Help needed converting a gas valve from natural gas to propane

I never thought this would be such a big problem. Local plumbers refuse to do it, local plumber supply shops have no idea what this is (when I show them the valve and ask for replacement on propane). I think the jets (orifices) don't matter as long as the valve is converted to the proper pressure of propane. I'm thinking I will just use the valve as is. I will simply turn the propane regulator on the propane tank very slightly to compensate for the higher pressure of the propane gas. I'm pretty sure those propane tanks are safe enough to try this.

I agree with Allan, the jets will need replacing.

Its not the higher pressure but the higher calorific value of a propane/butane gas that matters.

Could be time to check life and any other insurances you have.......

Mate..do yourself and those around you a favour. 40+ year old valve..BIN IT.
If you have to use the unit then change the ENTIRE gas sytem over. Depends how much value you put on yours and other people lives.
cheers

I am no gass expert, but aparantly there is an issue changing between gass types...if the gass, the jetting and the preasure don't match, a situation I know as " gassing out" can occur, where the flame stands up off the burner and excess unburnt gass can escape....thus potentially causing an explosion or axphixiation.

There is a famous case where a fat indian stewed himself in his own bath..after incorrectly rigging up a gass ring to heat his bath water warm.

they think, He fell asleap and died from asphixiation, while the gass burner stewed his body till the gass bottle ran out.

the story goes that when they found him there was a thick layer of congieled fat on top of the bath water with the shin bones & feet sticking out.

The place must not have blown up because the correct mix ratio did not occur.

Serioulsy don't mess arround with running stuff off the wrong gas.

cheers

The advice given so far is spot on. Bin It. if its 40 year old gas equipment, it should have been replaced 20 years ago!

A story comes to mind of a bloke on his first parachute jump.
He jumped, pulled the rip cord and nothing happened.
Same thing with the emergency chute.
As he raced to earth, he was amazed to see another bloke coming up,
as fast as he was going down.
"what do ya know about parachutes?" he asked as they passed.
"Bugger all", came the reply followed by "what ya know about gas BBQs ?"

Sigh, ok. I don't want to be going up like that. But I really wanted to see how this device does work. It can be used like a small incinerator, and that is why I had it shipped from Kansas to Massachusetts a few months ago. Had some hard time finding it on Craigslist before that. And now after all investments and troubles and waiting all that's stopping me is the LP conversion. I never thought this would turn into such a problem. Of course I would happily bin the valve if I only could find a modern replacement. I took the valve with me to different gas plumber shops in the area. Most of them wouldn't sell to not licensed individuals like me, and in the one shop who does sell to everybody they could not find a replacement in a 500+ page catalog. Searching under the brand and serial number of the valve on their computers also brought nothing.

OK, thanks for all advice. If anybody has an idea I didn't think of, you can always email me - at_grigorov@yahoo.com. I'd gladly pay to a qualified person to either convert my current valve or help me find a replacement for propane. I'm freezing the project till then, won't be trying to become accidental astronaut.