Fish shop CO2

[Gragson]

When I fairly recently bought my Clarke MIG setup from a top bloke from here it came with 2 bottles of CO2. I've used up the green one pictured and still practicing my welding using the black one connected.
No idea on the capacity of these - any ideas?

I heard a good rumor recently that a big aquarium center local to me will refill CO2 bottles. Popped in today and asked them, not saying that they were for welding. The dude said they would but depended on the cylinder and to pop it down. I would feel a bit miffed if I had to give up the cylinders and go for another deal with bottle deposit and all that given that I have 2 of which I sort of own as they are in my possession.

If the fish shop say they can fill them no worries - what do you think?
No markings that make a lot of sense to me on the bottles - Any idea what the capacity of the bottles might be?

Many thanks!

 

[Ian James]

All pressurised bottles above a certain size have a test date on them as legally they have to be tested every 5 years people will not fill out of date bottles that's why you see dive bottles going cheep on eBay

 

[Gragson]

Thanks Gents, will see how it goes and post back.
Do you know what minimum size require a retest?

 

[500e]

Green one seems to have a label

 

[zx9]

Off topic, is that a GPz in the background?

 

[backpurge]

All pressurised bottles above a certain size have a test date on them as legally they have to be tested every 5 years people will not fill out of date bottles that's why you see dive bottles going cheep on eBay[/QUOTE

A lot of cylinders are now required to be tested every 10 years. One of the contributing factors is whether they maintain a residual pressure even when no more gas can be drawn from them

 

[fizzy]

Don't worry about the cylinders - you can buy pub gas with no deposit or anything - again just check it is pure CO2.
I find on the thicker stuff I weld CO2 actually helps.

 

[dannyp]

it's unlikely they'll fill your cylinder. they'll swap it for a full one most likely if it came from the same place.

they are basicly 10 ltr pub gas bottels here there is a £25 deposit on them no rental and £15 to exchange for a full one

 

[Gragson]

Off topic, is that a GPz in the background?

A mere GPZ! thats a Turbo 750 mate

Its not the same place for sure - will see what they say to fill it tomorrow, here's hoping I have a friendly local source, even if they are pub bottles will do me.

 

[Jlg]

The fish shop will more than likely tell you no I've tried before the only way I get c02 filled now is by myself I even refill them for one of my local fish shops it's just a family owned one though

 

[rikrobson]

Are you sure they are co2.
Co2 shouldn't be in a green bottle. And the black one looks like it's been painted in gloss black. If the bottles are out of date or just wrong they may not refill them.
Just speak to a friendly landlord about getting pub gas bottles.

 

[zx9]

A mere GPZ! thats a Turbo 750 mate

Cool, I have a ZX1100A2 taken out to 1170 with smooth bore carbs, ZZR forks, ZXR wheels and swinging arm. Not been on the road for far too long one day the beast will live again.............................

 

[Gragson]

Cheers Jig & Rik, I don't know if they were originally CO2, but thats what was in them, wish I had a friendly local landlord, but its all poncy gastro pubs round me

 

[Gragson]

Cool, I have a ZX1100A2 taken out to 1170 with smooth bore carbs, ZZR forks, ZXR wheels and swinging arm. Not been on the road for far too long one day the beast will live again.............................

Keith, appears we have the same affliction

Taken out to 810, ZZR11 front, R1 rear, intercooler, Garrett GT17 turbo, lock up clutch,and on and on... in fact I have forgotten half the upgrades ive done - amazingly still on the road

 

[fizzy]

Cheers Jig & Rik, I don't know if they were originally CO2, but thats what was in them, wish I had a friendly local landlord, but its all poncy gastro pubs round me

There must be a CO2 supplier in your area - there are several in Swansea - easy to get hold of - just google pub supplies or bottled gas in your home town.

 

[Cobbler]

When I read the title, I thought fish shop co2? I couldn't think where a fish & chip shop used co2. Auto fire system maybe! Me being dim ..... Again

 

[rikrobson]

What type of connector is it on the bottles?

 

[Gragson]

The fish shop guy (I can't spell aquarieum) said he would have no trouble at all filling it up, but as most stated, without a valid test date stamp he could not do it...

 

[lazybones51]

Some aquatic shops deal with CO2 as people who keep planted aquariums inject CO2 in to the water for the plants.

 

[Gareth J]

Cheapest way I found to acquire (fairly small amounts of) CO2 was out of date fire extinguishers. Could be found on eBay for ~£10 for a 2l one. If you can get someone to refill something that's great but if not, maybe that could be an option.