got a question about gas refills CO2...

[dogdog]

The question is about CO2 gas refills that is for beverages... CGA320 stuff.. so probably would be the same as the CO2 used in beers.

Some one decided to get a soda stream. .... ok.. bottles are tiny. and have to mail in to get refilled.
They sell this CGA320 adapter.. which allows use of tanks CO2 gas to be used on that soda stream. ...


any differences in food grade CO2 or industrial grade CO2 or they are the same.?

you get your bottles ? is that a refill or exchange only?

where do you get the food grade (if that is the term) CO2 from?

 

[dr_clyde]

The question is about CO2 gas refills that is for beverages... CGA320 stuff.. so probably would be the same as the CO2 used in beers.

Some one decided to get a soda stream. .... ok.. bottles are tiny. and have to mail in to get refilled.
They sell this CGA320 adapter.. which allows use of tanks CO2 gas to be used on that soda stream. ...


any differences in food grade CO2 or industrial grade CO2 or they are the same.?

you get your bottles ? is that a refill or exchange only?

where do you get the food grade (if that is the term) CO2 from?

The welding supply should have food grade Co2 in cylinders ready to go.

You should be able to get an adapter to run it on whatever you have.

Most welding supplies will sell you a cylinder and then exchange your cylinders after this. This is how it is done for fountain soda, draft beer and other carbonated beverages.

 

[dogdog]

Most welding supplies will sell you a cylinder and then exchange your cylinders after this.

Ok Thanks.
so they don't do refill on cylinders that I might be getting from Amazon or online ?

cause some one likes it shinny etc. so New Cylinder that is shinny is what boss wants to keep. Dunno how this thing goes... Adapter wise, Yes they sell CGA-320 to soda stream adapters. that is not an issue. Just don't know how the normal gas thing goes.

 

[dcg9381]

I don't know the answer on "food grade" versus "industrial" C02.

Ok Thanks.
so they don't do refill on cylinders that I might be getting from Amazon or online ?

The sodastream ones seem to be proprietary by design. The 20lb tanks that you can buy on Amazon get refilled.

I have a 20lb standard c02 tank that's easily adapted to what you're doing. Some shops "exchange" the whole cylinder, some shops actually fill your cylinder. I fill my c02 at a brewers supply store. The disadvantage of keeping your own is that it will eventually "age out" of spec and then you have to have it tested or replace it.

 

[Kev In]

I get food grade C02 tanks refilled from a “Fire Extinguisher“ service company, which services the beer brewers In our area. Turn around is 2 to 7 days days. These tanks I own.

I also have a local welding company that swaps out a food grade C02 gas for the restaurant industry (Pop and beer) I just swap tanks on the spot. Both companies charge the same for the refill. With swapped tanks you don’t have to pay to get them re-certified.

I use an adapter for my wife’s Soda Stream and the tank lasts about 2.5 months or so. I mark the tank when I install a new one just for fun. I always have a spare tank. Way cheaper than the small refill tanks supplied by retailers for a Soda Stream.

 

[dr_clyde]

Ok Thanks.
so they don't do refill on cylinders that I might be getting from Amazon or online ?

cause some one likes it shinny etc. so New Cylinder that is shinny is what boss wants to keep. Dunno how this thing goes... Adapter wise, Yes they sell CGA-320 to soda stream adapters. that is not an issue. Just don't know how the normal gas thing goes.

You may be able to get them filled, but most welding supply houses don't fill while you wait. It's way cheaper to stock sizes and swap them.

I would call ahead and ask. Some places will fill if you give them time. Like, drop it off and come back in a week or two. It's not exactly practical to have them stop and fill just one cylinder, they'll want to do it when they're set up and filling all the other ones.

In places were the cylinder is on display or just where you want it looking nice, I've seen guys get sleeves or covers to keep the cylinder looking sharp. They do this at trade shows frequently.

 

[dogdog]

reason for the refill is that some one wants the shinny canister like in post #5 would be upset if it got swapped a dirty looking one. I don't ask why. Just do it.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Most economical way is to get CO2 tanks (5lb or 20lb) from a welding supply shop and exchange them as needed. I have a 20lb for my kegerator and two 5lb I use for backups or the occasional MIG welding projects (very rare).

