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Corbin · 08-25-2008, 05:03 PM

I bought 2 soda kegs at a garage sale for less than $30. To compliment my newly acquired stainless steel beauties, I decided to get a CO2 tank, lines, fittings... the list goes on.

Now I've got this brand new shiny CO2 tank from Northern Brewer and I call the local gas place (Airgas - here in Johnson City, TN) and am told that they don't fill the tanks there. They keep filled tanks on hand and will have to swap me for a used filled one. Maybe I'm being childish, but the idea of handing over my brand new shiny tank in exchange for some frat's banged up 3 year old bottle with remnants of a "NOS" sticker still on the side doesn't appeal to me. What is more common for you to do: exchange your tank, or wait for it to get filled when you walk in?

Does anyone have any insight into the secrets of gas dealers in northeast TN?

wildwest450 · 08-25-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corbin

I bought 2 soda kegs at a garage sale for less than $30. To compliment my newly acquired stainless steel beauties, I decided to get a CO2 tank, lines, fittings... the list goes on.

Now I've got this brand new shiny CO2 tank from Northern Brewer and I call the local gas place (Airgas - here in Johnson City, TN) and am told that they don't fill the tanks there. They keep filled tanks on hand and will have to swap me for a used filled one. Maybe I'm being childish, but the idea of handing over my brand new shiny tank in exchange for some frat's banged up 3 year old bottle with remnants of a "NOS" sticker still on the side doesn't appeal to me. What is more common for you to do: exchange your tank, or wait for it to get filled when you walk in?

Does anyone have any insight into the secrets of gas dealers in northeast TN?

I live in middle TN and there's simply no place to get a bottle filled. So you have to exchange tanks. I don't blame you, it sucks to give up a brand new tank. You could always sell the new tank on ebay and buy a used one. Also you can "buy" a filled one from the gas company and just trade that until you can find a place to fill your new one, mabey a fire extinguisher company.

jspence1 · 08-25-2008, 05:24 PM

Check out the local fire control places. They are the best prices in my area and they FILL it while you wait.

good luck
John

johnsma22 · 08-25-2008, 05:26 PM

Here is a Google Search Result for fire extinguishers near Johnson City, TN. I'll bet that one or more of them will fill your new CO2 tank while you wait. I didn't want to exchange my nice, new aluminum CO2 tanks that I got from Micromatic. I found 5 fire extinguisher places within 5 miles of my house that fill tanks on the premises.

homebrewer_99 · 08-25-2008, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jspence1

Check out the local fire control places. They are the best prices in my area and they FILL it while you wait.

good luck
John

The guy at the welding shop won't fill while you wait because he puts the tank in the freezer for a while to get it chilled...you get more CO2 in a chilled tank than a warm one.

He said: unless you're in a hurry, anyone who fills a warm tank is ripping you off.

**Liquidicem** · 08-25-2008, 05:37 PM

That doesn't make a lot of sense if they fill by weight?

Dr Vorlauf · 08-25-2008, 05:39 PM

My local beer store fills tanks, another oprion.

wildwest450 · 08-25-2008, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Vorlauf

My local beer store fills tanks, another oprion.

HA! That's a good one. It would be helpful to have a local beer store. Most of Tennessee is dry, dry, dry.

homebrewer_99 · 08-25-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquidicem

That doesn't make a lot of sense if they fill by weight?

I don't know the science behind it, cold and density maybe, but others have said the same thing...

jspence1 · 08-25-2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homebrewer_99

The guy at the welding shop won't fill while you wait because he puts the tank in the freezer for a while to get it chilled...you get more CO2 in a chilled tank than a warm one.

He said: unless you're in a hurry, anyone who fills a warm tank is ripping you off.

I'm no expert but as far as I'm aware co2 tanks are filled by weight just like propane tanks the temperature of the tank should have nothing to do with the amount of co2 you get. You might get a short fill if the person filling doesn't have a booster pump and is just filling from another tank. you can also avoid this by venting some of the gas in the bottle this will rapidly cool the bottle. just like the paint ball guys fire off the remaining gas in the tank to cool it down before they fill them.

John