Most things are an arm and a leg up here, though. You're right about the scenery. This year I'm gonna enjoy it with home brew!
Inexpensive way to get into a 20lb CO2 tanks
- Thread starter fifelee
- Start date
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Most things are an arm and a leg up here, though. You're right about the scenery. This year I'm gonna enjoy it with home brew!
I am having a bit of an issue with my local place. They are telling me they can't rent anything to me. I called them about exchanging one of their tanks and they told me they didn;t think they could do it. I do not have a beverage account. She was going to ask someone else and call me back (she didn't). I did find one of their local partners and they will rent me monthly one of their tanks, but they could not exchange the one I have.
I ended up calling Airgas. They are going to exchange the tank for me.
I ended up calling Airgas. They are going to exchange the tank for me.
BrewBeemer
Well-Known Member
Wow, sounds like the cost of living in Alaska is higher than the S.F. bay area in general and we are high. The price of tires, washing machines or appliances must also be high with everything shipped in. Is it cheaper buying from Canada than the USA?
My opinion even though it's going to cost more up front is to have all owner owned bottles plus get the largest size you can handle. This will pay for itself in fewer refills with the cost savings on each refill over time. Price per cu/ft on refills. Lease bottles will surpass initial purchase price in no time you'll be surprised how fast the months go by. Call me greedy with having all large owner own bottles, only the Co2 is under the 150 cu/ft size stout mix bottle in size. I refill my 20# bottles off the 50# with the special hose and invert the 50# for liquid out refills, when the 20" needs hydro i'll send it in for a retest. The footprint's the same no matter the bottle size in the closed laundry room the ceiling's my limit at 8 1/2' so no worries about the ugly industrial factor look. The Argon and C-25 gas 260 cu/ft the past 19 years alone have more than paid for themselves in less refills not alone the lease fees as an example. I lucked out with the herd of free large 3AA bottles from a friend that will fetch big money should I hydro and sell or outright sell them.
My opinion even though it's going to cost more up front is to have all owner owned bottles plus get the largest size you can handle. This will pay for itself in fewer refills with the cost savings on each refill over time. Price per cu/ft on refills. Lease bottles will surpass initial purchase price in no time you'll be surprised how fast the months go by. Call me greedy with having all large owner own bottles, only the Co2 is under the 150 cu/ft size stout mix bottle in size. I refill my 20# bottles off the 50# with the special hose and invert the 50# for liquid out refills, when the 20" needs hydro i'll send it in for a retest. The footprint's the same no matter the bottle size in the closed laundry room the ceiling's my limit at 8 1/2' so no worries about the ugly industrial factor look. The Argon and C-25 gas 260 cu/ft the past 19 years alone have more than paid for themselves in less refills not alone the lease fees as an example. I lucked out with the herd of free large 3AA bottles from a friend that will fetch big money should I hydro and sell or outright sell them.
juvinious
Well-Known Member
$200 is pretty steep... you can buy one for $100 brand new from beveragefactory. I bought my 15lb tank from them and haven't had an issue. I mean assuming you can't get one from pepsi co like the OP says.. ie alaska.
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BrewBeemer
Well-Known Member
Nope, but "ACID" was rather common in the late 60's while in HS but then I was already a good German drinking only BIER.
Coke distributorships as well 7-UP are rather rare in my area.
I still see Corny's in the beds of Ford Rangers on the highway
but also a rather rare occurrence. Ask the drivers about C02 bottles
or refills and all they mention is "check your local welding supply".
The $200 price from the start of this thread I can make some instant
extra cash if they go for $200 this with 20# bottles.
Sorry to dig up a very old thread but how does one locate their local pepsi or coke distributor? I've been searching google and I can't seem to make any headway. In this thread most people just say they saw it driving by...
-Frozen
-Frozen
wilserbrewer
BIAB Expert Tailor
I have scored 2 twenty pounders on Craig's list for cheap....one was full nice bonus
Chrisbrewbeers
Well-Known Member
There is a Coke bottling plant near me but it is locked up tight with gates and security......Its hard to believe they would do that with tanks. If you look under jobs everything will be online(probably no address or number) and they will call you, so best bet might be to get a job for Coke or Pepsi I think.