No shops around here will fill them and the closest place is 25-30 minutes away. I exchange and I'm out the door in a few minutes.

My understanding is that there is no difference in CO2 "grades" but those labeled as "food safe" will have more of a paper trail certifying it as such. I've never specified "food grade" for any of my CO2 or nitrogen tanks for my draft setup.

 

[jsaw]

Not sure about CO2 cylinders, but on oxygen, the difference between commercial oxygen and medical oxygen is that before they are filled they have a vacuum applied to the cylinder to ensure that there is no contamination in the cylinder. The medical oxygen cylinders have the vacuum applied more times than the commercial cylinders do.

 

[dogdog]

Not sure about CO2 cylinders, but on oxygen, the difference between commercial oxygen and medical oxygen is that before they are filled they have a vacuum applied to the cylinder to ensure that there is no contamination in the cylinder. The medical oxygen cylinders have the vacuum applied more times than the commercial cylinders do.

Not too sure if there is a food grade oxygen though. I know it have to be oil free or kaboom. That is about it and the connections / valves are different.

 

[Copymutt]

Been carbonating and dispensing my homebrews since the late 80’s w/ my welding CO2 & I‘m still kicking.

 

[rancherbill]

.... Some one decided to get a soda stream. .... ok.. bottles are tiny. and have to mail in to get refilled. ....

We take them back to the store and they exchange them. I believe it is part o their contract with Soda Stream. I do mine at the local hardware store and I have also done it at houseware stores in the city.

 

[Walkers]

I have the small (24 ounce) paintball cylinders that I use on my portable wire feeder. I just refill them off of a 20 pound cylinder. I have, in the past, filled my 20 pound cylinder from my larger bottles simply for convenience.

 

[readhead]

My LWS refills while I wait for six bucks.

 

[gte718p]

In Europe, to be considered “food grade” it has to be >99% pure. There are also special requirements for how the tank is charged and a paper work trail. Carbonated water is a big thing here so it is super easy to get filled.

You can get CO2 from technical grade which is 95%-99%, pure 99%, or super pure 99.999%.

Most people don’t carry the first one, but if you are ordering by the tanker truck it is much cheaper. Even if they do, most places will not fill small tanks with technical grade. It is less then a Euro more and covers their @ss to do everything food grade.

The super pure is stupid expensive. Generally only used in things like pharmaceuticals or when process controls require it. It is 5x more expensive, but they will fill a food tank with it.

 

[dr_clyde]

My LWS fills everything with food grade co2 at minimum, it’s cheaper to just maintain a certain level of purity vs having to have multiple bulk tanks for food and welding grade.

 

[86turbodsl]

Around here, CO2 is CO2. No difference. My local fire extinguisher place fills for cheaper than anywhere else while i wait. Maybe 5 mins. Their hours ****, but it's worth it and i get to keep my aluminum tank.

 

[dogdog]

Around here, CO2 is CO2. No difference. My local fire extinguisher place fills for cheaper than anywhere else while i wait. Maybe 5 mins. Their hours ****, but it's worth it and i get to keep my aluminum tank.

Ok other than lws I have no idea who else would have refill these cylinders. What should I be searching for if I were to google for it. ?

I tried searching for beer supplier, they sell tiny canisters which is no help.

 

[SusKatCas]

I bought an adaptor on eBay and ran paint ball cannisters on the soda stream for years. Local sporting goods store would fill my 24-28 ounce cannisters while we waited. Two cannisters lasted months. Eventually my bride moved on to a different food fixation.

 

[BigMike782]

The difference between industrial and bev carb CO2 is lot number tracking.

 

[86turbodsl]

Ok other than lws I have no idea who else would have refill these cylinders. What should I be searching for if I were to google for it. ?

I tried searching for beer supplier, they sell tiny canisters which is no help.

Search for fire extinguisher service. They'll know.

 

[Walkers]

Ok other than lws I have no idea who else would have refill these cylinders. What should I be searching for if I were to google for it. ?

I tried searching for beer supplier, they sell tiny canisters which is no help.

