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Author Topic: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?  (Read 12925 times)

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #30 on: April 23, 2014, 07:10:39 am »
One benefit of swapping, at least in my experience, is longer times between needing to pay for hydro tests. The airgas I swap at is sure to give me a tank with the same or earlier date.
Earlier?
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Offline Stevie

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #31 on: April 23, 2014, 07:26:13 am »
One benefit of swapping, at least in my experience, is longer times between needing to pay for hydro tests. The airgas I swap at is sure to give me a tank with the same or earlier date.
Earlier?

Oops, I mean later. :) Example: I give them a tank due August 2015 and I get a tank due January 2016. I don't think they dig through all of their tanks, most likely find the best tank on the outside edge of the pallet.

Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #32 on: April 23, 2014, 08:23:37 am »
One benefit of swapping, at least in my experience, is longer times between needing to pay for hydro tests. The airgas I swap at is sure to give me a tank with the same or earlier date.

You swap at every fill?  I only swap when I need a retest.  Otherwise, they fill the tanks I bring in.

They were out of steel 20s last year or so when I went in and I got the bonus of swapping to an aluminum tank.  Which is nice with the larger tanks.
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Offline Stevie

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #33 on: April 23, 2014, 08:31:38 am »
You swap at every fill?

Yep. I find it's faster and basically the same price. I'm normally in and out in 5 minutes. I have 2 10lb tanks, but may upgrade one to a 20lb next time around.

Offline etk29321

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #34 on: May 20, 2014, 02:17:10 pm »
Just an fyi.  Check your local suppliers before getting a 10lbs tank.  Fills are never an issue, but when mine came up recertification, I could not find anyone actually willing to do the testing local.  The best I got was an Airgas guy who definitely did not want my business ("you can bring it in and we'll ship it off to our testing center 100miles away and you *may* get it back if you're lucky").
Everyone and their brother would do an on-site swap for a 5 or 20lbs tank.  The 10lbs just seemed to be an uncommon size around here and no one other than Airgas even said they might recertify it.  No one I found did swaps.

Offline Stevie

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #35 on: May 20, 2014, 02:28:02 pm »
I'm hoping the "May or may not get it back" comment meant your tank versus a comparable.

Offline Slowbrew

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #36 on: May 20, 2014, 03:03:10 pm »
Just an fyi.  Check your local suppliers before getting a 10lbs tank.  Fills are never an issue, but when mine came up recertification, I could not find anyone actually willing to do the testing local.  The best I got was an Airgas guy who definitely did not want my business ("you can bring it in and we'll ship it off to our testing center 100miles away and you *may* get it back if you're lucky").
Everyone and their brother would do an on-site swap for a 5 or 20lbs tank.  The 10lbs just seemed to be an uncommon size around here and no one other than Airgas even said they might recertify it.  No one I found did swaps.

I found a guy here in Des Moines who only does CO2, mostly industrial and bulk beverage type work, who certified, stamped (Tar weight and full) and labeled a 2.5lb tank for me.  He thought it was "stupid" (according to his office lady) but when I picked it up and explained what I was using it for for he decided it was a pretty good idea. 

The swap only shops can be expected to limit your options but the small, hole in the wall, places can be very helpful.

Paul
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Offline etk29321

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Re: What size CO2 tank is appropriate?
« Reply #37 on: May 21, 2014, 01:38:22 pm »
I'm hoping the "May or may not get it back" comment meant your tank versus a comparable.

That's what I thought at first, but he didn't really reassure me anything would come back.  Either way, I've moved to a smaller 5lbs tank now just so I can do easy swaps and not have to worry about it.  I'm happy to pay a few bucks extra for the convenience of being able to do it at my LHBS.