Co2 filled in MA

[zachattack]

I called Strange Brew in Marlborough yesterday and thought I would report what I found for the betterment of beermanity. Their exchange program requires a "buy in" with the purchase of a full 5lb tank for $130, and then the cost for a swap is always $5 cheaper than the general rate. The current 5 lb exchange rates are $20 if you're in the program and $25 otherwise.

A new, full 5 lb tank is $100 without buying into the exchange program.

I also checked with Homebrew Emporium in Cambridge last week and they were charging $100 for a 5 lb tank, and ~$26 for an exchange. I think it was $26.95, but I can't remember exactly.

If you're in Waltham just go to Keane Fire. Super nice guys and convenient hours, they open at 6 or 7AM or something. They don't fill while you wait, but their prices are reasonable for this area. My 10 lb tank is about $20-25 to fill.

 

[BeerGrylls]

If you're in Waltham just go to Keane Fire. Super nice guys and convenient hours, they open at 6 or 7AM or something. They don't fill while you wait, but their prices are reasonable for this area. My 10 lb tank is about $20-25 to fill.

I found out that Boston Fire Extinguisher in Lynn will do fills. $20 while you wait, only $10 if you go back the next day. And speedway in Gloucester was a good tip. Easy to get to, and good people.

 

[zachattack]

Wow that's a great price for sure. Considering I live in Somerville and work in Waltham/Newton, so many of these places are just way out of my way and not worth it.

I suggested Keane Fire to majoragee just because it's in Waltham and so is he!

 

[NBBC13]

I live in Waltham, this place is great. Friendly service and good hours if you work a 9 to 5 (open at 6:30 or 7 I think).

Just to clarify, Keane in Waltham is open 7-4 M-F. very convenient for me.

I've been using them for about 2 years now. Could not be happier with their service. Friendly.

 

[dancemyth]

Barleycorn's in Natick does tank swaps, but they're expensive. $30 for 5#.

 

[obie]

anybody have an experience with airgas in auburn?

 

[wickedpissa]

just gonna throw this out here in this post. Anyone want to swap a 5lb co2 tank for my 7lb? Mine won't fit in my new kegerator. It's tall and skinny and perfect for a keezer.

 

[BeerGrylls]

Beer and Wine Hobby in Woburn now does 5lb tank swaps for 25 iirc.

 

[breyton]

A few more options for S. NH and Mass.

Billerica MA
AirGas: tank swaps only 20lb - $47.27

Nashua NH
Jaspers Homebrew
20lb tank swap - $39
also does 5lb swaps.. no info on price

 

[Callacave]

Adding this in as well for the Beer gas/Stout tap people....

Strange Brew in Marlboro fills 5lb Co2 tanks with Beer Gas 75%/25% for $35

Went to Air Gas in Salem, NH as well as Granite Industrial Gasses, and they wouldn't fill my Co2 tank with Beer Gas.

I think these people are just lazy to put an adapter on to fill the Nitrogen portion. They both gave me lip service about the higher pressures...blah blah blah, when in fact a Co2 aluminum tank can hold Beer Gas fine. Plus a Taprite regulator is good up to 3,000 psi, so there should't be any issues.

 

[Hovik]

Just moved to "Winchesta" from the west coast. Before I left I kegged my last brew and put it on gas in the moving truck and drove 3K miles - called it the cost-to-coast IPA. When I pulled into Boston and plugged in the kegerator - t'was flat - no gas (wasn't much in there when we left, guess it got absorbed). Every where I called was swapping but I didn't want to give up my shiny tank I purchased new. Finally found Igo's Welding in Watertown that filled my 5# tank for $25 - a bit pricey given I paid $15 in L.A. but I don't mind paying a bit more to keep my tank.

 

[BeerGrylls]

Arco in Malden is around 17 for a tank fill IIRC. Welcome to MA.

 

[Calico Jack]

I second Arco and they are open on Saturday mornings, which is a win.

 

[aslander]

Just to add to the thread to keep it updated:

Keane Fire Supply, Waltham = 5lb for $18, 20lb for $31
-They fill them. You drop them off and come back the next day. Won't do it on the spot. More paranoid about the tank dates and inspections. They do hydro testing for $20.

Igo Welding, Watertown - 5lb for $18
Fill on the spot while you wait.

Airgas - Effing ripoff $47 for a 20lb tank swap. I think 5lb was around $30

Greenlife Growing Supply, Billerica (think other locations too) - $17 for a 20lb swap!!

I really lucked out recently looking on Craigslist. Found a guy selling a 20lb tank for $60. I picked that up from him and then drove it over to the hydroponic growing place that was advertising on Craigslist. They swapped it for $17. All in all, paid $77 for a full 20lb tank!

 

[BeerGrylls]

Just to add to the thread to keep it updated:

Keane Fire Supply, Waltham = 5lb for $18, 20lb for $31
-They fill them. You drop them off and come back the next day. Won't do it on the spot. More paranoid about the tank dates and inspections. They do hydro testing for $20.

