firefly765
Well-Known Member
I came across a c-list ad for 2 CO2 cylinders. The lady says they are for welding. Can they be used for homebrew?
Co2 welding cylinders????
- Thread starter firefly765
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Indeed they can, and those are actually the most common CO2 cylinders out there.
bja
Well-Known Member
Check the latest date stamped on the cylinder, If it's more than 5 years ago, the tank will need hydro tested.
Clayton
Well-Known Member
and even still a hydro test is only 30 bucks or so
dogtailale
Well-Known Member
OP
OP
firefly765
Well-Known Member
Well, I pulled the trigger. 20 bucks for a 10 lb and a 20 lb. I figure i can't go wrong. I didn't realize, the 20 is huge! Looks like it's time to find a regulator now.
dogtailale
Well-Known Member
OP
OP
firefly765
Well-Known Member
I'm definitely keeping the 10. I already have what i believe is a 5 now. It's the 20 that's a beast! My plan is to use the 10 for serving pressure for 3 kegs & use the 5 for force carbing.
JadeMonkeyStang
Well-Known Member
Ouch, $30? Just had my 20# hydrotested for $12 at a fire extinguisher company. The small paintball tank I had tested cost me $17 though, which I found kind of amusing.
Clayton
Well-Known Member
i was saying worst case, i dont pay that much ether
shortyjacobs
Well-Known Member
Wow, $20 total? AWESOME deal.
I always exchange tanks, so no worries about hydrotesting...you might find the same. Also, I love using my 15# for my kegerator, with the 10# as a backup. Costs to exchange at my local place are $12 for a 5#, $14 for 10#, $15.50 for 15#, and $18 for 20#, so it definitely makes sense to use the biggest tank possible!
I always exchange tanks, so no worries about hydrotesting...you might find the same. Also, I love using my 15# for my kegerator, with the 10# as a backup. Costs to exchange at my local place are $12 for a 5#, $14 for 10#, $15.50 for 15#, and $18 for 20#, so it definitely makes sense to use the biggest tank possible!
That is a pretty amazing deal. I thought I hit the jackpot when I scored two full 20# tanks for $75.
JadeMonkey,
where'd you get the PB tank tested? I have one I need to get tested.
B
where'd you get the PB tank tested? I have one I need to get tested.
B
SweetSounds
Well-Known Member
The only reason in my mind to pay for a hydro test is if you have a nice shiny aluminum tank and you can actually find a place that fills instead of swapping.
I've taken several tanks to the exchange, and they have yet to look at the date. I even pointed it out once - He didn't care...
I've taken several tanks to the exchange, and they have yet to look at the date. I even pointed it out once - He didn't care...
JadeMonkeyStang
Well-Known Member
I took mine to Approved Fire Protection in South Plainfield, NJ. I was very happy with their prices and service and will definitely use them in the future.
If they're not close to you, anyone who services fire extinguishers will either be able to test your tanks or will know of someone who can.
SankePankey
Well-Known Member
More places swap than fill while waiting. Took me a little while to find one to fill. Don't bother going to a paintball shop. I had to call the local beer distributor to ask who does their refilling and then I was good. Airgas was useless.
Dwain
Well-Known Member
One of the LHBS fills CO2 cylinders. They do it from a cylinder in the back (the cylinder is about the size of a standard O2 cyl. on a cutting torch setup). I know their setup is not too elaborate, so I will ask how they do it next time I'm in, but that might be an idea to use the 20# for refilling your 5#. - Dwain
SweetSounds
Well-Known Member
Our CO2 cylinders are plumbed different than the ones they fill tanks with - The tanks for filling have a dip tube (Kinda like our cornys) to push liquid CO2 into the receiving tank. If you hook a standard CO2 tank to an empty CO2 tank, you'll just get about 600 pounds of gas that will very quickly be gone.
Photomask
Well-Known Member
I refill my own. I have 3-20lb tanks and 1-20lb tank with a diptube. I have 4-5lb tanks I use in one kegerator & for force carbing and 2-20oz paintball tanks I use in the coolerator. Refilling is easy enough with simple equipment. If your supply tank has a diptube, use it upright. If your supply tank does not have a diptube, invert it. The only way to tell, for certain, how much liquid you have transferred is with a scale. Keep in mind you're working with upwards of 700lbs of pressure and your equipment & process determines your safety. If you are not absolutely certain about your equipment and what you are doing, take it to somebody else to get it filled. Avoid making the news....
As for the economics of it:
My LBHS charges $2.50 per pound to fill. So $12.50 for a 5lb bottle.
My local welding supply charges $11.50 to swap out a 20lb bottle.
They charge $11.00 to swap out a 10lb bottle.
(It doesn't take much effort to figure out that CO2 doesn't cost much but the labor of connecting the bottles and moving things around does. Hence the scant 50 cent difference between a 20lb bottle and a 10lb bottle.)
I bought almost all of my CO2 bottles used and very cheap. I have never paid to hydro test. The welding supply just swaps them out. The fittings and valves for the fill rig came from decommissioned equipment at work and the scale, a Mettler Toledo, came from craigslist for $15. (Disclaimer: I weld too and own a lot of various gas bottles. I do a fair amount of business with the welding supply. I take them a box of donuts every once-and-a-while so I may get preferential treatment.
)
