CO2 Tank on the Cheap

[FloppyKnockers]

Yep. I have calling airgas on my to-do list for today.

BTW - I had called the only other gas place driving distance from me (Nexair) a couple days ago to get updated prices and the guy told me the recert period was 5 yrs for aluminum tanks but was 10 yrs for steel. I had never heard that before. I thought it was 5 for all tanks. Is he wrong?

That is my experience. I have nitro and CO2 tanks. Nitro is steel and CO2 is aluminum in most cases. I just swapped my 2015 nitro and didn't have to pay the recertification. Pretty sure the recert should be the same price in either case though.

 

[agentbud]

@FloppyKnockers , when I zoom in on the picture of the tops of those tanks, I think I can see the certification dates on one of them. A little hard to make out but it looks like original date was 9 ^ 8? (Sept of 8?) and a recert date of 3 ^ 92 (Mar of 92). Hopefully between shipping cost and recert fee it will still be worth it...

Also, when you do pick them up, let me know what size tanks those are. Definitely bigger than 5# but I can't tell if they are 10 or 20

 

[FloppyKnockers]

@FloppyKnockers , when I zoom in on the picture of the tops of those tanks, I think I can see the certification dates on one of them. A little hard to make out but it looks like original date was 9 ^ 8? (Sept of 8?) and a recert date of 3 ^ 92 (Mar of 92). Hopefully between shipping cost and recert fee it will still be worth it...

Also, when you do pick them up, let me know what size tanks those are. Definitely bigger than 5# but I can't tell if they are 10 or 20

No doubt they're out of date. If I was a betting man, I'd say those are definitely 20 pounders. I went from 5# to 20# some years ago and it was probably one of the best upgrades I've ever done. I keep a 5# to the side when the 20# dies.

From the minimal research I've done, from my zip to yours, assuming 25 lbs, in a box, empty, it should cost somewhere around $25 for ground shipping and maybe about the same for recertification, plus whatever it is to fill/swap. I think that most AirGas stores don't charge for recert because they charge a bit more for swaps.

 

[agentbud]

Yeah, I will definitely do around $25 for shipping. I talked to my local airgas store and he told me as long as the tank is in decent shape (ie no major pitting or rust and doesn't look like it sat in a farm field for years) they usually do not check the date or charge extra for recert. Let me know once you have your hands on them and we will work out payment for the shipping. Hopefully those kegs are all in decent shape for you - I sure would've snagged that deal if I lived closer.

 

[eliastheodosis]

I'd say those are definitely 20 pounders

Yeah, definitely 20lb cylinders.

from my zip to yours, assuming 25 lbs, in a box, empty

Not sure how much it varies but the tare weight on my steel 20 pounder is 34lbs...

 

[IslandLizard]

I talked to my local airgas store and he told me as long as the tank is in decent shape (ie no major pitting or rust and doesn't look like it sat in a farm field for years) they usually do not check the date or charge extra for recert.

My emphasis ^
Those 2 tanks (judging from the picture in the eBay link) look like they could easily fit clause #2...

Although the tank is likely to be fine, I don't know if or how it would clean up.

 

[agentbud]

My emphasis ^
Those 2 tanks (judging from the picture in the eBay link) look like they could easily fit clause #2...

Although the tank is likely to be fine, I don't know if or how it would clean up.

Maybe, but as long as @FloppyKnockers doesn't see anything "really" bad with them, it's prolly worth the shipping cost to give it a try.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Maybe, but as long as @FloppyKnockers doesn't see anything "really" bad with them, it's prolly worth the shipping cost to give it a try.

If you're anything like me, you're dying to know what's up. I just got back from picking them up and in spite of their age, they're in great condition. Here are a couple pics of the valve and the dates. . I've got a lot going on today, but will give more info when I can. Even though I think Airgas would take either tank, I think the maroon one is in the best condition.

 

[agentbud]

If you're anything like me, you're dying to know what's up. I just got back from picking them up and in spite of their age, they're in great condition. Here are a couple pics of the valve and the dates. . I've got a lot going on today, but will give more info when I can. Even though I think Airgas would take either tank, I think the maroon one is in the best condition.

