Sourcing Oxygen Cylinders

[Nagorg]

I'm wanting to purchase an O2 cylinder, probably a 20CF. Need a CGA-540 valve on it for use with the regulator I purchased. I don't care if its used.

I can get one of these new (steel) from Amazon or another online supplier I found for $83-$93 delivered.

Does anyone know of maybe a better source for these things that might save me a little money?

 

[Deadalus]

That's about the cost of them new I found. You could try Airgas to see what the cost of a swap is vs the initial buy with the tank. Tractor Supply does oxygen too, could try the same there. Otherwise, watch the used markets but I didn't find them offered much there for CGA 540 type tanks and the small 20 cf size. I ended up buying a new tank and then had to swap it at Airgas.

I did originally score a big 125 cf tank for $50 but it was some minor name distant supplier and Airgas wouldn't swap it. If I hadn't left the valve open I'd still have it.

 

[MaxStout]

Go to a welding supplier, they sell them. They usually swap rather than refill them, so if you buy a new cylinder on Amazon or wherever, you'll be trading it in for a used one next time you fill it.

I have a 20 cu ft cylinder I bought from Airgas for about $80 filled. But that was ~10 years ago.

 

[Nagorg]

I called Airgas before posting this. They want ~$250! It would come filled with O2 but geez... lol

Sounds like $83-$93 is about the "best" price unless I got lucky finding somebody wanting to sell theirs cheaper.

 

[Nagorg]

If I hadn't left the valve open I'd still have it.

That really stinks...

 

[Nagorg]

I have a 20 cu ft cylinder I bought from Airgas for about $80 filled. But that was ~10 years ago.

I guess it's still going after ~10 years?

 

[MaxStout]

I guess it's still going after ~10 years?

Just swapped for a refill once. I just use it for oxygenating wort at pitching. Tank lasts a long time.

 

[Nagorg]

Just swapped for a refill once. I just use it for oxygenating wort at pitching. Tank lasts a long time.

That's exactly what I plan on doing with mine when I get it. Just wish I could find a better price.

I don't like the idea of buying a new cylinder and exchanging it for a , likely somewhat beat up, old one. But think I also don't like spending ~$250 for a full new one from Airgas either. The only benefit from that is that it would last me several years as a new cylinder. But I'd eventually have to exchange it anyway.

 

[ba-brewer]

https://gascylindersource.com/product-category/oxygen-cylinders/

I bought a small cylinder from them then found a scuba shop to fill it with pure oxygen. Aviation place can also fill them without doing a exchange.

 

[Nagorg]

https://gascylindersource.com/product-category/oxygen-cylinders/

I bought a small cylinder from them then found a scuba shop to fill it with pure oxygen. Aviation place can also fill them without doing a exchange.

Yep, that's the online source I found and the ~$83 delivered price. (cylinder +tax and shipping) Great tip on the SCUBA shop idea. I'll have to call some of the ones in my area about this.

I know they do normal "air" fills for SCUBA tanks. But that's actually ~73% nitrogen, not pure oxygen like most non-divers think. (That would actually kill you from oxygen toxicity...) But some "technical" divers do use "Tri-Mix" which is a blend of oxygen, nitrogen and helium. If I can find a shop that caters to technical divers, they might be able to fill it!

 

[MaxStout]

Check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You might find some used welding gear.

 

[Nagorg]

Check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. You might find some used welding gear.

Already did that... But thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Nagorg]

found a scuba shop to fill it with pure oxygen

I struck-out with my local SCUBA shops. The one shop that does do gas mixing said they *could* fill it but they didn't have a booster pump that's needed to get it to ideal psi. So they could only fill it to ~50%. Plus, they required the cylinder to be cleaned and prepped for O2, which they can do of course.

I told them it would be a new cylinder but they said those have oils that need to be cleaned. For what they wanted to clean it plus fill it, I might as well just go get the new cylinder from Airgas. Or buy the new cylinder and swap it at Airgas which would save me ~$100 doing that.

 

[ba-brewer]

I had contacted the vender before getting mine filled and they said the cylinder was cleaned and ready to be filled.

I believe the dive shop that filled mine said they filled tanks for fire fighters, places that fill fire fighter tanks might be worth looking into.

I recently check the weight of my tank after using it for about 2.5years oxygenating about a batch of beer a week and the tanks weight has changed very little. A half full tanks would probably last quite a while.

 

[DuncB]

I had an oxygen cylinder worked well, but it was very heavy to move around.
Managed to sell it and bought a second hand oxygen generator.
Light, smaller and should last for my lifetime.