Disposable oxygen bottles in Maryland

[rmr9]

I’ve been using the same small bernzomatic oxygen bottle with my oxygenation kit for a while now so I know it’s bound to kick at some point soon. Anyone in the DC/Maryland area have any idea of where to find these? Google yields me store after store with none in stock or available.

 

[VikeMan]

I've heard it's the same way in many places around the country. Fortunately I haven't been impacted because I switched to large, refillable cylinder format several years ago.

Do you have Ace Hardware or TruValue in your area? The little boutique hardware stores are sometimes the last to run out things.

 

[rmr9]

I’ve been trying to get a hold of a couple Ace hardware stores this afternoon but no such luck. The one I bought my last tank from is “temporarily closed” so that’s out as well. How expensive was the shift from disposable to refillable?

 

[Dr_Jeff]

I’ve been trying to get a hold of a couple Ace hardware stores this afternoon but no such luck. The one I bought my last tank from is “temporarily closed” so that’s out as well. How expensive was the shift from disposable to refillable?

A decent regulator is ~$20
Deposit on the bottle - depends on your vendor and bottle size
gas cost - pretty cheap - inline with co2

 

[VikeMan]

I’ve been trying to get a hold of a couple Ace hardware stores this afternoon but no such luck. The one I bought my last tank from is “temporarily closed” so that’s out as well. How expensive was the shift from disposable to refillable?

As I recall, the O2 cylinder cost about the same as a comparably sized CO2 cylinder. O2 regulator about $45. The best thing (after the initial investment) is that the big O2 tanks last a long time. Those little disposable benzomatic cylinders are insanely expensive for the amount of O2 contained.

 

[rmr9]

I might have to go the route of refillable. My only option it seems is to have my parents buy one back home at a small local shop and cart it with them next time they visit! Less than ideal…

 

[IslandLizard]

Have you looked on CL, Marketplace, or other local online private sales venues for an O2 tank?
I bought a 60 cf one, used and empty, for $60. Then had it swapped for a full 40 cf one for $9, IIRC. That was 5 years ago.
It should last me 20 brew lives...

Now, in hindsight, I should have had that 60cf one filled instead, at a different place. It was a much better looking tank.

 

[IslandLizard]

As an alternative, you could bubble (filtered) air through your wort for an hour, or longer, or do a second aeration 6-12 hours later.

Or use an air compressor at low psi !!! on your stone for 30'

 

[Mr. Vern]

Or use an air compressor at low psi !!!

Atmospheric air being only about 20% O2 would need more time, but plenty of brewers use it. Tried and True.

if you go this route.... definitely use one of the disposable sterile filters 0.2 micron at low pressure. For an air compressor I would even think about replacing it after each use. With an aquarium pump it will also serve to remove any airborne particulate.

Bacteria ranges from 1-10 microns, I have serious doubts about the efficiency of the disposable filters but they are better than nothing. I specialize in compressed gas treatment, compressed air will be wet and dirty and can provide an environment for bacterial or fungal growth especially in a tank-mounted unit (think dark, wet, plenty of O2).

I notice green O2 tanks online every now and then, probably a home breathing apparatus but would be very nice to have for brewing. Judging by the growing pile of red cylinders I have in my garage I might go this route myself. When I empty 1 red cylinder I start shopping for 2 more.

 

[murphyslaw]

I was going nuts 2 weeks ago trying to find one of these. Is this a supply chain thing or some change in law?

 

[eric19312]

I was going nuts 2 weeks ago trying to find one of these. Is this a supply chain thing or some change in law?

same here and haven't really solved it yet

last batch I used an air compressor through a hepa filter through my Spike carbonation stone for 15 minutes. Got a lot of foam in the fermentor but really fast strong start to fermentation. However I used new dry yeast packets and I think these are supposed to do fine even in oxygenated wort.

 

[VikeMan]

I was going nuts 2 weeks ago trying to find one of these. Is this a supply chain thing or some change in law?

Supply Chain is my understanding.

However I used new dry yeast packets and I think these are supposed to do fine even in oxygenated wort.

Yep. Modern dry yeast doesn't really need additional O2, because it already has "full" sterol reserves built before drying, so it wouldn't be using O2 to build more before fermentation.

 

[Mr. Vern]

a supply chain thing

I've heard rumors of CO2 and O2 being in short supply, I was working with a large brewery that is currently reviewing in-house N2 generation in lieu of CO2 for their transfer and bottling process.

 

[IslandLizard]

compressed air will be wet and dirty and can provide an environment for bacterial or fungal growth especially in a tank-mounted unit (think dark, wet, plenty of O2).

Yeah, compressor air must be filthy, you can smell it. Plus some add a plume of oil to it for good measure. Remember, compressor's have a drain plug for a reason.

