Where do you get food grade CO2?

[syncopadence]

I’ve just been getting my CO2 from a local welding shop, but I’m worried this may not be the healthiest option. So where should I go?

[Robertestein05_gmail.com (Robert)]

Airgas for one, if there’s one near you.  Check their website for their products and locations.  Also, try asking a local bar or restaurant where they get theirs.

[Bob357]

CO2 is CO2. The problem is not with the gas, but the handling of it and the containers it is dispensed from and stored in. There is always a possibility that impurities may be introduced into the cylinder while being filled. While food service providers may be more careful, there’s still a chance of contaminants, though it is likely smaller than a welding supply.

As Robert said, check with local bars and restaurants to see where they get theirs. Better yet, ask a local brewery.

[Robertestein05_gmail.com (Robert)]

@Bob357

CO2 is CO2. The problem is not with the gas, but the handling of it and the containers it is dispensed from and stored in. There is always a possibility that impurities may be introduced into the cylinder while being filled. While food service providers may be more careful, there’s still a chance of contaminants, though it is likely smaller than a welding supply.

As Robert said, check with local bars and restaurants to see where they get theirs. Better yet, ask a local brewery.

Quite right.  The definition of “food grade” is only that it is free of residues of petroleum lubricants or other toxic substances, and as the OP is aware welders probably don’t worry about that. Suppliers like Airgas offer further degrees of purity extending to moisture and O₂ content for example.  But Bob and I seem to be on the same page: get it where the pros go.  They have an interest in vetting the source.

[jkirkham (James K)]

Airgas is where I go and it’s also where the local breweries in my town go. They advertise “food grade”  on their marquee. I’m not sure what praxair sells (Petro or food grade), but those are the only two companies I even know about that sell co2.

[ynotbrusum]

Some LHBS do tank swaps.  Some folks don’t want swapped out tanks when they are turning in a pristine aluminum tank, so they have to locate a fill station.  We have 3 choices, here, luckily.  I still just swap them out, since it is closer than the fill station.

[Robertestein05_gmail.com (Robert)]

@jkirkham

Airgas is where I go and it’s also where the local breweries in my town go. They advertise “food grade”  on their marquee. I’m not sure what praxair sells (Petro or food grade), but those are the only two companies I even know about that sell co2.

There may be other independent specialist sources.  Here in town there is a company that exclusively services the beverage trade – CO₂ and draught and soda fountain equipment for bars and restaurants.  They will fill bottles.

@ynotbrusum

Some LHBS do tank swaps.  Some folks don’t want swapped out tanks when they are turning in a pristine aluminum tank, so they have to locate a fill station.  We have 3 choices, here, luckily.  I still just swap them out, since it is closer than the fill station.

This is the ideal, and I’m lucky to have such a LHBS.  They used to run batches of bottles down to that above mentioned beverage supplier, but installed their own filling equipment and now buy bulk from Airgas. As time goes on, the old steel rust bombs are vanishing, and mostly in a swap you get a nice aluminum bottle. 

(A great thing about finding a place that does exchanges is that it’s on them to pull out-of-date bottles from the pool and take them for testing and recertification.)