Anyone convert cheap LP burner to Nat Gas?

[Bobby_M]

So I'm looking for a natural gas burner to do 10g batches in a 15gal keggle. I know those jet burners will work but I'm trying to be cheap and not drop $60 on one.

I found the burners on Agrisupply which are the same ones as http://www.thegrillstoreandmore.com/burners.asp that go for under $15.

Agrisupply claims "can not use for nat gas, orifice is too small". OK, so the orifice is the little brass fitting that restricts the flow of gas into the tube that sucks air in along with the fuel. Anyone venture a guess if simply drilling the orifice out larger would make it compatible with natural gas?

 

[rdwj]

I have no idea if that would work or not, but want to go on record as saying that it sounds like a REALLY bad idea.

 

[Bobby_M]

Ok, noted. But what bad things do you think may happen? More gas may flow, etc, but I don't imagine any explosions will occur.

 

[Lil' Sparky]

Don't they have conversion kits at the HW store to switch a system from LP to NG? Are those just for grills?

If you don't already have the burner you're trying to convert, I wouldn't bother spending the money and then trying to southern engineer it. However if you do, I say go ahead and try opening the orafice hole ever so slightly? If it doesn't work or you can't get a nice flame out of it, then you've only lost the $2 for a replacement orafice. I don't think you'll be risking an explosion, but then again, I'm not a NG expert, either.

 

[Erbium:YAG]

Essentially it's very easy to do. You are correct about drilling out the orifice. I would definitely drill out a bit at a time, just to be sure you don't open it up too much. The only problem with going from LP to natural gas is that you sacrifice nearly 2/3 the BTUs. A cubic foot of natural gas contains something like 1,000 BTUs of energy. One cubic foot of propane contains perhaps 2,500 BTUs...something to think about.

 

[attitude]

you should be able to find a NG orifice. they just unscrew out