It would likely help if we knew where ' here' was.

 

[dr_clyde]

Ok other than lws I have no idea who else would have refill these cylinders. What should I be searching for if I were to google for it. ?

I tried searching for beer supplier, they sell tiny canisters which is no help.

Any particular reason you don't want to go with a welding supply? They're going to be where everyone else gets their gas to resell.

Industrial gases are consolidated to only a few companies worldwide because of how much cost there is with separating and purifying the gases. Almost all industrial gases are made from either Linde/Praxair, Air Liquide, Messer or Matheson and sold to the local distributors.

All breweries, restaurants, gas stations, party stores, etc. all get their gases from a welding supply or a company that buys gas directly for distribution from one of the big four above.

It's not going to be easy finding a place that will fill your cylinder while you wait as that's not how its done in industry. If you insist on going that route I'd recommend buying a spare so you can have gas while the supply house fills your cylinder.

 

[dogdog]

Any particular reason you don't want to go with a welding supply? They're going to be where everyone else gets their gas to resell.

Industrial gases are consolidated to only a few companies worldwide because of how much cost there is with separating and purifying the gases. Almost all industrial gases are made from either Linde/Praxair, Air Liquide, Messer or Matheson and sold to the local distributors.

All breweries, restaurants, gas stations, party stores, etc. all get their gases from a welding supply or a company that buys gas directly for distribution from one of the big four above.

It's not going to be easy finding a place that will fill your cylinder while you wait as that's not how its done in industry. If you insist on going that route I'd recommend buying a spare so you can have gas while the supply house fills your cylinder.

There is no particular reason other than question to make sure it is safe if there is a food grade / welding grade CO2. as oppose to oxygen or nitrous oxide (also I believe) that have medical grade differences.

also boss likes shinny bottles. If I get a shinny bottle from amazon I would like to keep it that way "Shinny" so if there is a place that refills that means I get to keep the bottle shinny... but if it is not. not sure a dirty valve would have give me extra lead in my pencil .... lol... no particular reason. just trying to understand how this part of the industry works. My LWS is Independent I think... I have been getting argon from them for a while... expensive. but ok, not scammy like the other one also close by.

It would likely help if we knew where ' here' was.

NYC.

 

[Wfallison]

Beverage grade CO2 has higher purity and lower oxygen content than industrial grade. Any oxygen present in the gas becomes dissolved in the liquid which results in product oxidation and reduced beverage shelf life.

 

[dr_clyde]

I think you guys are misunderstanding.

Just because it says welding supply on the building doesn’t mean they only sell welding grade gas.

Almost all gas used in food and medical comes from the welding supply. They supply more industries than welding.

The other thing to understand is that almost all gas packaged is usually all one grade. They just package food and beverage grade gas and sell it as welding grade. Cheaper to produce one higher grade than two separate grades. Generally speaking, anyway. There are obviously exceptions to everything.

I’ve worked in a large brewery and have a lot of experience working with industrial gas supply companies. The main massive bulk tank outside our production facility, the small cylinders in the kegerator, the medium liquid tanks at the bar was supplied by the same company that brought us argon, contact tips and wire for the weld shop. When I asked about the grades my sales guy told me it’s all packaged off the same bulk gas they buy from the processing plant. They just test and certify medical or high purity gases per the customers request.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Ok other than lws I have no idea who else would have refill these cylinders. What should I be searching for if I were to google for it. ?

I tried searching for beer supplier, they sell tiny canisters which is no help.

You might be able to swap them out at a homebrew supply store if there are any near you. That's what I started off doing because it gave me a reason to buy more brewing ingredients but the shop closed so I found it easier just to go to the welding shop after that.

 

[jsaw]

I work for a commercial ambulance company. All of our medical grade oxygen comes from a welding supply company.

 

[tarbellb]

I work at a pharma drug maker

we get our pharma grade gases from....

the local welding supply branch (Norco)

 

[BigMike782]

Industrial and bevcarb come from the same bulk tank filling cylinders from separate piping systems.
Bevcarb is lot number tracked.

 

[GreyOwl]

Back home, the local welding supply house regularly exchanged the cylinders at the hospital. They will have what you need.