Project Zomboid B42.19 Propane: Refill Welding Torch, Weights & Loot
Project Zomboid B42.19 Propane
Refill Welding Torch numbers, tank weight, and where tanks actually roll.
Propane is metalworking fuel, not generator gas
In Build 42.19, propane tanks fuel the Welding Torch—not generators (those still need gasoline). A full tank can fully refill an empty torch about 7 times (math below).
Loop: loot tanks → haul (weight 10) → Refill Welding Torch → batch welds.
Quick-Start (42.19)
Get the kit: Welding Torch + Welder Mask + tanks. Check each craft tooltip for exact tools—crowbar/screwdriver alone do not cover metal work.
Loot high-value stops first when available: BBQ-store propane crates, welding workshop fuel shelves, metal shops. Sweep propane BBQs for removable tanks on residential loops—solid volume, not the single best jackpot.
Haul with a vehicle when you can: full tank is weight 10 (empty 5). Refill at base before welding sessions.
Batch metalwork so torch uses (10 per full torch) are not spent on one-off tests without a plan.- Keep at least one non-empty tank at the workshop shelf and, if you drive, one spare for field refill.
2-minute loadout
| Slot | Bring | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hands | Reliable melee | Residential and shop runs still draw zombies |
| Bag capacity | Empty weight budget | Each full tank is 10 weight |
| Tools | Welding Torch + Welder Mask | Many metal crafts need mask tag; refill needs torch + tank |
| Optional | Car + spare fuel | Multi-tank hauls without encumbrance fights |
Propane Run Checklist
Printable checklist
Propane Run Checklist (B42.19) [ ] Welding Torch + Welder Mask in inventory [ ] Bag/vehicle free for Weight 10 tanks [ ] Priority: BBQ store / welding shop / metal shop if on route [ ] Residential: remove tank from propane BBQs when present [ ] Garage/shed metalwork crates and tool piles for the torch itself [ ] Return → craft “Refill Welding Torch” → store tanks on one shelf
Item stats (Build 42.19)
A full Welding Torch has 10 uses; a full Propane Tank holds 5000 tank units of fuel.
| Item | Weight full / empty | Full uses | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welding Torch |
1.0 / 0.3 | 10 | Refill from a Propane Tank |
| Propane Tank |
10.0 / 5.0 | 5000 tank units | Empty shells stay in inventory (weight 5) |
 Welder Mask |
Clothing (not fuel) | — | Required by many weld crafts (not for refill) |
Refill Welding Torch — steps and numbers
Craft Refill Welding Torch under Metalworking (quick craft):
- Inputs: one not-full Welding Torch and one not-empty Propane Tank (tank stays; torch is refilled).
- Transfer rate: each torch use filled costs 70 tank units.
- Full empty→full cost: 10 torch uses × 70 = 700 tank units.
- Full tank: 5000 units → 5000 / 700 ≈ 7.1 full empty-to-full refills (about seven full torches per full tank). Partial fills use a proportional share; empty tanks stop transferring.
Steps in-game
- Put a not-full Welding Torch and a not-empty Propane Tank where the craft UI can see them (inventory / reachable containers).
- Open crafting → Metalworking → Refill Welding Torch (or search “refill” / “torch”).
- Craft once; confirm torch fuel rose and tank fuel fell before you leave base.
- Empty tanks remain as weight-5 shells—still scrap value, not fuel.
If refill does not appear
- Torch is already full.
- Tank is empty.
- Items are on the ground out of reach or in a container the UI cannot access.
- Multiplayer safehouse/container rules block the items.
- Mask is for welding crafts, not for the refill recipe itself—missing mask does not block refill, but blocks many welds.
What propane is for (and what it is not)
Uses tank fuel for
- Refilling the Welding Torch (primary metalworking supply line).
- Propane BBQ furniture: insert/remove tank on propane BBQs (separate from torch refill).
Not a substitute for
- Generators — gasoline + maintenance.
- Propane lantern bottles — small lantern refill bottles and lantern recipes, not the large tank.
Metal dismantle / scrap tools
Read the target craft. Many scrap-metal jobs need Welding Torch uses + Welder Mask (and often wrench, file, or saws). Breaking scrap piles may use a metal saw, bolt cutters, or small saw instead. Crowbar/screwdriver alone are not a universal metal toolkit.
Sample weld torch uses (Build 42.19)
Torch uses are how many Welding Torch charges each craft spends. One full torch = 10 uses. Tank share ≈ uses × 70 / 5000 of a full tank (70 tank units per torch use when you refill).
| Craft | MetalWelding | Torch uses | ≈ full torches | ≈ full tank share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Wall Frame | 2 | 1 | 0.10 | 1.4% |
| Barricade Metal Sheet | 3 | 1 | 0.10 | 1.4% |
| Metal Fence (lvl1) | 3 | 2 | 0.20 | 2.8% |
| Barricade Metal Bar | 3 | 3 | 0.30 | 4.2% |
| Metal Wall (Basic) / Door Lvl1 | 3 | 4 | 0.40 | 5.6% |
| Big Double Pole Gate | 5 | 10 | 1.00 | 14% |
Many welds also consume Welding Rods and metal sheets/bars—plan those separately. Some crafts need magazine unlocks (e.g. Welder Monthly)—check the craft panel before you start.