Chrisbrewbeers
Well-Known Member
I was just able to get phone numbers with a Google search "Coke distributor" , not sure if you tried that search.
Brettomomyces
LHBS Curmudgeon
I would advise against going the coke/pepsi route, I inherited an old pepsi tank and had a shop flat out refuse to fill it for me because it's illegal for them to be owned by a "civilian" or something to that effect...eventually went to a slightly less scrupulous place who swapped it out for a regular tank.
Brew_G
Well-Known Member
There's a Pepsi place about 15 miles from me. I might swing by and see what happens...
WiscBadger
Active Member
Following
So I had to expand my search parameters and I was able to find a few coke and pepsi branches. Both companies gave the same response: You have to have an account with use and they'll deliver to only businesses. I think it must be a regional thing, or maybe the people on the phone don't realize they have this service.
fifelee
Well-Known Member
I'm the originator of this post. When I took my empty tank back to Pepsi to refill they said they couldn't give tanks to non-accounts anymore. The did give back the deposit. Think I had found a one time loophole. Ended up buying a tank on ebay and getting refilled at welding shop.
Thanks for coming back and clearing everything up!
Right now I have 2 big decisions to make.
Decision #1) Siphon valve versus gas valve. I have a mini paintball tank that I use to carbonate beer and soda when needed (its portable too). If it get a siphon tank I could refill that and keep using the paintball tank as needed. Or I could get a gas tank and use that Although it might be a bit tedious to move it around.
Decision #2) Buy a crap tank and use a "swap" service like air gas or craigslist. Or buy a nicer tank (maybe aluminum) and take it a specialty place that will fill it up for me. There are pros and cons to each method.
If anyone has any opinions let me know!
Thanks,
Frozen
Right now I have 2 big decisions to make.
Decision #1) Siphon valve versus gas valve. I have a mini paintball tank that I use to carbonate beer and soda when needed (its portable too). If it get a siphon tank I could refill that and keep using the paintball tank as needed. Or I could get a gas tank and use that Although it might be a bit tedious to move it around.
Decision #2) Buy a crap tank and use a "swap" service like air gas or craigslist. Or buy a nicer tank (maybe aluminum) and take it a specialty place that will fill it up for me. There are pros and cons to each method.
If anyone has any opinions let me know!
Thanks,
Frozen
Brettomomyces
LHBS Curmudgeon
Aluminum is really only better for the weight, I mean, it's a CO2 tank it doesn't matter much. They do look a little nicer but mine is wedged in between two fridges and no one can see them. Other side is you will pay more and it makes swaps a little harder because you could trade away that nice shiny tank for a crappy one. But steel tanks are ****ing heavy...
I live in the industrious state of Colorado where the manufacture of a certain genetic cousin of hops is legal...benefit to homebrewers though is that I go to Grow Supply shops and get my CO2 there. $7 for a 20# swap!
I live in the industrious state of Colorado where the manufacture of a certain genetic cousin of hops is legal...benefit to homebrewers though is that I go to Grow Supply shops and get my CO2 there. $7 for a 20# swap!
wilserbrewer
BIAB Expert Tailor
Buying a crap tank and using a swap service works if the price of gas is competitive. Around here owning a tank is better IMO as a refill is cheaper...does it really pay....who knows depends how much gas you use.
if someone has 1 that can't get filled because of some company rule about who it's owned by, that's understandable.
on a different note, i once went to a big box home repair place, and they swap without checking. a little more expensive for the swap, but you get another pressure-checked tank...
on a different note, i once went to a big box home repair place, and they swap without checking. a little more expensive for the swap, but you get another pressure-checked tank...
WarEagleBrewer
Well-Known Member
So....I just called my local Pepsi distributer....and was told I could BUY, without a trade in....a 20lb tank for $30. I will be on my way shortly!
WarEagleBrewer
Well-Known Member
Sure enough! I just paid $33 for a full 20lb tank. The hydro stamp expires this month, but that won't matter when I trade it in. Heck of a deal!!!! And I got a receipt showing I BOUGHT the tank, not renting it!
wilserbrewer
BIAB Expert Tailor
I have found two 20 pounders in craigslist, one alum and one steel for 20 each. Steel was full, both needed recert.
Keep looking.
Keep looking.
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