19 replies to this topic

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Who said cheap CO2 tanks aren't that hard to find? I've been monitoring craigslist for the past few months and nothing in the size I want (at least 15lbs) or "cheap" has come up. Where are all of these people practically giving CO2 tanks away that I hear about when I bring up the cost of having additional CO2 tanks around? Color me disappointed but not really surprised.

[Big Nake]

I have heard a number of stories (from my local homebrewers in person, not from someone I don't know on a forum) tell me that they have gone to local welding supply places or fire extinguisher places and someone who works there will tell them that they have a 10lb or 20lb tank and they'll cough it up for a 12 pack of homebrew, etc. I usually just stand there with my mouth open.

[pete maz]

I think some of it comes from just being in the right place at the right time, too. I worked at a state-run research facility back in the 90's when I noticed they had a 15 lb tank that had been sitting there for a few years untouched. I asked about it and they gave it to me for nothing. The local welding place then proceeded to lose it when it went out for pressure test, so they replaced it with a 20 lb-er. I've had similar luck with cornies, but it's just that: luck.If you can, don't set a timetable for finding one. It's like so many other things, just keep an eye out and you'll probably fall bass ackwards into one when you least expect it.

[tag]

Won't happen, until right after you pay retail.

[djinkc]

Doesn't hurt to talk up your hobby - a little. Give people a beer, let them know what else you need/want. Took me 2 - 3 years before some stuff fell in my lap. Not all that much but some. 20# = free

[Steve Urquell]

In my case, I have a friend who stopped brewing. When he was brewing, he knew someone who had a convenience store that closed. That guy gave him 7 corny kegs full of pepsi syrup and (2) 20lb. CO2 tanks---he ended up passing them on to me. I haven't had the money to set up for kegging so they are still full of 10+ year old pepsi syrup and the tanks are MT.

[Hentai]

Doesn't hurt to talk up your hobby - a little. Give people a beer, let them know what else you need/want.

+1My sister last summer calls me. She found a small fridge with a corny keg, 2.5# co2 tank w/ regulator, brass faucet in the door. $15Somebody's old soda set up. Fridge works, co2 tank is outdated and I need to rebuild the regulator but my daughter loves the rootbeer :-)Talk it up enough and eventually it will come.btw, the 2.5# tank, outdated, a gas shop in the neighborhood said they cant fill but after some talking about brewing and making rootbeer for my daughter gave me a full 5#er full for $35 cash

[gnef]

I am one of those with the good craigslist opportunities, I suppose. I have had amazing luck on craigslist finding just the right deals. I think I bought all my 20# CO2 tanks off craigslist for 20 dollars, I even bought a 50# CO2 for 20$ once. One of the homebrewer friends in the club has connections with a restaurant supply place that deals in used goods, and can get good deals on tanks sometimes, and I bought a 20# CO2 off of him for 30$. These were all out of test, so after the test and fill, it brought the cost up to about 50$ per tank full, but that is still a good deal to me.Many times, I get equipment in combo deals, where the whole package is significantly less than the value of each part separately. Even though I may not need everything, getting the individual parts makes it worthwhile, and I can sell the excess later on if I need to.I also bought 36 kegs for 80 dollars one time. That was awesome.Just to give you an idea of timeline though, I now have 9 CO2 tanks of varying sizes (2x 50#, 5x20#, 10#, 2.5#), but it has taken me 4 years to gather this many. Same with kegs - I now have 80 usable kegs, but that is over the course of scrounging for good deals for 4 years. And honestly, I am still looking on almost a daily basis for good deals on CO2 tanks and kegs. I figure once I reach 100 kegs, that should be good enough for me, and I think I will always be looking for more CO2 tanks (I might stop once I hit 300# capacity).All this to say, be patient, and when you find the good deals, jump on it quickly because there are many of us out there looking for the same good deals. If I notice something isn't a good deal enough, I usually just pass on it and wait, or if it is close, I'll email and see if I can haggle. If you are diligent enough, the good deals should come, it just takes time, and look for all opportunities - look around at used restaurant supply stores, restaurants closing down, etc.

[Howie]

I've received two "free" tanks in my brewing career. One was from a neighbor who worked for Anheuser Busch. It was out of hydro test date. Once it ran out of gas, I eventually sold it on the cheap.I just acquired another one that previously belonged to a soda company. It needs a new hydro test as well. I need to get rid of it, but have no idea what to do with it since it says "Property of XXXX" right on the tank.If someone in the Raleigh area wants to buy it cheap, lemme know.So, to the OP, I'd suspect that most of these "free/cheap" tanks are not on the up and up. Neither of mine were.

[gnef]

That may be true for some tanks. Where I get my tanks filled and swapped (if it is out of hydro, they swap and charge for the hydrotest, if it is within the test date, they just fill it on site), they swapped me two tanks that had pepsi written all over it. So it might seem like the tanks aren't legal because of the name on it, but it could just be due to the rotation of the tanks when the person who sold it to you swapped it with their gas supplier.

[EWW]

I just acquired another one that previously belonged to a soda company. It needs a new hydro test as well. I need to get rid of it, but have no idea what to do with it since it says "Property of XXXX" right on the tank.If someone in the Raleigh area wants to buy it cheap, lemme know.

JB Weld™ + sand paper + a new coat of paint

[ChefLamont]

Won't happen, until right after you pay retail.

This is the truth. Happened to me.

[Howie]

JB Weld™ + sand paper + a new coat of paint

I have SERIOUSLY been considering this. Is there a particular type of JB Weld?

[boo boo]

I think some of it comes from just being in the right place at the right time, too.

Better beleive it.I got one 20# tank from an owner of a LHBS who sold it to me for $20 complete with regulator( had to replace low pressure guage ) and it was 3/4 full.Another I got at a service garage in a local golf course. seen the 20# tank off to one side,asked the grounds keeper what he was doing with it and was told it was out for the trash. Askedfor it as was given it free.Both tanks had to be recertified before being refilled ( we don't have tank exchange here ) butit was still worth it.

[3rd party JKor]

I bought mine retail. boo.

[gnef]

Just as another data point, I just bought four 20# CO2 tanks for 100$. I had to drive a half hour each way for it, but it is still a good deal in my book. Two of the tanks are still within hydrotest as well, but all four tanks are steel. They will be easy enough to swap for aluminum at airgas though.

[ChicagoWaterGuy]

I have bought a few tanks from the flea market. Some have come with old regulators that still work. If the tank is not seriously (more than 20 years)out of date, then it costs $25 to have it recertified for 5 years.

[chefmiller]

I only got the hook up on mine from being a chef and knowing lots of people in the biz. (Free!!)

[CaptRon]

I have SERIOUSLY been considering this. Is there a particular type of JB Weld?

I did this with Bondo over the lettering, then sand smooth when dry, then paint. Couldn't even tell. Then took to a swap place and there was no questions asked. I was amazed at how great it looked actually. You really couldn't tell. Bondo was easier to work with than JB Weld FWIW.

[Zulu]

National Welders have never questioned any of my tanks and I have bought a bunch over the years.I have also had tanks Marked Coca Cola and Pepsi given to me by them......Know the guys well enough that if I arrive with an Alu tank they will make every effort to get me one to take away again