Palmer's 3rd Ed. book shows a tube filled with cotton wool dampened with Starsan as a filter when using an aquarium pump.

Before buying an O2 tank, I always splashed the wort into the fermenter, then whisked for 3-5 minutes, creating a lot of foam. Better something than nothing.

 

[day_trippr]

The CO2 shortage thing is real and is the result of industries that produced CO2 as a by-product having dialed back or even shut down during the pandemic and that have yet to fully recover. It will resolve, eventually...

Cheers!

 

[rmr9]

If the CO2 shortage starts to hit me I’ll have to go back to straight cask ales again.

 

[rmr9]

I did see a couple listings on Craigslist but most were fairly expensive or kind of sketchy. Guess my current course of action is to have one brought down from WNY

 

[deuc224]

Invest in an o2 tank, its worth it in the end. If not, look on ebay for someone selling oxygen concentrators with flow meters attached to it.

 

[murphyslaw]

Something like this?

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/hab/d/manassas-oxygen-tanks/7499723723.html

 

[VikeMan]

Something like this?

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/hab/d/manassas-oxygen-tanks/7499723723.html

Those would work. But note that 8 of those 9 tanks are medical tanks and require a different type of regulator than the kind brewing supply stores normally sell. The largest one (that has a regulator attached in the pic, the kind brewing supply stores do sell) is non-medical.

 

[murphyslaw]

Those would work. But note that 8 of those 9 tanks are medical tanks and require a different type of regulator than the kind brewing supply stores normally sell. The largest one (that has a regulator attached in the pic, the kind brewing supply stores do sell) is non-medical.

Oh, that’s right. I guess I’ll keep looking for a smaller one. I don’t really want to store that big one.

Those little red tanks were great and lasted me a while.

 

[murphyslaw]

So a welding tank is more likely to have the right connection?

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tls/d/oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-hvac/7501798191.html

 

[IslandLizard]

But note that 8 of those 9 tanks are medical tanks and require a different type of regulator than the kind brewing supply stores normally sell.

And you'd probably need a prescription to get those filled.
They have a "yoke" connection, the regulator slides over it, then a large screw holds it in place. Easier to swap.
I've seen plenty of those yoke regs on eBay.

I bought a brand new regulator (flow controller) off eBay for $30 or so. It goes down to 1/32 liter per minute (1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 ... 2, 4, 8 l/m). I like those low settings when oxygenating starters or small jugs.

 

[VikeMan]

So a welding tank is more likely to have the right connection?

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tls/d/oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-hvac/7501798191.html

Yes, welding O2 tanks are what the regulators sold by brewing supply stores fit.

 

[Nate R]

And you'd probably need a prescription to get those filled.
They have a "yoke" connection, the regulator slides over it, then a large screw holds it in place. Easier to swap.

I bought a filled "Food Grade" oxygen tank. Uses the same medical yoke style regulator. Tank will last me forever
Expensive up front, but haven't spent a dime on oxygen since. Buy once cry once.
I am not Mr. Environmental at all, but thoose little red tanks were so wasteful for me.
What's nice about the yoke style is you can set the regulator by Liter per Minute. Easier to dial in your exact preference.

 

[VikeMan]

What's nice about the yoke style is you can set the regulator by Liter per Minute. Easier to dial in your exact preference.

Brewing supply store O2 regulators (that fit welding tanks) are also set by Liters per Minute.

 

[Nate R]

Brewing supply store O2 regulators (that fit welding tanks) are also set by Liters per Minute.

I did not know that... but that makes sense! My little el cheapo disposable regulator for the red tanks was not.

 

[deuc224]

So a welding tank is more likely to have the right connection?

https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/tls/d/oxygen-and-acetylene-tanks-hvac/7501798191.html

Yeah welding tanks are the ones you get. The regulators arent as fine as medical regulators but on 20 pound tanks, I bet you will refill it maybe 3 times in ur lifetime lol.

 

[murphyslaw]

The welding tanks are proving difficult to find. Best I've found is $150 for a o2 and acetylene tank together.

I may just buy one on ebay for $100. 20 cu ft New Steel Oxygen Cylinder - CGA540 Valve Welding & Medical Applications 633131433869 | eBay

 

[IslandLizard]

The welding tanks are proving difficult to find. Best I've found is $150 for a o2 and acetylene tank together.

I may just buy one on ebay for $100. 20 cu ft New Steel Oxygen Cylinder - CGA540 Valve Welding & Medical Applications 633131433869 | eBay

There are a few in Manassas, VA:
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/hab/d/manassas-oxygen-tanks/7499723723.html
More of them around DC:
https://annapolis.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=oxygen