What's in a CO2 tank?

[jeeppilot]

So I'm gathering info on how to begin my transition from bottles to kegs. My LHBS has new 5# aluminum CO2 bottles for $115 while Amazon has a 5# bottle for $60.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OVBTB68/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

So what's the difference? Sure my LHBS has more overhead, less volume, blah blah blah, but something has got to make up for double the price. Thanks!

 

[treacheroustexan]

Just buy the cheapest one you can find. You can usually go to an airgas and buy a filled tank for $70 or so. I wouldn't buy a new tank because you won't ever see it again when you swap it out and you will just end up with a beat up one, unless you can find a place to fill it rather than swap.

 

[Brewski_59]

Don't forget to add shipping to that amount for a better comparison. That being said. The bottles are the same.
In fact if I were you I wouldn't buy a new bottle. Since when you need to refill it the best prices on CO2 would most likely be at a welding supply outlet (airgas) that does exchanges.
I found that buying used is as good as new. Or even buying from the gas supplier.

 

[Yooper]

I liked my aluminum tanks, as the were much lighter and didn't rust if they were inside the kegerator. But when I swapped them out when they were empty, I got some steel ones anyway!

If you have a place to refill them locally, a lightweight and non-rusting aluminum tank is nice. But as treacheroustexan said, if you're swapping them out, just get the cheapest/best deal!

 

[cegan09]

I bought one new, it came with my kegorator conversion kit. I have a local welding shop that will fill instead of swap, so I won't ever lose it. I wanted one that looked decent instead of beat to hell.

 

[jeeppilot]

There is a place here that will refill a 5# tank for $20. Does that sound about right? I can't remember what the swap price was.

 

[treacheroustexan]

There is a place here that will refill a 5# tank for $20. Does that sound about right? I can't remember what the swap price was.

Pretty close. I get mine for $17 at airgas. and 5# goes a long way. I force carb and serve, and am on beer #7 or so with one tank. Haven't refilled since last year at some point.

 

[Diver_Alan]

Check out the tanks that ezryder sells.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=495278
He is highly reccomend on HBT. He has good prices and service.

 

[Firewalker11]

I dont know if you have a home brew store by you or not but I just swap the tanks there, it's $50.00 plus the fill for the first tank and $16.00 plus tax after that. All aluminum tanks, cleanness varies.

 

[doug293cz]

Check out the tanks that ezryder sells.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=495278
He is highly reccomend on HBT. He has good prices and service.

I'll also vouch for @ezryder . Got a used Al tank from him, and swap it out at the LHBS when I need to refill (tanks come empty.) Good service, easy to deal with, and fast shipping.

Brew on

 

[dsniegocki]

Quick note on buying used tanks (Craigslist, etc): be sure to check the hydro test date stamped on it. At least here in Charlotte, my local place won't fill unless the hydro test is up-to-date, usually every five years. If it's past the date, you may have to pay to have it re-certified.

I bought new and have it re-filled, only 'cause the place I get it filled is more convenient than my LHBS to have it swapped. And $20 is about right.

 

[Horseshoot]

I read somewhere, that the tanks have to be certified at certain intervals. I might be mistaken. That might only apply to propane tanks. But, I always assume it applies to CO2 tanks, as well. So, I figure the swap is a better deal for me, in the long run, so I do not have the cost of the certification.
I keep 2 CO2 tanks. When one empties, I load up the full one, and then I can swap out the other, at my leisure. The guy at AIRGAS, always asks me what I have on tap. I really should take him a growler of something. HAHA!

Mike

 

[Horseshoot]

BTW... The smart arse in me (when I read the title of the thread) wanted to answer: CO2. haha!

 

[Diver_Alan]

All tanks that are transported under pressure on public roads must be hydrostatic tested every 5 years. If the tank passes the test the date of the test is permanently stamped on the neck of the tank. If the tank fails it is condemned and the serial will be overstruck so it can not be read. Most placed will also drill a hole in condemned tanks so they cannot accidentally be refilled. Others just paint "condemned" on the side.
That being said my local air gas will take any tank for exchange. The hydro date does not matter. However they will not fill one for you that is not in date.
They really do take any tank. I found a steel co2 tank that had been sitting outside for about 25 years and was completely covered in rust. When I took it in they said no problem and let me exchange it.
For me it is less expensive to exchange tanks than to refill. I keep my tank hidden so I don't care what it looks like.

