Lowes Mini CO2 tank and Regulator

[slimer]

My Lowes had the QD's right about it.

 

[KiltLifter]

So you missed the LOWE'S mini regulator? You're in luck!

Today I was at harbour freight tools and they had their vresion of it for $45 in the store. It was over by all the air fittings.

I found it online, but the price there is $60 HERE

Here's a pic:

 

[Duckfoot]

Hell, if it is at H.F. just wait a week or two, it will be on sale half price...

 

[EdWort]

For about $55 you can get a real CO2 regulator from Micromatic and the paintball tank connector from Williams Brewing and you can precisely dial in your pressure.

 

[drunkatuw]

For about $55 you can get a real CO2 regulator from Micromatic and the paintball tank connector from Williams Brewing and you can precisely dial in your pressure.

I think shipping might kill that deal. It's $7 from micromatic making the cheapest regulator $37.95+$7=$44.95, and I couldn't find the shipping cost on williamsbrewing.com, but it's $14.90+shipping, so you're already at $59.85, so I can see how this is a better deal than the one at harbor freight, but if you were able to get the kobalt co2 adaptor for $39 ($49 - $10 off $25 purchase coupon) on black friday, I think it was a steal.

 

[smokysalsa]

I have a 20oz paint ball tank and im going to order a kegging system today, how long will a 20oz tank last, any one know? or should i get the 5#tank that comes with system? trying to save a few bucks!

 

[EdWort]

I think shipping might kill that deal. It's $7 from micromatic making the cheapest regulator $37.95+$7=$44.95, and I couldn't find the shipping cost on williamsbrewing.com, but it's $14.90+shipping, so you're already at $59.85, so I can see how this is a better deal than the one at harbor freight, but if you were able to get the kobalt co2 adaptor for $39 ($49 - $10 off $25 purchase coupon) on black friday, I think it was a steal.

True, but you get a real beer regulator that is scaled to beer pressures. Assembled properly, it won't leak gas and can be used to carb beer.

Be sure to check all your fittings on the HF unit otherwise you will be filling the bottle frequently.

 

[KiltLifter]

+1 Ed. You do get what you pay for at HFT. Often it's good enough for my uses - the $10 angle grinder I use once a year for example.
I would never trust the supplied quick disconnect not to leak out all my gas, that's for sure.

SmokySalsa, I was about to say definately do the 5# tank, but I'm starting to waffle on that thought. Here's what made me say Hmmmm....

A 5# tank costs $15 to fill which is $.19/oz
A 20oz tank costs $3 to fill? so it's $.15/oz (or $.20/oz@$4/fill)

Good liquor stores will swap 5#tanks for $15 or you can hit AirGas or a welding shop.
If your liquor store doesn't have CO2, then the availability of CO2 to you has very limited hours and days of operation.
Paintball tanks can be filled at Dicks or Big5 or other sporing goods stores (if you have one nearby) and they have longer hours of operation (except liquor stores if they have CO2).

If you also have a 9oz or spare 20oz tank, you have a cheap backup.
But you may need that backup cuz you'll be filling 4x as often with a small tank.

The sad thing is that I can get 20# of CO2 for just $2 more than the 5# fill.

The future upgrade for a 20oz tank system would be to buy a 20# tank someday (when you find a cheap one on craigslist) and refill the 20oz yourself with a $20 paintball refill kit (plus a scale for safety, but you can use that for brewing too). There are dangers refilling yourself that you should explore before you do.

So, depending on gas availability in your area, the 20oz may be a good option, especially if funds are limited, but less convenient because of all the refilling. Eventually, the brewing bug will take over and you'll have both, like me.

So SmokySalsa, how's that for ten pounds of non-answer?

 

[KiltLifter]

Salsa, your other question, how long?

From another thread about CO2 they say about 8-10 kegs for a 5# if you're carbing and serving, which is 10oz/keg or so.

So, 2 kegs is the answer.

 

[smokysalsa]

hey Thank's guys,, im going to get the 5#er, and keep my pb tank for back up! so when the swmbo asked why, Ill say a couple of sources said to lean tourds the 5#er.:rockin:

 

[Spizella]

Hi all,

I received one of these Kobalt regulators as a Christmas gift and am pretty excited about using it as a portable keg dispenser for a snow sports weekend later this month. Unfortunately, I'm having an issue with gas leaking from the connection point of the CO2 tank (Blue Rhino, off the shelf) and the regulator. I've tried switching out the o-rings on the tank and going to a local paintball shop to try a different tank, but no luck. Has anyone else had this issue? Any tips?

Thanks!

 

[JesseRC]

use some lube, i had the same problem and actually tore up a few of the o-rings the 1st few times, now I just lube them up.

 

[slimer]

My hose was cracked all over the place, so I just removed it. Look to see if there's a problem there too.

