what's this CO2 equip worth?

[KingPing]

Hey there everyone, I found a guy on Craigslist who has all this that he is looking to get rid of:

2 CO2 tanks (they look like 10 lb. ones, and they are still pretty full he said)
1 dual guage regulator
1 standard plastic tap/keg hookup (looks like it's a hookup for standard commercial brewery kegs)
1 brass splitter for multiple gas hookups

what should I offer him. He wants $20 for each tank, so i was thinking offering $65 for everything

here's a quick pic of everything, anyone know if those are in fact 10 lb. tanks?

 

[CplHunter]

They look like they could be 20lb tanks. Nonetheless...$20 each for ANY size tank is a steal IMO.

 

[krispy d]

65 is a great deal. I'd take it. that regulator alone is worth that.

 

[Bobby_M]

There might be a sanke coupler in that pile too (out of frame of course). The tanks probably need a hydro certification to be refilled, but it's usually about 15-20 per tank to have it done. Look for a date stamp, the cert is good for 5 years after that date. If no stamp, assume it's out.

 

[KingPing]

He said the tanks haven't been used in a bit over a year, so hopefully they are still within their certification. Also, he accepted my $65 offer, so I'll be by to pick them up from him on Thurs.

Here's another pic of the hosing and what not

 

[thatleetboy]

score!!

 

[Bobby_M]

Yup, you'll be set to dispense commercial 1/2 and 1/6ers right away with that setup. Great deal. Someone would probably buy the extra tank off you right away if you want to earn some cash for a nice Perlick faucet or two.

 

[RadicalEd]

Tank: $~50-60 each
Regulator: ~$50

Already sounds like a winner!

 

[drunkatuw]

After my dad bought his business, he found a 20# co2 tank in the garage and it was mostly full. When I first built my kegerator in college he gave me the tank and it worked great for 2 years, but when it was empty, I ran into problems. No one would re-fill the 20# tank without proper documentation proving ownership. Those tanks say "Deposit tank" on them, so I'm guessing they were rentals that never got returned (mine said "Property of Coca-Cola" on it).

So you might want to ask the owner if he has any paperwork. But 20# tanks typically cost $20 to fill, so if they're mostly full, it's still worth it.

 

[cubbies]

Yeah, the place that fills my tanks wont fill any tanks that say Pepsi or Coca-Cola on them either.

 

[Brewing Clamper]

Airgas in my area is usually pretty good about trade ins from what I hear. They don't seem to care where it came from...

 

[olllllo]

Places will fill or exchange if the hydrostatic test has been done in the last 5 years and it's not stamped, "Property of".

Learn to read the cylinder makings here:
http://www.catalinacylinders.com/markco2.html

If it needs a test, you will have to pay ~$15 or so.

If it fails you may SOL. The DOT instructs vendors to confiscate and destroy failed tanks. Some have reported that they may still give you an exchange or fill anyway.

 

[KingPing]

Ya, he said they are Pepsi tanks, and the $20 he wanted for each was for the deposit he paid on them. He also said that I could return the tanks to get the deposit back myself, but I'm not sure if that is possible. He said they are pretty full, so hopefully I'll at least get my money's worth from the gas alone.

The regulator wouldn't be something that he also has on deposit from Pepsi though would it?

 

[olllllo]

The regulator never needs to leave your home.

 

[Bobby_M]

That property of stamp can be dealt with. Is it stamped in or embossed out? Both require a grinder, but one requires epoxy.

 

[KingPing]

well, I just picked up the equipment a little while ago. the tanks seem to have a good amount left in them.

couple quick questions:
1. they both had stickers that say deposit tank and property of pepsi on them, but i got one of them off quite easily, and can't see any other marking to signify that it is pepsi's. the other one has a pepsi co. engraving on it. that said, i assume that the one that has no pepsi markings should not have any trouble getting filled right?

2. I looked over both tanks, but couldn't find any sticker or anything relating to a hydrostatic test. I assume if they had one it would be plainly obvious right? or what exactly should i look for on the tank? all i see are standard warning/caution stickers

3. lets say they would not pass a hydrostatic test, is there any danger in using what's left in the tanks and if so just how much? i don't wanna kill myself or anyone else using these things if they're gonna explode or something

as always, thanks for all your help

 

[CplHunter]

2. I looked over both tanks, but couldn't find any sticker or anything relating to a hydrostatic test. I assume if they had one it would be plainly obvious right? or what exactly should i look for on the tank? all i see are standard warning/caution stickers

See Jeep's link above. Hydro test dates will have two numbers, one being a month and one being a year. They will be stamped into the bottle. The test is good for 5 years from that date. Judging from the condition of those (i.e. they're old), you will probably find evidence of multiple tests. My original had a date of '68!

 

[KingPing]

ahhh yes, after wiping off all the dust (they had been sitting around for over a year apparently) i see what you are talking about. one's date is from '01 and one from '02. hopefully they will pass the test, and more importantly hopefully i wont be killed using up the rest of the CO2 in them (and no one else will be killed too)

 

[RadicalEd]

Unless a bottle's really been tampered with/neglected, chances are it'll pass test. Or so I've been told by my local filler.

 

[Jaybird]

I have owner bottles and my LWS just swaps mine out with a full one. Just call around and find a welding supply store that the owner likes homebrew take in a couple of bottles and ask if they will swap you out.
JJ