CO2 tanks
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    Well, since my little paintball tank is expired and I'd like to upgrade to a bigger size, I've been shopping around. I found this one that seems like a good deal, but I've little experience with tanks:

    http://www.bvrgelements.com/product/New-Aluminum-5-lb-CO2-Tank/

    So, any reason not to go with aluminum vs steel tanks?

    Anyone have a better price for a tank?

    and, should I spend the extra $ for a ten pounder? Will the difference in cost make up for the convenience of filling less often?
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    much of this depends on if you can get your tank filled or if you will be swapping.

    i have to swap as nobody around here fills tanks, so the stainless vs aluminum goes out the window there.

    i have a 5 lb tank, and i really wish i had a ten pounder or even a 20. the dif. is gas cost is almost zero.

    the best advice i can say if you go with a bigger tank, is to make damn sure you don't have or develop any leaks. losing ten pound of co2 overnight would suck. (almost as much as losing 5 pounds!)
    i shut my system down after things are force carbed so that if a leak happens, i don't lose all my gas.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    i've learned my lesson too many times on the leaky lid issue. and i have two airgas shops within driving distance, so i can get a fill no problem.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,568
    Bigger tanks are always worth the price, I used to have a 5lb tank, it lasted about a month when I was brewing a lot. I replaced it with a 20lb tank and a 10lb backup. I rarely fill, and when I do it onlycosts a couple dollars more than the 5lb fill. Big savings.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,568
    My biggest problem now is my 10lb exchange tank took so long to empty that it went out of cert. Doh!
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,418
    Bigger tank for sure. I don't know the difference in Aluminum vs. Steel other than weight. I have a couple 5#'s and one 20#. Fuck the 5#s they cost the same to fill up. I only use them to purge lines and such because all my brewing stuff is in the basement and they are easier to carry upstairs when I'm kegging and such in the kitchen. When I move the kegerator downstairs I'm going to use the 20# to serve.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    I only have a 5. It fits in my Keezer well, but so would a 10. I plan to get a 10 and use the 5 for purging, cleaning lines, etc and backup. Mine is steel, makes exchange easy. Also, I am a little scared of dropping, banging, denting a big tank of compressed air, so steel makes me feell all warm and fuzzy inside.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    i plan on still using my paintball tank to carb/serve, but fill that from the larger tank. that way, no dropping, moving, or leaking tank to worry about.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,568
    FromZwolle said:

    i plan on still using my paintball tank to carb/serve, but fill that from the larger tank. that way, no dropping, moving, or leaking tank to worry about.



    that sounds fantastically dangerous.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    Lakewood said:

    FromZwolle said:

    i plan on still using my paintball tank to carb/serve, but fill that from the larger tank. that way, no dropping, moving, or leaking tank to worry about.



    that sounds fantastically dangerous.


    it's cool. i have duct tape.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,568
    FromZwolle said:

    Lakewood said:

    FromZwolle said:

    i plan on still using my paintball tank to carb/serve, but fill that from the larger tank. that way, no dropping, moving, or leaking tank to worry about.



    that sounds fantastically dangerous.


    it's cool. i have duct tape.


    I bet
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    FromZwolle said:

    Lakewood said:

    FromZwolle said:

    i plan on still using my paintball tank to carb/serve, but fill that from the larger tank. that way, no dropping, moving, or leaking tank to worry about.



    that sounds fantastically dangerous.


    it's cool. i have duct tape.


    then what's all this talk about steel vs aluminum? just duct tape up a cardboard box and fill it with compressed co2.
    done and done.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    yeah, screw a tank. i'll just get a bunch of balloons and fill them from my fermenters. done and done.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    ok, i'm officially out of gas. just ordered this:

    http://www.bvrgelements.com/product/7-lb-CO2-Tank-Reconditioned-Steel/
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    i'd still like to get a 20# with a dip tube so i can fill my little paintball tank, but that'll have to wait for a later date when i have more spending monies.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    FromZwolle said:

    i'd still like to get a 20# with a dip tube so i can fill my little paintball tank, but that'll have to wait for a later date when i have more spending monies.



    well this will likely never happen.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    the airgas branch that's directly between my work and house doesn't fill tanks. they will only swap them.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    furthermore, they won't take my 7# tank because it's an unusual size.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    X(
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,418
    FromZwolle said:

    furthermore, they won't take my 7# tank because it's an unusual size.


    That's a bummer.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,568
    FromZwolle said:

    furthermore, they won't take my 7# tank because it's an unusual size.


    Oh... Ow.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    i think i found a place that will fill it, but i need to call first and make sure.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,568
    FromZwolle said:

    i think i found a place that will fill it, but i need to call first and make sure.


    Good luck!
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    In was wondering about that when I saw your post. Those are converted O2 tanks. My place does fill, but they prefer to swap. I like the price of those tanks, I guess I'll be sure they will fill them.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    success! the tank has been filled.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    and the best part, is that the place that i found is about 1/2 mile away from my son's school, so i made the wife take it.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,654
    $8.50 for a 7 pound tank. not too bad.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,418
    FromZwolle said:

    $8.50 for a 7 pound tank. not too bad.


    That's half what I pay for a 5 pound tank. Jerks.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    $8.50 for a 7 pound tank. not too bad.


    That's half what I pay for a 5 pound tank. Jerks.

    i pay 3.5 that amount for a 5 pound tank.

    i know i am getting robbed though.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 121,568
    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    $8.50 for a 7 pound tank. not too bad.


    That's half what I pay for a 5 pound tank. Jerks.

    i pay 3.5 that amount for a 5 pound tank.

    i know i am getting robbed though.


    that's pretty bad. i think i paid about 14 for a 20lb fill.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,418
    Lakewood said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    $8.50 for a 7 pound tank. not too bad.


    That's half what I pay for a 5 pound tank. Jerks.

    i pay 3.5 that amount for a 5 pound tank.

    i know i am getting robbed though.


    that's pretty bad. i think i paid about 14 for a 20lb fill.

    CO2, the one thing that is cheaper in cali.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    $8.50 for a 7 pound tank. not too bad.


    That's half what I pay for a 5 pound tank. Jerks.

    i pay 3.5 that amount for a 5 pound tank.

    i know i am getting robbed though.


    Yea, it must be hard to bottle this rare gas known as co2 in Missouri. I pay about the same.
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 88,418
    Benvarine said:

    frydogbrews said:

    C_dubbs said:

    FromZwolle said:

    $8.50 for a 7 pound tank. not too bad.


    That's half what I pay for a 5 pound tank. Jerks.

    i pay 3.5 that amount for a 5 pound tank.

    i know i am getting robbed though.


    Yea, it must be hard to bottle this rare gas known as co2 in Missouri. I pay about the same.

    Ha. I should shop around a bit, but I like the service soooo.....
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
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