Safety of disposable oxygen tanks

NicePelos · 04-08-2009, 11:19 AM

Anyone know the safety of using the disposable oxygen tanks you get from the hardware store? It's not medical grade, but the cheap regulators you can get on home brew websites recommend their use.

**Schlenkerla** · 04-08-2009, 01:11 PM

I have yet to do something with mine. I'm thinking that they might be returnable. I need to look at them closer. If they are not returnable I'm gonna drop them in a wal-mart bag and into the trash they will go.

BTW - Welcome to HBT. I grew up in Brookfield.

I have relatives in North Riverside.

**Revvy** · 04-08-2009, 01:13 PM

I've been keeping mine too wondering what to do with them.

cgruelle · 04-08-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

I've been keeping mine too wondering what to do with them.

On the first Saturday of every month, the county I live in will take things like these, propane tanks, oil, paint, and such. Check with your county and see if they do something like that.

**GilaMinumBeer** · 04-08-2009, 01:23 PM

Some of the Lowes stores will take them back. Some of the recyclers will even take them "if" they don't notice the valve is in place.

I found I had waaaaay too many of these empties and opted instead to go with a re-fillable bottle. Turns out the regulator I had for those lil red bottles would creep up and I'd waste a bottle quickly.

**bendavanza** · 04-08-2009, 01:27 PM

They are steel, so they are recyclable. If your city doesn't take the metal, there will be a metal recycler somewhere who will. Don't expect much cash but it's better than the landfill.
If you are asking if they are ok for aerating wort, there are small sanitary filters that you use inline to prevent anything nasty from getting into your beer.
I've read a lot about medical vs welding grade o2 and it's basically the same.

**Bobby_M** · 04-08-2009, 01:29 PM

Check with your town recycling center. Mine allows drop offs of all kinds of stuff and they definitely have a section for pressure tanks. That's where I scored a free O2 regulator ;-) gloat.

**GilaMinumBeer** · 04-08-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdavanza

They are steel, so they are recyclable. If your city doesn't take the metal, there will be a metal recycler somewhere who will. Don't expect much cash but it's better than the landfill.
If you are asking if they are ok for aerating wort, there are small sanitary filters that you use inline to prevent anything nasty from getting into your beer.
I've read a lot about medical vs welding grade o2 and it's basically the same.

Ayup. AFAIK the only real difference is that the medical grade stuff is "source traceable" and I have even read that many industrial grade suppliers actually provided a purer product to welders.

**Schlenkerla** · 04-08-2009, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

Check with your town recycling center. Mine allows drop offs of all kinds of stuff and they definitely have a section for pressure tanks. That's where I scored a free O2 regulator ;-) gloat.

Good point! - I should call Lowes then Waste Managment.

**Homercidal** · 04-08-2009, 03:12 PM

Never seen these. Any pics? I just shake to aerate my wort, but these things might be useful for some other purpose some day. I assumed you had to get O2 from a medical supply shop.