 

[Spizella]

Good thought on the hose, but I haven't even gotten to that side of the regulator yet! The gas was leaking out where the tank threads onto the regulator. I'll give the lube a shot tonight. I hadn't thought of that. When I replaced the o-rings and tried a different tank, I figured it must be an issue with the regulator itself. It sounds like a larger leak than what lube might help solve, but it can't hurt to try. It almost sounds like my "full-size" regulator did before I remembered to slip the co2 seal washer in the nut. I didn't see a similar washer or other sealing piece inside the regulator nut on this one - I assume the o-ring on the tank serves that purpose?

 

[JesseRC]

no its the o-ring getting pinched , those o-ring are pretty fragile and don't stay put unless you put some lube on them, then only hand tighten and check for leaks. Too tight and you you'll run the risk of tearing them.

 

[monty73741]

does anyone acutally use these for tools LOL

 

[flyweed]

Since I've purchased mine..it does double duty..I used it to install base molding and door molding after I laid my new laminate kitchen floor. I use the kobalt air setup to power my finish nailer at 80psi..it'll drive approx. 1200 finish nails at 80psi. Then When I was done..I hooked it up to my keg and dispensed some cold ones!! works great for both purposes.

Dan

 

[ChshreCat]

Curious. How long would a 9oz tank last? Would it be enough to carb up and serve a corny?

More? Less?

Low many tankes per corny or cornys per tank would you expect?

I'm a kegging noob so thanks for the patience if I'm asking a dumb question.

 

[EdWort]

I have a 9 oz tank, but I don't carb with it. It has pushed several kegs so far.

 

[flyweed]

+1...I don't think it could carb a corny..I talked to Bier Muncher about this on his setup and he didn't think it would work...so I just use mine as Ed does..to dispense the beer after it's been carbed.

 

[EdWort]

I don't worry about O-rings either.

I bought 100 for $3.50 plus $2 shipping from this place. $0.055 each is not bad compared to what the sporting goods stores charge for a couple O rings.

Paintball Tank O-Rings

 

[Spizella]

Unfortunately, the lube and a few tries with different o-rings didn't help my leak issue. I emailed the product's customer service (supplierpipeline.com) and got the following reply:

"The unit must be returned. Sometimes, some fittings are "off" by a very small fraction of an inch ( as all of these are machine manufactured) and this can create the issue you are experiencing.

Please return your unit, please bring our number with you ,800-567-0864 and have the employee give us a call if you should experience any difficulties (however, Lowe's is very good with their warranties on their own brands, like Kobalt for example)"

Bummer. A trip back to Lowe's it is.

For what it's worth, I was actually planning to add some air tools and use it as a brad nailer, etc. for small jobs. In a few internet searches for reviews on the product and others who may have had the same issue, it was about 50/50 for sites dealing with tools vs. other uses (beer and tire filling were the top 2 other uses). Since I was going to be using it just for beer dispensing, I didn't see the need for a real precise regulator in the "beer range" like those at Williams Brewing that were mentioned earlier in the thread. I figured that the higher PSIs that this regulator can dispense would come in handy for other things. We shall see with unit #2...

 

[KiltLifter]

Be sure to tell Lowes they owe you a full CO2 tank as well!

 

[madbare]

OK Guys, help me out here. How are you hooking these units up to your cornies? A quick connect to a threaded barbed fitting to you beer gas line to your ball/pin lock gas fitting? I am just trying to figure out what I need for fittings. Thanks,

Steve

 

[JesseRC]

stainless female 1/4" FFL to Barb put some 1/4" line on it , connect it to ball lock gass fitting, then on other end I just used quick disconnect barb/male to the regulator. I also include a check valve since you dont want to have beer back up into this little regulator.

http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=27

 

[madbare]

Jesse, thanks! That is kind of what I was thinking, but wanted to be sure.

Steve

 

[Spizella]

Just to close the loop on my leaking regulator issue - Lowe's took it back (including the tank) for a full refund, and the replacement is working just fine - I have it clipped to a nylon cinch-strap that's pulled tight around the keg. Ready to go!

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions and help!

 

[Schlenkerla]

OK - Tell me whether or not I have a leak. Its costing me 16oz to dispense a 5 gal keg with one of these. I was thinking these last longer than this. Its getting kind of expensive to push out a keg.


I guessing I have a leak. MF'r. I'll try the lube next.

 

[slimer]

You have a leak.

I have been using these to carb/dispense 5 kegs in my kegerator. There's a leak somewhere between my 5 lb tank and the QD. It was gone in 2 hrs. The little mini lasted about a week.

 

[BierMuncher]

You have a leak.

Yep.

I use the 9 ouncers and have pushed 3 kegs with only about half the gas.

Get those connections under water and look for leaks.

I use the keg lube on the threads of the canister and keep that little o-ring greased as well.

You can pick up a bag of those o-rings for pennies at a sporting goods store.