Can a BBQ gaz tank be used for CO2 tank ? (For airbrush propellant soruce)

[Fred Methot]

BBQ Gaz tank are really cheap and I was wondering if it could be used as a CO2 tank for airbrushing?

Does it have standard conenctiont hat would accept a pressure regulator? If so, what kind of regulator should be used... is 0-160psi enough?

Anyone knowledgeable in this area can help here ?

[Dave Wenzlick / Slickraft]

Re-use of tank like this can be life threatening. I have seen adaptor kits sold to re-use these tanks for air pressure cylinders. I have witnessed the damage a ruptured airtank can cause. It is dangerous. Will it work? Yes. Would I risk it? No way. Buy a small compressor or proper storage tank.

[t-turley]

Originally posted by Dave Wenzlick / Slickraft
No way. Buy a small compressor or proper storage tank. Speaking of which, I bought a Campbell-Hausfeld(sp?) 5 gallon air tank recently. Where can I get the proper adapter to fit my air gun hose? I have a Badger single action internal mix. I picked up the Badger adapter that lets the hose fit a tire nozzle, but it will only fit the intake nozzle on the tank.

Tony Turley

[hoppy]

Using any tank for other then it's intended purpose can be very dangerous!
hoppy

[M.PROTZEK]

I work on cryogenic systems and this would not be a good idea.
Most CO2 cylinders are rated for around 2400 psi, though co2 will normally be around 750-850 psi when we pumped them.The gas tank could not handle that pressure. You would not be able to take the tank to any reputable gas plant and have them fill it

[Fred Methot]

Thanks guy... for maybe saving my life ;)

Anyways I don't think the guy would have filled my BBQ tank with CO2...

I will get that CO2 tank that is made for this...

[J Morgan]

Fred,
I got my compressor online at Pearl Paints and it was on sale. $180 comp for $90. It has a switch and only runs when you're using it and runs very quiet. I really like it. Never run out of air or CO2 again.

[mkirsch1]

Yeah, by the time you purchase a CO2 tank, and spend money on repeatedly filling it with CO2, you could get a small compressor... WalMart has a Campbell-Hausfeld "Ultra Quiet" compressor for $89.99.

[dirtdiver]

Check yard sales i got a 5 gal. compressor that is quiet for $25 bucks.

Pat

[cruzomatic]

I'm with the majority, not safe,,,plus shame on you for wanting to do that to your BBQ Pit. ;)

[chrisbarker]

Hi,

I use a standard airhose quick-connector that is reduced by reducing nipples down to, I believe it is, 1/16" pipe thread. At any rate, the hose from my Badger airbrush has a standard fitting on it. I can then plug it into the airhose from my air compresser. I am carefull about setting the air regulator to the recommended pressure or it will blow the airseals out of the airbrush or worse hurt me.

Chris

[KnifeEdge51]

If you HAVE to have CO2, try a paintball CO2 tank. A 20oz tank can be had for about $30 or so. However, it will need to be hydrostatically tested every five years. If you go with a 9oz tank, you won't have to get it tested as far as I was ever taught (I used to work in a paintball shop and filled the things all the time, so I had to know this stuff. 9oz and smaller don't require testing). My suggestion would be a compressor, though. No need to mess with the tank.

Nick R.

[Alfred]

Co2 cylinders are rated at over 2400psi, so please be careful. The cheapest large Co2 cylinder that I use for planted tanks is from a soda dispenser. They are big (most are 72-80cubic feet) and will hold enought Co2 for many paint jobs!

[KnifeEdge51]

Another thing I just thought of that you need to be very careful about with CO2 is venting. I've had a burst disk rupture on a tank while it was in my hand (burst disk breaks if the pressure in the tank gets too high. It's designed to break before the tank does to avoid an explosion). The tank was a 9oz tank, and was less than 1/4 full, but was left in the sun on a hot day at a feild I was reffing at. I picked it up and it just vented. And since CO2 cools when it expands (or absorbs heat), it froze to my hand, and all the skin on my middle finger. The finger survived, with much pain. However, I don't want anything else like it to happen to anyone else. Make sure to avoid overheating the tank.

Nick R.

[Fred Methot]

Thanks guys for the replies...

I wanted to keep it safe, so I took the safe route.

Got myself a nice "little" Porter Cable compressor for 120$ Canadian, it has a 2 gal air tanks on it so the compressor runs only when the tank gets empty... pretty quiet too.