Fire extinguisher to Carb !!

[SMICKSMICK]

Hi there I am having great difficulty in sourcing somwere to get a co2 tank in Northern Ireland. Boc seems to have it well tied up and o don't want to have to go down the rent a cylinder route due to cost. I saw a post from 2011 when researching and saw some1 attaching a co2 extinguisher to a regulator. This seems to be my only option if it will work. Any input greatly appreciated.Those are the pics from the 2011 post. Just wondering if anyone else is using this method. (1st time kegging)
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1458943300.350210.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1458943315.783117.jpg

 

[SMICKSMICK]

Anyone??? : /

 

[fun4stuff]

All you can do is try, but make sure you report back so others know. It's pure CO2, right? Looks like it should work. Keep lever depressed with a zip tie or clamp.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=460486&page=2

 

[Jim311]

My 20lb co2 cylinder is actually an old industrial fire extinguisher. I'm sure this would work but a paintball cylinder and adapter seems easier.

 

[IslandLizard]

That should work fine. I get my 20# CO2 cylinder filled by a Fire Protection Company, where they fill 100s of those type extinguishers every day. CO2 is CO2.

Those tanks don't have a screw valve, the lever actuates the valve. Open and close.

Make sure there's a fiber or plastic washer where the regulator stem meets the tank. Some regulator couplers have a built-in rubber o-ring, but they don't always seal well. In that case also use a washer. There's 2000 pounds of pressure on that end, so make sure it's all tight there.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

My 20lb co2 cylinder is actually an old industrial fire extinguisher. I'm sure this would work but a paintball cylinder and adapter seems easier.

A paintball cylinder is a great alternative, but you have to be careful where you get it filled. Most paintball guns use compressed air nowadays... not co2.

There was a recent thread on here where a guy couldn't figure out why his kegged beer was so crappy. Turns out he was carbing with regular air from a paintball shop. Lol!

That thread was friggin' hilarious! I did feel kinda badly for him, but it was funny! Lol!

 

[Gavin C]

I've not done what your describing.

Fire extinguishers dispense from the bottom so as to get liquid CO2 coming out. Great for a fire, not so good for your regulator. That tube will need to be removed.

Here is a vendor in Ireland that might be better able to serve your needs.

 

[IslandLizard]

My 20lb co2 cylinder is actually an old industrial fire extinguisher. I'm sure this would work but a paintball cylinder and adapter seems easier.

Fire extinguishers have much larger capacity than paintball tanks.

One more thing, to get any cylinder filled, it needs to be within 5 years of the hydro date stamped into the tank. If it's an old, out of date extinguisher you may be able to swap it for a full current one, instead of paying for the hydro test before getting it filled.

 

[IslandLizard]

I've not done what your describing.

Fire extinguishers dispense from the bottom so as to get liquid CO2 coming out. Great for a fire, not so good for your regulator. That tube will need to be removed.

Here is a vendor in Ireland that might be better able to serve your needs.

Didn't think of that...

Can you turn the tank upside down to dispense the gas? It will need to be in some sort of cradle, then.

 

[Gavin C]

You could do all sort of jiggery pokery and try to come up with a solution or you could just buy the right tool for the job.

There are plenty of businesses geared toward supplying businesses needs on the CO2 front.
CO2 and/or tanks are not hard to acquire.

Here is one

Here is someone with a bunch to sell.

 

[IslandLizard]

+1^ I agree.

Only when all other possibilities have been thoroughly exhausted there's no choice left but to consider jimmy-rigging.

I do know Europe can be strange when it comes to owning certain equipment. For example, not until the late 80s could you actually buy a telephone. Before that, you had to lease them from the phone company. Forever!

 

[fun4stuff]

Didn't think of that...

Can you turn the tank upside down to dispense the gas? It will need to be in some sort of cradle, then.

I don't think you're supposed to turn gas tanks upside down while or before using. Maybe is this just do you don't dispense liquid?

 

[k1ngl1ves]

I don't think you're supposed to turn gas tanks upside down while or before using. Maybe is this just do you don't dispense liquid?

Yes, but these co2 tanks are made to dispense the liquid so it expands rapidly. The same for the co2 tanks you'd use to freeze a water pipe. There's a dip tube that goes to the bottom, unlike regular tanks that just have the valve at the top and dispense only the co2 gas.


Don't turn regular co2 tanks upside-down. Lol!

 

[brewcat]

Have you asked a welding shop?

 

[SMICKSMICK]

Boc the company has it all tied up they supply to pubs and welder a etc.all using the rent a bottle thing. I have no other way really. So is the general consensus then that the extinguisher idea will not work properly as it will dispense liquid instead of co2 gas [emoji30]

 

[z-bob]

A fire extinguisher will work, but can you get it filled? (you don't want it swapped, you want yours back) You'll need to remove the dip tube or make a cradle to hold the tank upside down. Drill a little hole in the handle for the pin to hold the valve open.

It's probably going to leak around the valve stem when the valve is open.

Any way to get a real CO2 valve for your tank? The kind with a handwheel on top. That's the right way to do it.

 

[SMICKSMICK]

There is 1 video on utube of some punter carbing keg via a fire extinguisher seems to work worth a shot and hopefully doesn't taint the taste.

 

[SMICKSMICK]

Yea I spoke to the wee shop they said I can buy my own extinguisher and they will refill out no problem. I could ask them maybe to take dip tube out for me. I have a wee spring loaded clamp that will hold the handle down ok for me. Any preferences or links to a descent regulator?

 

[Gavin C]

You're not searching very effectively. Google is your friend

Here is another vendor. There are more.

 

[SMICKSMICK]

The problem is getting that refilled tho. I don't think the extinguisher company will fill it. Plus it's a little more costly than a fire extinguisher : /

 

[z-bob]

I think they are more likely to fill that than they are an extinguisher w/o a dip tube (because it won't work properly to put out a fire, but it still looks like an extinguisher.) But you'll have to ask them.

 

[SMICKSMICK]

Yea true. Will maybe have to invest at some point. I have ordered stuff from that shop before and free delivery which is a bonus. Thanks for the comments.

 

[BBBF]

Deleted

 

[z-bob]

A fire extinguisher that dispenses powder, water, etc. will dispense from the bottom. A CO2 fire extinguisher is going to draw from the top. You aren't dumping liquid co2 on the fire.

Sure you are, it vaporizes and expands in the discharge cone. You don't want it to vaporize in the top of the tank or the valve during a fire because it might freeze up.

 

[Gavin C]

A fire extinguisher that dispenses powder, water, etc. will dispense from the bottom. A CO2 fire extinguisher is going to draw from the top. You aren't dumping liquid co2 on the fire.

You are incorrect. The liquid is rapidly converted to a gas upon leaving the hose, hence the need for the directing nozzle's blunderbuss shape.

CO2 Extinguisher Schematic

 

[BBBF]

Well, I'll be damned...