Just got my FULL 20# aluminum co2 tank for $32 after all was said and done

[BigBadJohn]

Brought that nasty $20 pos aluminum coke tank that that crazy old man was fermenting wine in after I unsrewed the valve and kept putting paint thinner and rocks in and shaking. Then put hot baking soda water and rocks in and shook it around.

Then put the valve assembly in a bucket of paint thinner to get rid of all the old form-a-gasket.
Looked good as new inside except for a couple small spots of dried up wine clumps.
Took it in to the welding supply today and exchanged it for a full aluminum tank for $12 cash.

[cubby_swans]

I just got mine filled at Paintball Outfitters on Lindbergh in South County, St. Louis. They charged me $10 to fill my 5lb tank, which is brand new. My neighbor's going to be ticked off . He bought the same new kegerator as I did and went to a welding/gas supply store with his tank to fill, and they made him swap it out with one of their rusty looking steel piece of #$!@ tank, and charged him $15 to do it . I realize they work the same, however, when you buy something brand new, and it's yours.... you don't expect to have to immediately trade it in for something old and used that looks like it's old and used.

[BigBadJohn]

Originally Posted by cubby_swans

I just got mine filled at Paintball Outfitters on Lindbergh in South County, St. Louis. They charged me $10 to fill my 5lb tank, which is brand new. My neighbor's going to be ticked off . He bought the same new kegerator as I did and went to a welding/gas supply store with his tank to fill, and they made him swap it out with one of their rusty looking steel piece of #$!@ tank, and charged him $15 to do it . I realize they work the same, however, when you buy something brand new, and it's yours.... you don't expect to have to immediately trade it in for something old and used that looks like it's old and used.

It would have benefited him to come across the river to Stumpf welding if he wanted to go through a welding shop. They said they can have YOUR tank filled and returned but it usuallt takes 1 or 2 weeks. That or he couldve gone through the Bing Shop in Edwardsville, IL
Theyve got a HUGE paintball field and a store next to the Edwardsville courthouse thatll fill em on the spot for $2 a lb

[BigBadJohn]

This has overall been a budget build for me
$32 co2 tank

$25 kegerator missing some parts
$13 for an indoor/outdoor thermometer
$16 for an outlet thermostat
$20 for electrical parts to install thermostat (in accordance with National Electrical Code
$2 for rubber grommets
$3 for adhesive velcro which I never used

$118 for new beer and co2 lines, stainless tray, smartstrip, 33oz hand pump cleaning kit, 6 new gaskets, replacement regulator gauge, regulator shut off, 5 ft hose brush, faucet plug,

Free regulator (broken gauge)

$6 for a second padlock hasp
$5 for a second padlock

All comes out to about $210
All I need to do is wait for the last od the parts to come in, build a wooden shelf for the keg, and get a keg

[cubby_swans]

I don't think he would have picked the welding place if he knew about the paintball place. I was going to do the same thing until I started reading posts on this website and someone mentioned paintball. Then I was like "duh! I used to play paintball, of course they fill CO2". Then I remembered this little shop 3 miles from my house and viola! I'm sure my neighbor will be going there from now on too. They have way better hours than the gas/weld supply shop.

With todays gas prices, I don't think a trip to Edwardsville would have been cost effective at all. We're talking about 30 miles each way, which is like 12 bucks worth of gas in an F-150.

[BigBadJohn]

Just hooked up my regulator this weekend. Should the bulk pressure gauge be reading at just above red zone?
Its a Micromatic tap-rite replacement gauge btw