co2 tank refill/exchange

[Justin Bajema]

Those of you who keg, where is the best place in Bellingham to refill or exchange your co2 tanks?

 

- Justin

[Shane Craven]

I’ve been filling up my 20lb tank at Praxair Inc for years.  You can exchange tanks or they will fill up yours.  They are located at 430 Ohio St.  733-0970

 

Shane

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[schroer]

I haven't had to refill mine here yet, but I people always tell me about Praxair at 430 Ohio and Airgas at 420 Ohio. I've had dealings with Oxarc that I've always been happy with but there are not any nearby. -Carl

-----Original Message-----
From: belling...@googlegroups.com [mailto:belling...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Justin Bajema
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 8:36 AM
To: Belling...@googlegroups.com
Subject: co2 tank refill/exchange

[kellybeerman]

I use Airgas, on Ohio, and exchange my tank.  Their exchanged tanks are like-new, their service great, I know that their CO2 is food grade, ‘cause it comes from the same mfg. that sells for those who require it.  Don’t go to some shop that only supply welders – funky CO2 = funky beer.

 

BTW: natural carbonation is the way to go as it’s flavor profile is smoother and far less acidic.  Use your tank just to push the beer as it’s volume decreases…

 

Kelly Beerman

 

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From: belling...@googlegroups.com [mailto:belling...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Justin Bajema
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 8:36 AM
To: Belling...@googlegroups.com
Subject: co2 tank refill/exchange

 

Those of you who keg, where is the best place in Bellingham to refill or exchange your co2 tanks?

 

- Justin

[Todd Quessenberry]

I usually go to Airgas on Ohio because it's conveniently located for me, but a couple of times I've gone to Central Welding Supply on Pacific Highway. They're a few bucks cheaper, and they're open Saturday, which is when I always seem to run out.

Todd

[Andrew Richardson]

I also use Praxair.  They have the best prices that I have found.

Andrew

[Josiah Cox]

I also use Central Welding Supply because they are close to me and open on Saturday. I've never had a problem getting "funky" co2 from them. If I'm in town I use Airgas.  I'd like to see some actual proof that the gas from Airgas is any different from a welding supply place before I warn people that the gas is not safe to use other wise we are just scaring people for no reason.
 
- Josiah
 
> Subject: Re: co2 tank refill/exchange
> From: to...@quessenberry.com
> Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2010 10:57:12 -0700
> To: belling...@googlegroups.com

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[Lyle Galloway]

Hey guys C02 gas is the same product any where you pic it up, the process when they make it is the same every where it is made…

My pumpkin patch is trying to grow, all the nice weather this month will help!!!

I hope to have plenty of pumpkins for your brewing late October….

Next week is a great time to get raspberry’s for wine.

It takes 17-20lbs for a 5-gallon batch, remember to freeze the berries. A 1-gallon freezer bag holds 5-lbs

Have a great summer…

 

Lyle Galloway

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[kellybeerman]

Lyle:  there are several ways that co2 is mfg for industry, but the important factor is how well it is scrubbed of the mfg by-products, and if it’s filtered to the end user (like hospitals which will mix it with O2 at times)

 

Kelly Beerman

 

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[Lyle Galloway]

Hi Kelly, yeah I forgot about medical use….

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[Rick Hill]

I use 5lb tanks, and use central welding just north of the bakerview exit of I5, on pacific highway. They either charge $10 or $12 for a refill (tank swap), I guess depending on who waits on me. That's lower than the price I was quoted by praxair.  

On Wed, Jul 7, 2010 at 8:35 AM, Justin Bajema <justin...@gmail.com> wrote:

Those of you who keg, where is the best place in Bellingham to refill or exchange your co2 tanks?

 

- Justin

--
Rick

[kellybeerman]

No worries Lyle (I used to work in medicine in my past life…).

 

It’s all about the beer, huh?  I am a staunch believer in the softer flavor profile of natural carbonation, but sometimes now is better than later when it comes to our beer!!

 

Speaking of which, perhaps Jessie we can plan to trash my house for one of the monthly meetings?

[Larry Kaatz]

1^st of, first rate discussion!  The info has been something I have always wondered, but to afraid to ask ;)

 

2^nd, I just got the skinny on the whole deal.  Because of the info I received in this thread, I went to Airgas for the first time, get them to fill up my 2 2.5lbs tanks I just got off craigslist.  This is what I found out

 

1.       Airgas stopped refilling bottles, and they said no one in town does it.  It is all exchanged

2.       2.5 lb bottles are not common, so they would have to send them out for refill.  Luckily, they exchanged my two small bottles for a full 5 lbs tank /w no extra charge.  That was cool of them

3.       Right now there is no difference in the co2 that they give out.  Welding, or food grade.  They did tell me that soon there will be legislation that will require that they supply food grade co2.  And what that means is that the co2 will still come from the same source, as for welding supplies, BUT the co2 will be tested for quality (ie will not kill you).  That is all.  The price will go up for us because of the testing that is done, but again will be same co2.

 

Larry

[Luke]

Hey, I'm hoping to possibly revive this ancient thread.  I just got myself a 5lb tank and called Bellingham Praxair to see if they could fill it, but they said they don't fill on site and that it is very unlikely I would ever see my tank again.  

Anyone know of a shop that'll still fill a tank instead of swap?

Thanks

[Jason Mantello]

first off, you'll save a few dollars by doing tank exchanges at Central Welding Supply. its a little farther out (Pacific Hwy) but a few bucks cheaper. 

the last time this question came up, i asked them about it. they said that while they do have the ability to refill, they never will do it on demand. it just doesnt make financial sense for them to fire up the machine to refill a single tank.

that being said, i can tell that its not terribly rare for me to exchange an old tank and get a very nice looking tank. personally, my CO2 tanks sit in the back of my fridge where i never see it, so i dont really care what it looks like. if it holds gas and is correctly filled, its what i need. but getting a very new looking tank on exchange does happen from time to time. Central does seem to keep a pretty good supply on hand and theyre on the dock right out front, so im sure you could select the tank you're picking up, though i cant say that for certain.

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[Shawn Sharrow]

I also gave up on trying to keep my new looking tank and just started exchanging. Other than how quick it is (in and out in under 5 minutes) you don't have to worry about getting your tank hydro-tested either. Obviously not something you have to do that often, but saves you a little cash.

As far as quality, I haven't noticed a difference in my beer from the CO2 I 'borrow' from my restaurant (supplied by Walton Beverage) vs the stuff I get from CWS down here in Burlington.

-Shawn

[Luke Barbour]

Yeah my first excursion on this adventure took me to Airgas where most of the tanks I saw were straight up nasty. Mostly not 5lbs tho.

How can you know for sure that the tank hasn't been used for something other than CO2?  It could still be lingering, contaminating the tank with something that would be unhealthy for consumption?

My new tank is just so nice, clean, known to be free of past uses, and just.... Pleasantly shiny.

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[Todd Quessenberry]

If you’re in Bellingham, you pretty much don’t have a choice. Exchange is the only option. 

If you’re using painted steel tanks, they’re admittedly not very pretty. If you’re using aluminum tanks, my experience has been that everything I’ve gotten has been in very nice condition. And they’re lighter. But either way, the CO2 is the same. 

Todd

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