CO2 Fire Extinguishers.. Kegging

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Thursday Oct 27, 2005 7:23 pm

Can i use one to use for kegging purposes?

If so.. how would i go about it?

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 2:29 am

Yes,

Go buy one and attach the regulator to the top like any other cylinder and go.

I got mine as a rebuilt from the local firefighters, a nice 20 lb cylinder for 70 bucks. My recently aquired 5 lb apparently cost the guys 100 bucks.

One is black the other is red.

Dogger

silkworm · Post by **silkworm** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 8:00 am

There was one on ebay last week.
I'm not a kegger yet though

grabman · Post by **grabman** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 9:09 am

Stangas, can be done was talking to Neil at Brewmart in Bayswater the other day, he was telling me about a mob in Belmont who supply them etc. Give Neil a call he should have the details.

Grabman

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 9:14 am

I've got a 5 kg for sale, with dip tube removed original valve installed pressure tested and filled with co2, regulator fits straight on, ready to go.
Let me know if your interested.
Hillbilly.

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 12:03 pm

i have "Found" some CO2 Fire Extinguishers already.

Can i just unscrew the nozzle section of the fire extinguisher while it is charged? Or do i have to empty it first?

Shaun · Post by **Shaun** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 4:17 pm

Who do you get to fill them for you? Most CO2 suppliers in Oz will only fill their own bottles

.

Aussie Claret · Post by **Aussie Claret** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 6:17 pm

Shaun check with your local HBS, mine can fill for you. If not I'm sure they can point you in the right direction locally.
Cheers
AC

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Friday Oct 28, 2005 10:51 pm

make sure they are in date, ifso any fire extinguisher mob will do it for you.
p.s. dont forget to get the dip tube removed.

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Saturday Oct 29, 2005 2:21 am

Can some one explain the dip tube myth please. Mine has the dip tube in and it is fine

Dogger

The Brown Hornet · Saturday Oct 29, 2005 11:26 am

Just to throw my two cents worth in,

If your getting them filled by your local extinguisher service, is there any issues with industrial grade CO2 they are using as opposed to the food grade you can get through the major gas suppliers?

If my limited understanding of the subject serves me, it's all about impurities. What are the impurities that are in the industrial grade products, and are there any risks to the average home brewer.

Cheers

Post by **Oliver** » Saturday Oct 29, 2005 4:34 pm

Stangas,

Are you asking if you can dispense CO2 from a fire extinguisher, or if you can put your beer in it?

If it's the former, this thread might help http://www.homebrewandbeer.com/forum/vi ... php?t=1273

If it's the latter, I'm not sure, although I wouldn't think you could. It'd probably rust out the insides, depending on what the extinguisher is made of.

Cheers,

Oliver

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Saturday Oct 29, 2005 4:44 pm

Dogger, the dip tube can draw up the co2 in liquid form into the regulator. I say that it can only because you have proven that this is not allways the case. My ones have them removed because i've replaced the trigger handle assembly incuding the dip tube with a regular co2 cylinder shut off valve. The 'o' ring that seals the relief pin when operating the trigger is'nt designed to operate with back pressure therefore I replaced them with a shut off valve.
Industrial vs foodgrade co2 has been a topic on many homebrew forums and have been explained by employers from BOC/Airliquide that it comes from the same source. They say that it would cost more to produce industrial and food grade than just food grade. The only thing is that the cylinders they store the gas in are inspected to a different critera than industrial grade. I too was sceptic on this but many homebrewers all over the world have been kegging with industrial grade co2 without encountering any problems. I guess it's what you feel most comfortable with.
Hillbilly.

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Saturday Oct 29, 2005 10:01 pm

Hillbilly,

Got ya,

yes, my dip tubes are removed if they are part of the extinguisher head

I use industrial grade. Food Grade with gasses is often simply a liscence to add on a few bucks.

Dogger

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Monday Nov 07, 2005 8:01 pm

my question still.. can i take off the head of the extinguisher while the cylinder is charged..

I starting to think not if the dip tube is to be removed.

Anyone?

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Monday Nov 07, 2005 10:22 pm

Good idea if you want a free air trip to Broome. Only safe way you can remove the trigger assembly to be able to remove the dip tube is to fully discharge it. If your goiing that far I'd replace the whole trigger assy with a co2 shut off valve. I would'nt tamper with it myself, leave it to the proffesionals. I believe that if you've opend it up that you should get it pressure tested afterwards to make sure all is safe and that you wont loose any gas, worth the extra couple of dollars in the long run.
Hillbilly.

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Tuesday Nov 08, 2005 1:11 pm

yeah.. thats what i thought..

i have been talking to a wormald guy from work.. and he stated that the cylinder must be empty first.. and the shut-off valve is a good idea.

that brings my next question, how do you fill the cylinder once the extinguisher has been tampered with?

i was tempted to place the regulator to the extinguisher rubber tubing. That way i am not removing the handle and will make filling a lot easier. Dunno??

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Tuesday Nov 08, 2005 3:42 pm

Cant do it that way, the hose can't stand the pressure!

yardglass · Post by **yardglass** » Tuesday Nov 08, 2005 4:44 pm

Stangas wrote: can i take off the head of the extinguisher while the cylinder is charged..

Stangas · Post by **Stangas** » Wednesday Nov 09, 2005 3:04 pm

bugger it... i ordering a Beer Gas cylinder from BOC today

To hard basket