Where tanks drop (relative loot priority)
Numbers below are relative tank odds for those container types in 42.19 (higher = more often when that table rolls). Sandbox loot multipliers still scale the world—these are not final percentages.
| Loot stop | Relative weight | Where it shows up | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Propane crates | 110 | BBQ store shelves | Best dedicated tank crates |
| Welding workshop fuel | 60 | Welding storage / workshop metal shelves | Workshop fuel shelves |
| Lab gas storage | 30 | Lab gas storage (map-dependent) | Bulk when present |
| Metalwork crates | 10 (late-game rolls) | Garage/shed/storage crates | With metal tools loot |
| Metal shop tools | 4 | Metal shop / fabrication counters & cabinets | Shop tool cabinets |
| BBQ crates & store shelves | 1 | BBQ-related crates/shelves | Moderate, not jackpot alone |
| Bins / derelict / junk lists | 0.001–0.005 | Trash, derelict, closets | Background noise only |
Welding Torch loot (separate from tanks)
Torch loot favors tool caches: metalwork crates, garage metalwork piles, welding workshop tools, mechanic shelves, generic tool crates, army hangar tools, and similar. Backyards feed tanks more often than torches—pair garage/tool rooms with residential BBQ sweeps.
Propane BBQs: furniture tanks, not a free jackpot
Propane BBQ furniture can hold a tank. Right-click for Remove Propane Tank when one is installed. If empty, the UI can show that it needs a tank and let you insert one from inventory. This is a world-object route next to container loot—not proof that every backyard is a high-odds stop.
- Dense suburbs: many BBQs → many checks with low travel cost. Good early volume when no BBQ store is nearby.
- Not “always full”: tank presence and fill depend on the object; treat each BBQ as a check, not a free full tank.
- When you need bulk: prioritize BBQ stores (propane crates) and welding workshops over endless house loops.
How many tanks? Convert from torch uses
Do not treat “2 / 4 / 6–10 tanks” as fixed game rules. Convert planned crafts → torch uses → tank units (×70) → full tanks (÷5000), then add a spare for travel. The sidebar planner does this for three sample projects.
| Sample project | Torch uses | Tank uses | Full tanks (math) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 wall frame + 1 metal sheet barricade | 2 | 140 | 0.03 + spare → keep 1 tank |
| 4× Metal Door Lvl1 + 4× door frame (4 uses each) | 32 | 2240 | 0.45 + spare → 1–2 tanks |
| 20× Metal Fence + 1 Double Gate | 20×2 + 10 = 50 | 3500 | 0.70 + spare → 2–3 tanks |
Carry and store (weight is the real limit)
- Full tank = 10 weight, empty = 5. Three full tanks are 30 weight before other gear.
- Torch = 1.0 / 0.3 — light enough to keep on you; still easy to misplace in multiplayer.
- Vehicles make multi-tank runs practical. On foot, short micro-runs beat one overloaded death walk.
- One shelf/crate for tanks, one for torch + mask + rods, so refill inputs stay next to each other.
Workshop Labels CRATE 1: Propane Tanks (full / partial / empty shells) CRATE 2: Welding Torch + Welder Mask + Welding Rods CRATE 3: Sheet metal / bars / pipes CRATE 4: Scrap feedstock for XP crafts RULE: Torch returns to CRATE 2 when not in use
FAQ
How many refills from one full tank?
About 7 full empty→full torch fills (5000 ÷ 700). Partial fills stack until the tank hits empty.
Do I need a welding mask to refill?
No for the Refill Welding Torch craft. Yes for many scrap/metal crafts that require a Welder Mask. Keep the mask with the torch anyway.
Why tanks without a torch?
Tanks favor fuel, BBQ, and workshop fuel stops; the torch favors tool caches. Hit metalwork crates, mechanic shelves, and welding workshop tool piles for the torch.
Should I carry a tank on foot?
Only for short jobs—weight 10 is punishing. Prefer a vehicle trunk stash for field refills.
Recap
Torch has 10 uses; full empty refill costs 700 tank uses; full tank ≈ 7 full refills; tank weight 10/5. Loot high-weight propane/welding lists and propane BBQs, then batch welds from a counted torch-use plan.
Numbers at a glance (Build 42.19)
| Topic | Value |
|---|---|
| Welding Torch weight / full uses | 1.0 / 0.3 · 10 uses |
| Propane Tank weight / capacity | 10.0 / 5.0 · 5000 tank units |
| Refill cost (empty → full torch) | 70 units per torch use · 700 per full fill · ≈7 fills per full tank |
| Top tank loot stops (relative) | Propane crates 110 · Welding workshop fuel 60 · Lab gas 30 |
| BBQ furniture | Remove / insert Propane Tank on propane BBQs |
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