Notice for kegging in Tucson, AZ.

[Schnitzengiggle]

If you aren't in the know, United Fire Company on 4th Avenue will fill co2 tanks on site, without having to make an exchange. They are cheaper than Airgas, who only exchanges.

I recently got into kegging, and I did not want to give up my brand new shiny aluminum co2 tank for some piece of crap that Airgas wanted to exchange mine for.

United Fire - $14+change (fills your tank)
Arigas - $16+change (exchanges your tank)

FWIW.

 

[JuanMoore]

What size tank are those prices for? I called around, and for a 20# tank hydro test and fill they were the most expensive in town, but they did have the shortest turn-around time because they're the only place that does hydro tests on site.

Most of the welding supply shops will fill rather than exchange if you ask them to, but since they send the tanks to Phx, it takes about a week to get your tank back. If you don't mind either swapping or waiting, Prax-Air on Park and 18th is the cheapest in town for 20# tanks. Not sure about other sizes though. They'll also usually waive the hydro fee for out of date tanks if you do a swap instead of a fill.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

What size tank are those prices for? I called around, and for a 20# tank hydro test and fill they were the most expensive in town, but they did have the shortest turn-around time because they're the only place that does hydro tests on site.

Most of the welding supply shops will fill rather than exchange if you ask them to, but since they send the tanks to Phx, it takes about a week to get your tank back. If you don't mind either swapping or waiting, Prax-Air on Park and 18th is the cheapest in town for 20# tanks. Not sure about other sizes though. They'll also usually waive the hydro fee for out of date tanks if you do a swap instead of a fill.

The prices I have quoted are for 5lb tank refill only. My tank was hydro-tested 3/10/2010. The price I quoted does not include hydro-testing, and it is my understanding that, although they hydro-test on site, it still takes a few days to get your tank back if it needs to be hydro-tested. rRegardless, I have not checked with Prax-Air on 18th St, but I will be certain to contact them tomorrow to se what their fill prices are, and whether or not they fill on-site while you wait.

My main point was that United Fire will fill your tank while you wait (assuming your tank has a current hydro-test) at a fair price, better than Airgas anyhow, whom will only swap your tank. To add to that, I have a brand new tank that I didn't want to trade in for some POS that I would be trading for, so the value of United Fire is appealing to me. No wait (assumin you have a current tank), a lower price than Airgas (and you don't have to exchange your tank), and filling on-site is convenient.

Like I said I will check prices and service w/Prax-Air, and post them here tomorrow.

Thanks for the info on Prax-Air, I am always on the lookout for lessexpensive services.

 

[JuanMoore]

Just stay with United Fire. If you want a fill rather than a swap, they're the only way to go IMO. None of the welding supply shops fill on site so it takes a week or more to get the tank back, which I don't think is worth possibly saving an extra dollar or two. Several liquor stores in town will fill on site, but they don't do it by weight, and you typically end up paying full price for a half tank of gas.

The one thing I don't like about United Fire, is that they charge over twice what everyone else in town charges for a hydro test. I had an out of date beater tank I picked up cheap on craigslist, so swapping tanks for the lowest price in town and never needing to worry about hydro test fees was the way to go for me. I also tell them what it's for, and they try to pick out an aluminum tank if they have one, or a nice clean steel one if not.

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

I also tell them what it's for, and they try to pick out an aluminum tank if they have one, or a nice clean steel one if not.

A fellow brewer also picked a decent tank up from CL for cheap, and he explained to me the other day that it was an aluminum cylinder. He has been doing business w/Airgas. When I spoke with Airgas they mentioned if you bring in steel you get steel back, if you bring in aluminum you get aluminum back, however, he ended up getting a steel tank for an aluminum that he traded in.

I just couldn't justify giving up my brand new $40 shiny aluminum cylinder for "what they have".

Thanks for the heads up again, I appreciate it.

 

[Dillan]

Where is the best location to buy a CO2 tank? is it cheapest to buy an empty one somewhere and get it filled or exchanged? Or would it be more cost efficient to get one at Prax-Air?

 

[DurtyChemist]

Where is the best location to buy a CO2 tank? is it cheapest to buy an empty one somewhere and get it filled or exchanged? Or would it be more cost efficient to get one at Prax-Air?

Craigslist probably. I've found 20lb tanks for under $100