That is awesome! How were the kegs? Hopefully all 7 are usable for you. When you do get time, just work up shipping on the tank (whichever one you feel is best) and PM me and I can PayPal you the money. I'll PM you my full address

 

[FloppyKnockers]

That is awesome! How were the kegs? Hopefully all 7 are usable for you. When you do get time, just work up shipping on the tank (whichever one you feel is best) and PM me and I can PayPal you the money. I'll PM you my full address

I think the kegs are going to be just fine. Three of them are filled with Big Red, Sprite, and RC Cola syrup and still have the plastic caps on the posts from the distributer. Part of me wants to try one - the other part of me doesn't want to die from old soda syrup.

I took the least full one, emptied it, lubed the big o-ring and pressurized it. It's holding just fine. I anticipate the other ones will be fine as well. I do have to replace two of the lids because they are from pin lock kegs (no manual pressure release ring). Some cleaning, maybe an o-ring here and there. This was definitely one of those finds that don't come along every day.

 

[bracconiere]

definatly an full o-ring replacement here

FTFY....

 

[eliastheodosis]

Three of them are filled with Big Red, Sprite, and RC Cola syrup and still have the plastic caps on the posts from the distributer. Part of me wants to try one

Yeah, my brain tries to pull that sort of stuff on me too I took a handful of yeast cake to give it a sniff the other day. It didn't smell half bad and immediately my brain just whispers..."go on, have a taste"

 

[bracconiere]

my brain just whispers..."go on, have a taste"

yeast is good with milk, and vanilla

 

[agentbud]

Hey, me too, I'm in Florence.

@MajorJC - If you do homebrew competitions, Clinton does one each August call Red Brick Brew as part of the Red Brick Roads festival. If interested, let me know and I'll send you the sign-up info when they announce it. In addition to the competition, entrants serve their beers during the festival. Lots of fun.

 

[TheBluePhantom]

Three of them are filled with Big Red, Sprite, and RC Cola syrup and still have the plastic caps on the posts from the distributer. Part of me wants to try one - the other part of me doesn't want to die from old soda syrup.

What? You're not going to dilute some with water and throw some wine yeast in there? After that long the preservatives might actually let it ferment....

I got one with just a touch of pepsi syrup a few year back, Keg was marked Pepsi Italia, and it smelled great. It is mostly sugar
after all...

 

[MajorJC]

If interested, let me know and I'll send you the sign-up info when they announce it.

Depending on how my brews turn out this spring and summer I actually may be interested in participating. Please let me know when they announce this years competition. I spent 5 years on the Clinton Fire Department at the beginning of my FD career. I sat on the front porch of station 6 during more than one red brick festival.
Thanks

 

[agentbud]

Depending on how my brews turn out this spring and summer I actually may be interested in participating. Please let me know when they announce this years competition. I spent 5 years on the Clinton Fire Department at the beginning of my FD career. I sat on the front porch of station 6 during more than one red brick festival.
Thanks

Is station #6 the one that used to sit at the intersection of capitol and main, where the old water tower was, next to MCs band hall?

 

[MajorJC]

Is station #6 the one that used to sit at the intersection of capitol and main, where the old water tower was, next to MCs band hall?

Oh Shoot,
My old man brain got my memories mixed up. The station 6 I was thinking of was in Vicksburg during the second chapter of my FD career. When I was on the Clinton FD, I was at the station next to MC's band hall, and then at station 2 next to the high school.
I never went to the Brick street festival in Clinton. It was Vicksburg where those memories came from.

 

[agentbud]

When I was on the Clinton FD, I was at the station next to MC's band hall.

Small world. I live directly across the street from where the station next to MCs band hall used to be. I hated when they tore it down. We enjoyed having y'all as neighbors across the street. It's just a plain ole parking lot now.

 

[bracconiere]

hey @agentbud , let me and everyone else know how much a swap is on that tank, i need a heads up. There's probably other people that would be curious also...


i got the other one sitting here....

 

[agentbud]

In my area I am pretty limited on CO2 sources. It's pretty much Airgas or drive a long way. They swapped that 20 pounder I got from @FloppyKnockers for $41. They did not care (or did not even look) that it was last stamped in 1998. Considering I was paying $25 for a 5 lb swap, this seems like a great deal. I picked up a CGA320 to CGA320 transfer hose from Amazon (NTSUMI CO2 Tank Filling Station Charging Adapter with 60Inch Hose Fit for Filling Soda Machine CGA320 to CGA320 Threaded CO2 Tank) for $32 so now I can refill my 5 lb tanks from the 20 lb and that equates to $10.25 per fill or a savings of almost $15 each time I refill a 5 lb vs swapping it. The added benefit is this allows me to keep using the 5 lb tanks which are easier to move and less loss if I spring a leak!