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-   -   Where to get CO2 Refill in San Mateo Area (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=879571)

tubs 07/05/2006 04:33 PM

Where to get CO2 Refill in San Mateo Area
 
Anyone know where I can get a CO2 refill in the San Mateo area. I know praxair used to be in San Carlos but they're not there anymore.

TIA,
John

Blu50Stang 07/05/2006 04:36 PM

AirGas is in San Carlos on Industrial

tubs 07/05/2006 04:40 PM

ooh thanks man! Its a pain to get to clark industrial in SJ early in the morning and try to get to work in San Mateo in a reasonable time.


John

GreshamH 07/05/2006 04:51 PM

take the Holly St exit IIRC. Just down the street from Gen (Kritter). There's also one in SJ close to the airport, but on the other side of 880 (stadium side)

GreshamH 07/05/2006 04:51 PM

Now that I think about it, I think there's one even closer to you. Ask Sion where he gets his filled :D Oh, I mean Randy :lol:

tubs 07/06/2006 07:13 AM

Gresham - thanks buddy. The one in San Carlos works well cuz its just down the freeway from where I work.

BTW the one in downtonw SJ is kinda expensive. For those in SJ Clark Industrial off of Brokaw (near Fry's) is much cheaper at $12 versus the $20 for a 5lb exchange (no refill though/exchange only)

Sparkss 07/06/2006 09:16 AM

Not to go totally off topic, but I hate that about Praxair(and alot of other CO2 supply companies), the exchange, not refill policy that is. I use a 20# bottle and had a really nice aluminum one that I ended up with after a couple of exchanges and really wanted to hold onto it (until I rebuilt our regulator it leaked horribly, from the day we bought it, so I did alot od exchanges in a short span of time.. I really cannot recommend the Milwaukee regulators). Since it sits in a corner anyways, I just resigned myself to a regular bottle :)

tubs 07/06/2006 10:27 AM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7690062#post7690062 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sparkss
Not to go totally off topic, but I hate that about Praxair(and alot of other CO2 supply companies), the exchange, not refill policy that is. I use a 20# bottle and had a really nice aluminum one that I ended up with after a couple of exchanges and really wanted to hold onto it (until I rebuilt our regulator it leaked horribly, from the day we bought it, so I did alot od exchanges in a short span of time.. I really cannot recommend the Milwaukee regulators). Since it sits in a corner anyways, I just resigned myself to a regular bottle :)
Yeah I hear ya - this is why folks need to check local supplies before they buy a nice shiny aluminum bottle. Heck these ugly welding shop bottles rust too so if you don't put a tray underneath they might stain your stand with rust :eek:

I'm guessing here that the refills are a liability and believe that all refill bottles must go through some sort of inspection? And thus no refills on the spot?

John

GreshamH 07/06/2006 10:37 AM

Ever try to refill a bottle yourself? It's not an easy process, and one most shops aren't willing to do on the spot ;)

Nope, no hydro (inspection) before refilling in most cases. Sometimes a visual is done, but typically not.

tubs 07/06/2006 10:52 AM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7690461#post7690461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
Ever try to refill a bottle yourself? It's not an easy process, and one most shops aren't willing to do on the spot ;)

Nope, no hydro (inspection) before refilling in most cases. Sometimes a visual is done, but typically not.

Then they are just lazy :rolleyes: :D

Unarce 07/06/2006 11:29 AM

John,

I found a place in our area that does beverage grade CO2 refilling while you wait. If I ever get around to setting up my reactor, that's where I'll be bringing my bottle to each time.

The place is primarily a fire protection shop. If you're looking for a place to just refill, try these guys in Palo Alto: http://www.acefireinc.com/index.htm

I bet they do the Hydrostatic Testing, too.

HTH

Karl

tubs 07/06/2006 12:25 PM

Karl,

Thanks! paly alto is kinda out of the way though but its good info for those in that area.

J

GreshamH 07/07/2006 01:15 AM

karl brings up a great point. CO2 source. Most industrial grade, like you get from Airgas, is from the Oil refineries in the Richmond area. Not sure if it is bad or not, but that's the largest source around.

GreshamH 07/07/2006 01:19 AM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7690538#post7690538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tubs
Then they are just lazy :rolleyes: :D
Or they don't have the insurance in place to fill bottles, which if not done right, can explode, shoot across the room like a rocket, or freeze some ones hands off. Or they're just lazy :lol:

I've seen CO2 and Scuba tanks go off, it's not a pretty sight.

tubs 07/07/2006 07:44 AM

Quote:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7695453#post7695453 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GreshamH
Or they don't have the insurance in place to fill bottles, which if not done right, can explode, shoot across the room like a rocket, or freeze some ones hands off. Or they're just lazy :lol:

I've seen CO2 and Scuba tanks go off, it's not a pretty sight.

G,
This is the line I was thinking about earlier - liability so that is why they don't refill?

J

trmiv 07/07/2006 10:15 AM

There's a soft drink place called Carbonic Service in Santa Clara that will do fills while you wait. I brought them a brand new bottle last time and they filled it for me, no exchange.

GreshamH 07/07/2006 10:41 AM

Food grade at that :D

tubs 07/07/2006 11:17 AM

Hey this is getting to be a good list of CO2 providers :D. Well anyway I went to work late today and got an exchange over at Clark Industrial. FWIW the 20lb bottle cost $19 to exchange.

GreshamH 07/07/2006 11:26 AM

Some one should capture this, and add it to BAR's resources page :D

tubs 07/07/2006 11:33 AM

ok I'll get it started:

Exchanges:

* Airgas
820 Industrial Rd, San Carlos, CA
(650) 592-9305

* Clark Industrial Supply Inc
1760 Rogers Ave, San Jose, CA
(408) 436-7544

Refills

* Ace Fire Equipment & Service Co., Inc.
http://www.acefireinc.com/index.htm
Food/Beverage Grade
1870 West Bayshore road
Palo alto, ca 94303
Phone: 650/321-7440
Fax: 650/321-1063

Carbonic Service Inc
http://carbonicservice.com/
1920 De La Cruz Blvd, Santa Clara, CA
(408) 727-8835
Food/Beverage Grade

trmiv 07/07/2006 11:38 AM

Carbonic Service has a website
http://carbonicservice.com/

trmiv 07/14/2006 11:19 AM

Anyone know of a place closer to Fremont? I need to get my tank filled, and can't do it during the week, and the wife is protesting about driving down to Santa Clara for a tank of CO2 for me.

tubs 07/14/2006 11:25 AM

I saw the carbonic service delivery truck in Burlingame so maybe they deliver if you are up to that.

J

trmiv 07/14/2006 11:28 AM

I think my little 5 pound bottle is too small time for that. :D

tubs 07/14/2006 11:29 AM

that's what I though LOL - just poked it out there :D


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