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Kegging/CO2 question - O2 tanks vs. CO2 tanks?

Has anyone here used an aluminum CO2 tank that was designated as Medical use for "O2" (oxygen) only? vs a CO2 tank? From what I can tell there identical with the exception that the O2 tank requires 2015 PSI vs just 1800 for a CO2 tank?

The valves are identical also so all equipment would work the same?

I was looking on eBay for a CO2 tank and came across a similar o2 tank for 1/2 the price. Tipicaly most 5# co2 tanks run $50 used where a similar O2 tank runs between $15-25.

Has anyone tried this or can they direct to a place for better info?

I plan on buying one(O2 tank) and experimenting, and will keep you posted.

Thanks, Jay

Reply to
JXM2119
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Unless they had it modified the valves are not the same. If you can provide a link to the auction I can give a better opinion as I am in the compressed gas industry.

Reply to
Frodo

Tanks for different gasses are NOT made the same. Some require thicker walls, some thinner, some must be made of specific allows so as not to react with the gas they contain...you get the idea.

Each type of gas tank also has a unique "key" type valve that will only accept a regulator designed for use with that gas. A CO2 hookup won't attack to on oxygen tank, and vice versa. A Nitrous Oxide hookup won't hook up to either of the other tanks. It's a failsafe system.

Reply to
NobodyMan

OK ALL thanks for the advice!

I do understand a few things there is really 2 parts to this:

Tank - the tanks for both O2 and Co2 are the same. the testing for O2 is more stringent than for CO2.

Valve - the valve for CO2 is an industry standard CGA-320 The value for O2 is CGA-540. The threads that are on the output side for gas delivery are different for good reason.

Why can't I just take a CO2 valve and replace the O2 valve? The threads on the tank side are .750-16UNF-2B OR 1.125-12UNF-2B and .825-14 NGO-RH-EXT connects to the regulator side.

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Reply to
JXM2119

An easier solution: Go to the nearest Airgas facility, or other welding supply store & swap the tank for a tank of equal or smaller size already filled. May be $20.00 or so compared to the cost of a replacement valve & a fill. At Airgas we do that all the time as long as the tank is still in test, & if you seem nice enough we'll eat the cost of the test. Good luck.

Robert

Reply to
Frodo

I was told welding CO2 is a different grade to that used in the food and medical industries here in the UK and as such shouldn't be used for beer. Anyone know if this is correct?

George (UK)

Reply to
George

No difference in the gas itself, just the way the tanks are filled. For industrial fills they just hook up & fill. For medical & food they vacuum the tank down to the opposite pressure of a full pressurized tank. Example, a full 250 cf oxygen tank is around 2500 psi, so they vacuum to -2500 psi then fill from the vacuumed stage. Gives you around 99.95% pure ox or whatever they're filling with. Make sense? If you have a new co2 tank the only impurities that are gonna be in the tank is what's in the air you breath. I wouldn't worry.

Reply to
Frodo

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