Where can you store empty c02 tanks?

[ajdelange]

Someone posted somewhere a couple of photographs of the destruction wrought by a CO2 cylinder that burst in a brewery. I think it was a 50 pound syphon bottle but the holes it left in the building were pretty impressive.

Anyway, you don't want to let any air get into the cylinders so store them with valves closed. Moisture inside will turn into corrosive carbonic acid when they are refilled if not thoroughly purged first and, of course, moisture leads to the possibility of rusting. I stored beyond 5 years past the last hydro check that will, of course, have to be repeated.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

Someone posted somewhere a couple of photographs of the destruction wrought by a CO2 cylinder that burst in a brewery. I think it was a 50 pound syphon bottle but the holes it left in the building were pretty impressive.

Anyway, you don't want to let any air get into the cylinders so store them with valves closed. Moisture inside will turn into corrosive carbonic acid when they are refilled if not thoroughly purged first and, of course, moisture leads to the possibility of rusting. I stored beyond 5 years past the last hydro check that will, of course, have to be repeated.

That's why I swap out the tanks at the welding shop. I bring in an empty one, they give me a full one. The gas company worries about the condition of the bottle.

[ajdelange]

That's why I swap out the tanks at the welding shop. I bring in an empty one, they give me a full one. The gas company worries about the condition of the bottle.

That seems to be the case these days. I use Roberts, a large east coast supplier. If you brought in a bottle out of hydro a few years back they'd hit you up $14 (IIRC) for the hydro test before they'd give you a new one. This doesn't happen anymore so either they have changed their policy or I've been innordinatly lucky in that the guys there are too busy/lazy/distracted to check the hydro stamps.

[Bugeater]

A few years back I found an abandoned 20# CO2 tank in the grass next to the dumpster behind a closed down bowling alley. The tank was 5 years out of hydro. I took it to the local welding gas supplier (LinWeld) and exchanged it for a shiny new full one. Cost me a total of $8.50. No questions asked, no information offered.

Wayne

[jwatkins56550]

well having 6 twenty pound tanks...I havent had to do a refill. But when I do I will surely take my ugliest one and swap out with a nicer one.

I have them stored under my old brewstand outside with the valves closed, I'm going to get a old grill cover to put over them.

Thanks for the help guys