I read somewhere, that the tanks have to be certified at certain intervals. I might be mistaken. That might only apply to propane tanks. But, I always assume it applies to CO2 tanks, as well. So, I figure the swap is a better deal for me, in the long run, so I do not have the cost of the certification.
I keep 2 CO2 tanks. When one empties, I load up the full one, and then I can swap out the other, at my leisure. The guy at AIRGAS, always asks me what I have on tap. I really should take him a growler of something. HAHA!

Mike

 

[jeeppilot]

BTW... The smart arse in me (when I read the title of the thread) wanted to answer: CO2. haha!

I thought the someone would give me that answer when I posted the title! Thanks for all the info though. I'll see if my buddy at his industrial supply place has a spare bottle. I love supporting my LHBS, but not at $115 for a bottle I might not see again in a few months. I'll double check on the exchange vs refill too. Thanks again everyone!

 

[Yooper]

I just exchanged my 20# tank today. It's ugly for sure, but it's on the side of the kegerator by the wall. And yes, it's HEAVY! Even empty, it's pretty heavy. I weigh 135 pounds, and I'd guess that the full tank weighs about 60 pounds, maybe more. I like my 5# tanks quite a bit more!

It was $14.85 for the exchange, and I never have needed to pay for a hydro test since I just exchange the tank.

 

[mongoose33]

BTW... The smart arse in me (when I read the title of the thread) wanted to answer: CO2. haha!

I thought the someone would give me that answer when I posted the title! Thanks for all the info though. I'll see if my buddy at his industrial supply place has a spare bottle. I love supporting my LHBS, but not at $115 for a bottle I might not see again in a few months. I'll double check on the exchange vs refill too. Thanks again everyone!

Who's buried in Grant's tomb?

When was the War of 1812 fought?

How many grooves does a standard 45 rpm record have on one side?

How long does it take to cook a 3-minute egg?

Is there a 4th of July in England?

<sorry>

 

[EcuPirate07]

My two cents, buy the nice aluminum off Amazon. I refill my tanks at the local fire extinguisher shop. (the guys who go into Walmart or Walgreens and check/replace the fire extinguishers on the wall) they all have tags on the extinguisher of who and where they are, they should refill your tank for you. Heck every time I go in there with my tank the owner always says "you throwing a Kegger tonight?" I always respond with "oh yeah!" And then he usually refills the tank for free and won't take money from me

 

[jcav]

I bought two brand new tanks several years ago. We had a place called Tri-Tec that would fill the tanks for us while we waited. So I always got my tanks refilled and had my nice tanks to take back home. Well Airgas bought out Tri-Tec awhile ago. So this week I went back to get my tanks refilled. The filling station on the wall was gone. The guy said he could only give me a filled tank from the back and I had to give him my tanks to swap out. Then he saw that my tanks were over 5 years old. He said that I actually would save money now swapping them out, as it cost $40.00 to have each one re-certified. So I gave him my two tanks and I got two pretty clean ones back to my surprise. I also bought another to have on hand so I can just bring one back at a time now when they go empty, as I have one tank in the kegerator and the other for transferring beer from fermentor to kegs, and to store in a spare fridge force carbing. Since I keep the kegs in the spare fridge under gas until I can put them in the kegerator.

 

[Brewski_59]

Another good reason to participate in the exchange program instead of keeping and filling your own tank is avoiding the hydrotest fee. I mark my cylinder with a piece of tape, mark the test year on it so I can be sure to exchange it before that date. Never end up paying for a test that way.

 

[Firewalker11]

The AirGas place by me does a straight up exchange, hydro testing is just built in so as long as its not overdue, they just test when they expire. If I have my own tank refilled, I get hit with the hydro test fee.