Has this been discussed? My local hardware store has always had red oxygen cylinders and they have been out now for months. I just read an ARTICLE stating that there is a global O2 supply issue. I know some of you will say YOU DON’T NEED O2 FOR BREWING! but I do use it on every batch.
This has been going on since the beginning the pandemic. Maybe you’ll have to see how you do without it.
Funny you say that because when I get a new cylinder I write the date on it in Sharpie. On my current cylinder it has a date of November 2019 on it. I haven’t bought one since. I was thinking of going to the Home Depot or my Menards but my guess is that everyone is out of stock on them. Finding out how the beer comes out without O2 might be my only choice.
EDIT: I just checked HD and it says the item (Bernz-O-Matic) is not available at any store within 100 miles from me. OH NO!!! 
I am not sure about O2, but propane is very difficult to get out here. I think mostly due to shipping the bottles
hmmm, I’ve had no difficulties procuring o2 bottles out here
I can still get the little red oxygen bottles, but the cost is nasty. I wound up buying a oxygen regulator and 20 cubic foot tank. The cost of oxygen is way cheaper, but the up front cost is not good. Each refill of of the 20 cubic foot cost $30 and last 3-4 years. I’m pretty generous with the oxygen, so those little tanks were costing me 30-40 bucks a year.
There’s is no problem getting the tanks refilled.
Heh, giddy up. My local Menards showed 9 in stock on their website and I just went over there and snagged one. $10.99! COME TO PAPA!!
The blue propane cylinders were also not available in my area when mine ran out.
I was planning on getting a new gas grill and another propane tank. I hope I can find one. They sell propane tanks EVERYWHERE here… the hardware store, liquor stores, gas stations, etc.
I went shopping for red O2 cylinder a few months ago and couldn’t find any. Discouraging that the shortage is still happening.
The 20 lb cylinders are available. I was talking about the smaller blue cylinders that are good for a plumber’s torch.
I bought several of the small red O2 cylinders a few years ago when a hardware store was going out of business and had them on sale. When I emptied one I found that I had no way to dispose of it. It is illegal to put it in the trash or recycling here - it needs to go to a Hazardous Household Waste disposal site. My city has one a few miles away, but when I took it there they said they wouldn’t take it. They take propane cylinders that are the same size, shape and metal but they won’t take the O2 ones. I called the County HHW center and they said they would take it, but they wouldn’t take if from me because my city has their own program! The only suggestion they had was for me to find someone else who lives in the county but not in my city and give it to them to take to the county site. What a pain! I am sure that in most places you can just toss it in the trash.
I actually had no idea there might be an issue with these things. When I empty one I throw it into the recycling assuming it’s an empty metal cylinder that once held something that is not dangerous and it can be recycled.
Thank goodness the only thing we use oxygen for is…breathing!
If you’re breathing pure O2 I’d suggest you stop.
Uh…no. We get the ambient mixture here at 700 feet above sea level. 
After reading this thread, I went and checked our Menards store and, sure enough, they were out of O2.
No shortage here in Canada that I have seen.