free than I ever spilled with the vent ones.

I did find a great solution for the larger cans (filling up a truck, etc). A shaker siphon. We use these on the lake, and never spill a drip.

http://www.amazon.com/Hopkins-FloTool-1 ... gas+siphon

I'd highly recommend purchasing one for anyone who is unlucky enough to not have a old vent gas can.

Too bad future generations aren't here to see all the great things we are spending their $$ on!!

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14 Oct 2013 13:09 #8 by UNDER MODERATION
Replied by UNDER MODERATION on topic How Government Wrecked the Gas Can
Another big issue brought to you by the Linktard..

Hey "guys"...I have 7, 5 gallon plastic gas cans from the middle 90's with built in vent caps on them.... I'm calling then "Freedom Cans" and i'm selling them for $175 each..Also I have a good supply on incadecent light bulbs (aka Patriot bulbs)...100W..$10.95, $75W... $7.95 each

While supplies last

PM me

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15 Oct 2013 06:20 #9 by The Boss
Doug, some of us actually care how much oil is spilled into our water system.

So where can we meet so I can buy your cans, I will pay your gas to get there?

Plus, everyone knows they changed gas cans from red to blue. You will easily find these vented gas cans on the market, they are just mislabeled as aqua cans.

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15 Oct 2013 06:29 #10 by PrintSmith

WindPeak wrote: Thanks. I haven't ever purchased any of the new gas cans so not aware of this. I still have quite a few of the older type with vents. And not that I would be purchasing any in the near future but is it feasible to use a heavy duty water can?

from the article http://lfb.org/today/how-government-wre ... e-gas-can/

It wouldn’t surprise me to find, for example, a sudden proliferation of heavy-duty “water cans” in 1- and 5-gallon sizes, complete with nice spouts and vents, looking almost exactly like the gas cans you could get anywhere just a few years ago. How very interesting to discover this.

Of course, this law-abiding writer would never advocate buying one of these and using it for some purpose other than what is written on the package. Doing something like that would show profound disrespect for our betters in the bureaucracies. And if I did suggest something like that, there’s no telling the trouble that it would bring down on my head.

Of course you can, provided you are willing to risk a hefty fine for violating a federal law which makes it illegal to place gasoline, or any other flammable liquid, into a container not approved for that purpose. There were a few stories here and there about residents in New York and surrounding areas being issued a summons for putting gasoline into containers which were not approved for that purpose in the wake of Sandy. Government has to protect you from becoming a Darwin Award winner - that's its primary function after all, right?

But in all seriousness. There are other differences which make that a very bad idea. Water cans are not designed to contain fuel vapor and they lack the seals to contain them. While the plastic might not melt, that doesn't mean that the vapors won't escape looking for a source of ignition. Smaller lips, which increase the likelihood of spilling during transport is another one. Sure, you could do it, but you are giving Murphy a playground to explore.

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