CO2 in WLG Area

[Michael]

Although I still need to get a picnic tap and a pressure regulator, I would like to go ahead and get a CO2 tank arranged in the Wellington area.

Can anyone here recommend a place the hires the bottles out?

Cheers!

[Simon David kelly]

There's a BOC Gas and Gear in seaview.

They'll probably be of some help.

Si

Gas & Gear -
Seaview
27-33 Seaview Road
Lower Hutt
Wellington
0800 111 333

[Michael]

cheers!

Now I need to go order the picnic tap and pressure regulator.

I guess craftbrew in Aussie will be the way to go. I wonder how long that will take.

[Nolen Smith]

Craftbrew turn things around d*mn quick. I often get orders from them delivered faster than some NZ suppliers. Last order delivery from them was on the 4th day after placing the order.

[welly]

I know you've asked about hiring a bottle but when I was looking and did the sums, it worked out far cheaper to buy my own CO2 tank. I got a reconditioned fire extinguisher from Wormalds in Petone. Their prices when I bought at the beginning of last year were;

Cylinder $20.00
Pressure test $45.00
Recharge $44.65
Valve $65.00

These prices do not include GST.

HTH

Graham

[jt]

Maybe also Wards in the Hutt (did I hear a rumour they were out of the co2 busness ?)

What size are they and how often you need them checked / tested welly ?

[Nolen Smith]

I was told a while back that Wards got out of it, but then heard recently that they've started refilling again... worth a call to find out.

I rent for BOC. It does work out a fraction more expensive, but when my tank is empty I just take it to Zip Plumbing on Adelaide road and swap it out... piece o cake.

[Michael]

At this point, I think this is the best option for me. I will certainly look to the other options in the future though.

Thank you to everyone who offered their experience / advice!

[MrC]

I purchased a full CO2 bottle from wards approx 2 months ago and at the time they didn't do refills. Wormalds in Petone will fill them.

Also, Wormalds told me that their CO2 is food grade.

As far as buying vs hiring is concerned, after a quick calculation I determined that after 3 years of hiring you will have spend the same amount of money as buying but you will have your own cylinder. Will you still be kegging home brewed beer in 3 years? I plan to be, hence my decision to buy rather than hire.

I read some scary info about converted fire extinguishers causing kegs to explode due to the way they draw CO2 from the bottom of the bottle. The guy from Wormald assurred me that they're fine but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

[welly]

I might be wrong but I think that the valve that Wormald fit means that the extinguisher acts like any other cylinder.

I read loads of stories about problems with extinguishers that still have the handle fitted which nearly put me off.

[welly]

The cylinder is 3.2kg about 44 cm tall without the valve and 15cm across the
base. The pressure test needs to be done every five years.

I don't manage to brew that often so I'm still on the original fill of gas.