Derick_Z
Well-Known Member
I made this post on another forum, but didn't generate much interest so I'm trying again here.
I'm looking to make the jump to kegging soon (when I get enough cash saved up). I've done a lot of planning and reading/research, so I think I'm pretty much ready for anything that can come at me. In researching prices for C02 refills, however, I've been disappointed and unable to find anything that doesn't seem exorbitantly expensive. What are the average prices nowadays? I'm only finding things from several years back in my searches. On to the point of this post, however..
I saw a YouTube video of a man refilling a soda-making tank by taking the top off the tank, crushing and weighing dry ice, then putting it in the tank and screwing the top back on. Obviously the lid has to be pretty darn tight to prevent leaks, but I was intrigued by the concept. I can buy dry ice here for a buck a pound at the grocery store, which would dramatically cheapen my refills. I know a bit about chemistry, and it does make sense that the ice will sublimate until enough gas pressure has been reached, at which point the remaining ice will melt into the liquid C02 that you get when you refill the tank professionally.
I'd likely start with a pound or two just to see how it works, but I honestly can't see any flaw. There's a safety valve on the tank, but I'll never need it because I'm carefully weighing the amount of CO2 I put in, along with the weight of the tank after filling. I know people will likely talk about how I'll introduce air to the tank when I open it, but I've done some research, and oxygen doesn't liquidate at room temperature, regardless of pressure. That means that the CO2 will liquidate (I believe along with the nitrogen), while the oxygen remains in the headspace under high pressure. If I vent the tank slightly, *most* of that oxygen should be cleared, and the liquid CO2 will boil to refill the headspace. Continuing that process should yield a result identical to purging a keg.
Does anybody have thoughts on this? I've scoured the web and haven't been able to find a single thing about it - either suggesting it or condemning it. I'm not sure if I've stumbled onto some amazing new concept or if I'm just being exceedingly dumb!
Thanks
I'm looking to make the jump to kegging soon (when I get enough cash saved up). I've done a lot of planning and reading/research, so I think I'm pretty much ready for anything that can come at me. In researching prices for C02 refills, however, I've been disappointed and unable to find anything that doesn't seem exorbitantly expensive. What are the average prices nowadays? I'm only finding things from several years back in my searches. On to the point of this post, however..
I saw a YouTube video of a man refilling a soda-making tank by taking the top off the tank, crushing and weighing dry ice, then putting it in the tank and screwing the top back on. Obviously the lid has to be pretty darn tight to prevent leaks, but I was intrigued by the concept. I can buy dry ice here for a buck a pound at the grocery store, which would dramatically cheapen my refills. I know a bit about chemistry, and it does make sense that the ice will sublimate until enough gas pressure has been reached, at which point the remaining ice will melt into the liquid C02 that you get when you refill the tank professionally.
I'd likely start with a pound or two just to see how it works, but I honestly can't see any flaw. There's a safety valve on the tank, but I'll never need it because I'm carefully weighing the amount of CO2 I put in, along with the weight of the tank after filling. I know people will likely talk about how I'll introduce air to the tank when I open it, but I've done some research, and oxygen doesn't liquidate at room temperature, regardless of pressure. That means that the CO2 will liquidate (I believe along with the nitrogen), while the oxygen remains in the headspace under high pressure. If I vent the tank slightly, *most* of that oxygen should be cleared, and the liquid CO2 will boil to refill the headspace. Continuing that process should yield a result identical to purging a keg.
Does anybody have thoughts on this? I've scoured the web and haven't been able to find a single thing about it - either suggesting it or condemning it. I'm not sure if I've stumbled onto some amazing new concept or if I'm just being exceedingly dumb!
Thanks