Oxy/Acetylene regulators for homebrew

[solardollars]

I weld and torch quite a bit here on the ranch/farm and frequently go to the local welding shop to exchange bottles. My torch regulator can be set for both oxygen and acetylene anywhere from 1 psi up to about 30, I think. And of course the tank pressures show up to 3000 psi. CO2 is readily available in HUGE containers from any welding shop (they use it for many MIG/TIG applications, wire welding). All I have to do is rent them along with my regular oxygen and acetylene account.

Question : I have quite a few old parts and gauges from torch sets that I no longer use. Is there any reason I can't use them for my homebrew? I know that I would have to make the threads and plumbing fit, but I love that kind of stuff.

Question 2 : What pressures are most ideal to maintain in a 5 gallon cornie?

Question 3: I do have a cheap pellet gun CO2 canister (paint gun, same thing) to pressurize kegs. I have read on a thread here that I will need to sugar prime to get enough CO2 in the brew. And that's OK with me. But IFF I don't do it that way, do you have to increase the pressure, say, to 20 lbs to get the beer to carbonate with canister CO2??

thanks in advance........you've all been a great help........Nathan

 

[AHammer16]

I weld and torch quite a bit here on the ranch/farm and frequently go to the local welding shop to exchange bottles. My torch regulator can be set for both oxygen and acetylene anywhere from 1 psi up to about 30, I think. And of course the tank pressures show up to 3000 psi. CO2 is readily available in HUGE containers from any welding shop (they use it for many MIG/TIG applications, wire welding). All I have to do is rent them along with my regular oxygen and acetylene account.

Question : I have quite a few old parts and gauges from torch sets that I no longer use. Is there any reason I can't use them for my homebrew? I know that I would have to make the threads and plumbing fit, but I love that kind of stuff.

Question 2 : What pressures are most ideal to maintain in a 5 gallon cornie?

Question 3: I do have a cheap pellet gun CO2 canister (paint gun, same thing) to pressurize kegs. I have read on a thread here that I will need to sugar prime to get enough CO2 in the brew. And that's OK with me. But IFF I don't do it that way, do you have to increase the pressure, say, to 20 lbs to get the beer to carbonate with canister CO2??

thanks in advance........you've all been a great help........Nathan

1. Use ay parts you want as long as they are clean and match the thread pitch.

2. Depends on what style you have in your keg. I have mine at 5-10 pound for dispensing. Carbing is a diffrent story, do a serch on these forums for "force carbination".

3. If you have access to the supplys get a 20 pound co2 tank and get a regulator specific for co2. I believe acet. an o2 for welding are" dirty" ie they have oil vapor or other contaminants in them which you dont want in your beer.

Where are you at in the US?

 

[clayof2day]

"force carbination"

Force Carbonation might be a better search topic :cross:

 

[the_bird]

Nobody likes a spelling Nazi, just so you know...

 

[user 4295]

Nobody likes a spelling Nazi, just so you know...

Just a FWIW. force "carbination" yields only 3 results in a forum search. Force "carbonation", yields 102.

John

 

[david_42]

I doubt any gas from a welding shop will have oil in it. Since CO2 is used to protect the welding area from oxygen, oil in the CO2 would mess up the weld and be a fire hazard. I've been getting my CO2 from welding shops since the very beginning and never noticed a problem.