Igo Welding, Watertown - 5lb for $18
Fill on the spot while you wait.

Airgas - Effing ripoff $47 for a 20lb tank swap. I think 5lb was around $30

Greenlife Growing Supply, Billerica (think other locations too) - $17 for a 20lb swap!!

I really lucked out recently looking on Craigslist. Found a guy selling a 20lb tank for $60. I picked that up from him and then drove it over to the hydroponic growing place that was advertising on Craigslist. They swapped it for $17. All in all, paid $77 for a full 20lb tank!

Thanks for the heads-up about the place in Billerica. I think I'll use them in the future!

 

[dyqik]

Arco Welding in Malden fills CO2 tanks.

I'll add that they are open Saturday mornings until noon or so.

 

[zachattack]

Just to add to the thread to keep it updated:

Keane Fire Supply, Waltham = 5lb for $18, 20lb for $31
-They fill them. You drop them off and come back the next day. Won't do it on the spot. More paranoid about the tank dates and inspections. They do hydro testing for $20.

I just dropped my 10 lb tank off at Keane this morning, last time I remember paying ~$20. I'll update tomorrow with the latest pricing. I literally pass that place on the way to work, so even if their pricing is a couple bucks more than some competitors it's so convenient for me that I wouldn't go elsewhere.

Update: It was $20 even. I got the impression it should normally cost a couple bucks more but they just wanted to make it easy and not open up the office.

 

[uhhitsjames]

Anyone know if the Greenlife Supply place in Billerica does 5lbs fills. Their site says 20lbs refill for $25. I know aslander said he did a 20lbs swap for $17. Wonder if they only deal with 20lbs.

 

[aslander]

No they only do 20lb swaps. It's worth it though. I only had a 5lb and was going through it 3x a year. It was too time consuming so totally worth it for me to buy a 20lb. Just think that refilling a 5lb 4 times would cost you 80+... not counting all your time. You basically break even after 1 swap of the 20lb.

 

[InterstitialFrog]

Arco Welding Supply in Malden was $35.64 ($28.88 for the gas + $4.95 hazardous material handling charge + $1.81 MA sales tax) for a 20 lb tank fill.

I was in and out in about fifteen minutes. They seemed perfectly nice. My only question is the "hazardous material handling charge." I assume that's their filling fee or labor cost; it doesn't seem unreasonable. Is it normal?

 

[BeerGrylls]

What's hazardous, the co2 (like the stuff we humans exhale) or the steel?

 

[Eugenio]

Just went to Tolman's in Southie to fill my oxygen tank. $12 for a 5CF tank. Extremely fast refill, was in and out in like 5-10 minutes. The person working was very nice and helpful.

They also do hydro test, and do CO2 and beer gas.

 

[theshoe82]

Had a hydro test on a few CO2 tanks and they also filled them the other day at Keane Fire Safety in Waltham, MA.

Recert was about $26, fill on a 20LB tank was $33.

 

[Museman11]

I live in Plainville. Anyone have any experience with any places around this area? I occasionally work in Waltham, so that could be a possibility. I just got a brand new 5lb tank that I will be using for 6 taps. I would rather not switch it out since it's brand new, but I know I will need to refill regularly. And Waltham is a hike...

 

[old-pasture-brew]

Two thumbs up for dmi gasses. In and out in minutes and you get full fills every time. 👍👍👍

 

[dmofot]

Just wanted to drop a couple of quick link updates. The old list of CO2 places was removed from the Boston Wort Processors site, because the wiki just accrued too much spam. The new link is here:

Boston Wort Processor CO2 Locations

If you need a full screen map, that's here.

All the information is kept in a Google Docs Spreadsheet, so if the site ever does away or the link changes, the information should still be available...unlike the wiki, ha.

DT

 

[dancemyth]

Maine Oxy in Milford.
Great guys. Only does swaps (no refills).
Will also do upgrades. I gave them 2 empty 5# tanks, including one that was out of date, and they gave me a full 20# tank.
I haven't refilled yet (or, actually, swapped), but I think their price for 20# was around $30, which is pretty close to what I was paying for 5# swaps in Natick.

 

[mccabedoug]

Maine Oxy in Milford.
Great guys. Only does swaps (no refills).
Will also do upgrades. I gave them 2 empty 5# tanks, including one that was out of date, and they gave me a full 20# tank.
I haven't refilled yet (or, actually, swapped), but I think their price for 20# was around $30, which is pretty close to what I was paying for 5# swaps in Natick.

I second this place. Nice guys and good prices. I swapped out a 10 lb tank for around $25 I think. That price was for a tank that had expired and was swapped with one of their tanks. Glad I found the place.

 

[LJvermonster]

Anyone know of a place near Franklin?

 

[cosmic]

I go to DMI Gases in Hyde Park. Actually in Readville which is a section of Hyde Park. They fill your tank while you wait. They also offer beer gas mix and sell tanks of all sizes. I found them online at dmigases.com