[kramerog]

I'm looking to have my CO2 tank tested and refilled.  Any thoughts?  I actually live immediately west of Chicago in Oak Park.

[tschmidlin]

Take it to a welding gas place and swap it out.  It will be faster than waiting a few days for them to fill it, plus they will deal with the testing.  It costs around $15 here for a 5 lb tank, and $20 for a 20 lb tank.

On google maps you can search for welding gas and a bunch of places should come up.  Call them and see if they'll swap.  The main places around here are Praxair, Airgas, and Central Welding.  You'll have the same or similar places in your area.

[abraxas]

In Milwaukee there is a liquor store that fills tanks for $1/lb, you might give a few of the bigger liquor stores a call.

[riverrat]

Most fire extinguisher supply/service places will fill CO2 tanks as well.  And they can also either hydrotest on site, or send it out to someone local for you. 

But yes, the exchange is the instant gratification method (and cheaper if you need to both test and fill).

Fill prices in the Twin Cities area seem to be around $11-$13 for a 5 lb, and around $18 for a 20 lb.  So the buck a pound rate is amazing for a 5 lb tank!

[abraxas]

  So the buck a pound rate is amazing for a 5 lb tank!

Yea, Northern Brewer is $11 or so for an exchange.  Of course whenever I go to Discount Liquor I end up spending $60 on beer....

[kramerog]

Thanks for the ideas.

[flapjack]

I live in the area & we use these guys to fill our co2

J & B Welding Supplies
5305 West Ogden Avenue, Cicero, IL 60804-3505
(708) 447-2203

[drawtap88]

NFC Company, 2944 N. Leavitt, Chicago (773) 472-6468

[kramerog]

I live in the area & we use these guys to fill our co2

J & B Welding Supplies
5305 West Ogden Avenue, Cicero, IL 60804-3505
(708) 447-2203

J&B seems the closest to me, very reasonable prices ~$1/# and open on Saturday.  Thanks.

[Joe Sr.]

NFC Company, 2944 N. Leavitt, Chicago (773) 472-6468

These guys are great.  Approx $20 for the refill last time I was there.   I think my 5lb and 20lb were the same price, so go for volume. 

They do it while you wait and also usually have some kegs you can buy as well as miscellaneous equipment (tubing, regulators, sankey taps and parts, etc. etc.).