Is CO2 from Welding Supply & Paintball Safe?

[cmkunisch]

I've heard the CO2 you get from welding or paintball supply is not as pure of a mix. Is this a health hazard?

[cubby_swans]

Originally Posted by cmkunisch

I've heard the CO2 you get from welding or paintball supply is not as pure of a mix. Is this a health hazard?

That's most likely incorrect. The co2 you get from a welding or paintball supply store is the same co2 you get from anywhere else. They're all getting their supply one way or another from the industrial big guys like Airgas or UIG, and their co2 is about as pure as you can get. The lowest co2 purity grade available at either of these two companies is 99.98%.

I've READ that there are food grade co2 containers, that are glass coated, that are used for commercial applications (restaraunts)? This supposedly prevents any backflow into the system from causing the tank to rust, and then POSSIBLY contaminating your system with rust. But I can't find any concrete evidence to support even this. There are tens of thousands of kegerator owners around the world that fill their gas tanks up at welding supply stores and paintball stores. If it were even a remote health hazard, you can be certain that it wouldn't be legal for these guys to be filling up co2 tanks that is going to be consumed.

[Sammy1759]

Hey Cubby you seem to know a lot about the co2, so I ask you this. How would one know if there tank is lined with glass? Also I have heard that some tanks have a "straw" of some type to bring out the liquid part of gas from the bottom. I think this type of tank is for making dry ice and other industrial apps. So we as beer drinkers want the tank that pull co2 in the gas state from the top correct? How can I find out if the tank I have is a top draw or a bottom draw? I have 2 tanks and think that the one I rent from a bev company is a top draw while the one I own I think draws from the bottom. any help or thoughts are great!

[cubby_swans]

I'm no expert at anything, except maybe Google. Don't know anything about different types of containers that are top vs. bottom drawers? My container came with my kegerator, so I'm pretty sure I got the right one.

I don't have a clue where you buy one of these food grade co2 containers. Like I said, I just READ about them, in various blog responses. Could be they're full of cr@p.

I have found from a few food business websites that there are food grade co2 cartridges, and that one shouldn't use the standard pellet gun cartridges, but for all I know they're just using a scare tactic to sell the co2 cartridges they're trying to sell. This also could be where the 'food grade' co2 rumors have come from.

All I know for sure is that I went to the websites of Airgas and UIG and the lowest grade co2 available is 99.98% pure. Airgas has locations all over this country. I bet if you ask whichever welding supply store the purity of their co2 gas, they're going to come back with this same number or maybe 99.97%.

I'm reasonably comfortable feeling that welding supply stores are not a health hazard. People have been filling co2 tanks from welding supply stores for as long as home kegerators have existed. My dad had one 25+ years ago. If it were a health hazard, someone (FDA?) would have figured it out by now and made it illegal.

[Sammy1759]

Thanks Cubby, I dont think there is anything to worry about with welding co2 or food grade, I think it is all the same. I only ask about the bottom draw because I saw an adapter to make dry ice with, the co2 tank but it must be a bottom draw type. The tank I own is old(60s) and when I open the valve the regulator freezes up and sort of looks like dry ice. but the rental tank dosent do that. That is how I came to think that I have the top and bottomdraw tanks. I only ask because I might be taking a keg up to MI from home and the drive will be at least 6 hr. Hence the dry ice to keep it cold in the trunk. I just may buy some water ice or buy/make dry ice. sorry to ramble on about the topic

[psychodad]

The co2 from welding suppliers and paintball outfitters is cleaner than many a bar that I've enjoyed beer in.

[lunkhead]

I've been getting welding shop co2 for my jocky box and kegerator for over 20years now. I seem to be getting fatter and my hair is turning gray, hummm. I may just be getting older too??

[jlopez77]

I get mine from a welding supply store also and have had no problems even with out a CO2 filter.

[oneandonlychaz]

The tube going down into the bottom of the tank is called a siphon tube. Its used in applications where you need to be assured you are getting liquid co2 out of the tank not the gas. This is used mainly as far as when you are filling other tanks. I dont know if this would cause any problems except at the regulator. When i played paintball liquid co2 was the devil because it got into stuff and expanded rapidly and would blow solenoids and mess up co2 regulators. I would advise getting a tank that doesnt have a siphon tube just for those reasons.

[Saintjude33]

I spoke to someone I know in the Health Department here in CT, and he assured me that the CO2 from welding shops is perfectly fine.

He uses CO2 for immunizations, and wouldn't use it there, but for beer dispensing, it's fine.