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Comment by throw0101a | Hacker News Reader

> I have a couple 5 gallon plastic gas containers. They are terrible in comparison.

There are terrible designs everywhere: read The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman.

Heck, even doors: the moment you have to put signs that say "push" and "pull" on a door you know it's a terrible design. Have a look at product reviews on American's Test Kitchen's YouTube channel, and things as 'simple' as spatulas and cooking pans can be have bad designs.

If you want old-school design "jerry cans", checkout Wavian for metal options:

* https://wavianusa.com/collections/nato-fuel-cans

For plastic (HDPE ) options in the same design language see Scepter:

* https://www.scepter.com/products/consumer-products/

Comparison discussion between the two:

* https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/scepter-mfc-vs-wa...

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  > Heck, even doors: the moment you have to put signs that say "push" and "pull" on a door you know it's a terrible design.

I recently pulled on a push door that had a pull handle. One of the condescending managers there asked if I could read. I answered that I always pull before I push to avoid merge conflicts. I have no idea if he understood.

why no rebase?

Because they’re Mercurial.

Non-clever response: https://www.mercurial-scm.org/wiki/RebaseExtension

I had to fight my metal-over-plastic instinct when it came to jerrycans. I've seen some metal ones rust internally and affect the stored liquid. Plastic ones are color coded which is another boon. They're lighter, and you can get them smaller than 20L.

Edit: some of the plastic designs get a bit excited with the molding and have fancy shapes. They look like they stack with other cans of the same brand. There are probably other benefits to their nice designs. But otherwise keep them rectangular and close to the original shape if carrying many/using them in frames designed for jerrycans (e.g. external storage on a 4WD).

We can't get Scepter MFC cans in the US, I've searched extensively. Not sure if that's due to California CARB or the federal save the children rules. We can overpay on ebay to buy them second hand from Canada though. It's a shame because I'd love to have a durable can that doesn't spill and leak like crazy like the newer ones. I'll probably try the Wavians, but plastic cans are superior to metal for my intended use so it's a compromise.

I got one on eBay. It says for military use only. So far I haven't been pulled over with it in my trunk.

> Heck, even doors: the moment you have to put signs that say "push" and "pull" on a door you know it's a terrible design.

As we get more and more doors whose design directly contradicts the action required to open the door, at some point the most robust design needs to include the “push” or “pull” sign because people know that nothing else about the door’s design is a reliable indication of the required action.

Oh yes, I read and have a copy of Norman's book. Every engineer should read it.

MidwayUSA makes these for HarborFreight now - https://www.harborfreight.com/5-gallon-jerry-can-99551.html

It advertises an "automatic shutoff". This may be the same wretched gas-spilling device on my gas can.

Buy a Wavian and the One True(TM) nozzle: https://armysurpluswarehouse.com/wavian-jerry-can-nozzle/

Also do a search for "shaker siphon" and "pump siphon". You may not have to use a nozzle for everything.

It is an automatic shutoff. You can always swap the spout/nozzle.

Do not buy a wavian. I have two wavians and they're absolutely terrible Jerry cans. Let me explain why. The wavian safety spout is absolutely terrible and the crux of the entire shitty UX that is this Jerry can. I have no idea what they were thinking. When you attach the spout it forms a seal by pressure as set by the clamping mechanism. This is a problem and I'll explain why in a minute. The spout works on a design that if you apply pressure, it will retract (like foreskin) and allow fuel to exit the spout. These two combined make a massive design flaw. Imagine you're filling up a lawn mower. You insert your spout into the gas inlet on the lawnmower. Now what? Two options. Press hard as hell into your lawnmower so the spout allows fuel to flow, or, try and retract the spout using your third hand. I can now no longer do either of these because the spout retraction is so damn stiff, the pressure I exert causes the seal to break that I mentioned earlier, the one that is created when you first attach the safety spout and latch it in place. You now have gas coming from two places. Top this off with the fact that my safety spout is now so stiff it sticks open, and it's a completely unsafe and useless Jerry can that I will recommend against until I die. This has happened on BOTH of my cans, and my father's, and my brother in law's. We all bought them from Costco a little while back. I'm tempted to upload a YouTube video of just how unsafe these Jerry cans are.

I bought two of the metal ones and they're terrible. The mechanism on the spout that allows it to retract is so stiff that it's basically a struggle to fill a lawnmower tank because you have to hold it back as the gas starts pouring out. Since the egress is round, you're bound to spill before you get it into the hole. If you don't hold it back you have to press it so hard into the lawnmower it starts leaking around the seal at the base. Idk how anyone can tolerate these cans.

> I bought two of the metal ones and they're terrible. […] a struggle to fill a lawnmower tank […]

Jerrycans (20L) were designed for semi-bulk filling of large-ish vehicles, not for low-volume top-ups of small-engine appliances. Perhaps you bought the wrong tool?

You can thank the US government for that, it's a federal requirement on all new gas canisters. It's supposedly to prevent accidental gas spillage but in my experience it makes the problem far worse. You can still find traditional spouts, but don't use them for gas they're for water only ;)

My current batch of fuel containers are all from Justrite.

They're expensive, but I don't have any issues with leaks. I have a 1-gallon for 2-stoke fuel, a 5-gallon for the gas mower, and another 5-gallon in yellow for diesel.

https://www.justrite.com/type-ii-accuflow-steel-safety-can-f...

I've had Wavians for a couple years. In our lake community, we get compliments about our gas cans. It's amazing how people respond when you build something well.

That is an excellent YouTube channel, the reviews in particular. Thank you.

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