paintball tank question

[HItransplant]

cant seem to find this anywhere else. Its an admittedly noob question, but I have to ask.

when you guys use paintball tanks for kegging, to they need to be cleaned on the inside (of any oil, etc)?

also, is the co2 used to fill paintball tanks a different quality level than the stuff used for food/beverage? I seem to remember there being different grades of co2....

help is appreciated.

 

[wild]

Tanks are not cleaned. There is no oil in the CO2 and it can be filled at a sporting goods store.

 

[kpr121]

I fill my paintball tank at Dick Sporting Goods all the time, never had any issues with oil/bad tasting beer.

I love my paintball setup. I use it more often than my 5 lb tank. Its more portable, easier to refill, actually is a little cheaper per lb around here. You just have to refill more often. I have 2 tanks and always keep the off-tank filled so its ready to swap. I think I may pick up another tank or two and that way I wont have to go refill as often.

 

[HItransplant]

I fill my paintball tank at Dick Sporting Goods all the time, never had any issues with oil/bad tasting beer.

I love my paintball setup. I use it more often than my 5 lb tank. Its more portable, easier to refill, actually is a little cheaper per lb around here. You just have to refill more often. I have 2 tanks and always keep the off-tank filled so its ready to swap. I think I may pick up another tank or two and that way I wont have to go refill as often.

sweet.. so co2 is just co2, theres not "restaurant grade?"

can you tell me how long a 20 oz tank lasts if the keg is already carbed?

Im also a paintballer and I know that given the dropping costs of HPA setups (and the far superior performance), paintball co2 tanks are easy to get. Ive got a couple brand new ones sitting around that someone gave me... they arent 20 oz, but I bet they'd serve a keg.

thanks for the replies.

 

[kpr121]

sweet.. so co2 is just co2, theres not "restaurant grade?"

can you tell me how long a 20 oz tank lasts if the keg is already carbed?

Im also a paintballer and I know that given the dropping costs of HPA setups (and the far superior performance), paintball co2 tanks are easy to get. Ive got a couple brand new ones sitting around that someone gave me... they arent 20 oz, but I bet they'd serve a keg.

thanks for the replies.

Im pretty sure when people claim they get oil from their CO2 cartridges it actually comes from the manufacturing of the cartridge itself, not the CO2. Those are also the 12 or 16 gram tiny cartridges. CO2 is CO2.

I force carb, and my tank usually lasts me between 3 and 4 kegs, depending on how many auxilary things I did like push beer from keg to keg, purge bottles, etc. If you are just serving from an already carbed keg, I would imaging you will get much more life out of a tank. I'd actually be interested to from hear someone with experience. Now that my pipeline is where I want (kegerator is full) I have thought about naturally carbing the kegs while they sit at room temp. I would be more inclined to do so if it would save me a large amount of CO2.

 

[HItransplant]

Im pretty sure when people claim they get oil from their CO2 cartridges it actually comes from the manufacturing of the cartridge itself, not the CO2. Those are also the 12 or 16 gram tiny cartridges. CO2 is CO2.

I force carb, and my tank usually lasts me between 3 and 4 kegs, depending on how many auxilary things I did like push beer from keg to keg, purge bottles, etc. If you are just serving from an already carbed keg, I would imaging you will get much more life out of a tank. I'd actually be interested to from hear someone with experience. Now that my pipeline is where I want (kegerator is full) I have thought about naturally carbing the kegs while they sit at room temp. I would be more inclined to do so if it would save me a large amount of CO2.

nice.. thanks.

is that with the tank in the cold or at room temp?

im still learning about the whole kegging thing, but It seems to make sense that you want the tank and the keg at the same temp, correct?

Ill hang on to these 2 tanks then and use them for taking my keg places (I think they are only 12 oz, but that should get me comfortably through one keg...maybe two if im just serving). I dont have the space or money for a kegerator at this point so Ill probably only keg when Im taking beer somewhere, or possibly in the winter when i can have "cask" beer hanging out in my garage. I think Ill prime the kegs for the "cask" experience like you are thinking about doing...saving co2 and having a more "natural" experience .

 

[mrwizard0]

I have a paintball setup and I cant get psi less than about 10 any of you guys have any tricks or do I just need a better regulator?

 

[Jeepninja]

I have a paintball setup and I cant get psi less than about 10 any of you guys have any tricks or do I just need a better regulator?

That is entirely a function of your regulator and/or gauge. Some regulators can't supply pressure that low. Some gauges arent accurate enough to show that level of detail.

Generally speaking the smaller the gauge and the larger the range of psi readout the less accurate the gauge is. Granted there are some large faced gauges that have a small psi range and are junk. I've always had good luck with Ashcroft though.

Here is my paintball setup:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/another-paintball-beer-dispenser-carbing-setup-238862/