Just been to pick up my Christmas present from 'Cornie' Norman
I've gone for one of his converted cornies- looks to have a nice (Shiny!) tap with it.
I've rigged it up to a standard 2Kg Fire extinguisher from my local supplier (re furbished and filled cost £10). All I did was unscrew discharge funnel you point at a fire and screwed my standard regulator straight on- aparently all Co2 cylinders have the same thread. The only diffrence I can see is the trigger valve on the extinguisher instead of the wheel valve you get on pub gas. I dont think this is a problem, I'll just give it a squirt now and again as pressure drops or use the pin in the handle to permenantly hold the valve open. So far I've only tested with water in the cornie (well if it didn't work couldn't risk spilling beer!) but it seems fine.
From what I can tell Co2 is Co2 so no health issues. I can easily get the fire extinguisher re-filled. Think this could be a alternative source of C02 for anyone who needs to buy a cylinder and maybe more readily available?
Next job is to convert my King Keg to run off the same setup so won't need to use secondary ferm to pressurise. I'll use the cornie tap to dispense from the KK by rigging up a JG bulkhead fitting throught the KK lid and tube to the bottom of the KK. I should be able to serve easier through this tap -and it looks a lot cooler!
Now all I need to do is get a brew in the cornie- can't wait....
Merry Christmas to all!
Fire extinguisher driven cornie
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moorsd
I am certainly no expert, but I am pretty sure there is a difference between industrial Co2 and Co2 intended for beer dispensing etc (Food Grade)
My Co2 cylinder has "Food Grade" stamped on it and I believe that it is filtered differently when filled/manufactured so that there aren't any nasties or impurities.
Having said that, normal industrial Co2 is probably fine...maybe just down to the usual EC regs that mean Co2 intended for food use must be used??
My Co2 cylinder has "Food Grade" stamped on it and I believe that it is filtered differently when filled/manufactured so that there aren't any nasties or impurities.
Having said that, normal industrial Co2 is probably fine...maybe just down to the usual EC regs that mean Co2 intended for food use must be used??
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danielski
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Russ
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Road Runner
I think we decided that the only difference in the Gas, is the storage of the bottles.
The CO2 is exactly the same from whatever the source.
The bottles marked "Food Grade" apparently are supposed to be stored indoors only. Whereas unmarked CO2 bottles, ie welding bottles/fire extinguishers etc, can be stored outdoors also.
I have heard of people using fire extinguishers for a CO2 source, so you should be fine.
Mine though is food grade
The CO2 is exactly the same from whatever the source.
The bottles marked "Food Grade" apparently are supposed to be stored indoors only. Whereas unmarked CO2 bottles, ie welding bottles/fire extinguishers etc, can be stored outdoors also.
I have heard of people using fire extinguishers for a CO2 source, so you should be fine.
Mine though is food grade
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Russ
Hi Johnmac
Yes £10 all in, the guy is just round the corner from where I live, (Evesham, Worcestershire) -think he's only got limited supplies of these, and said a recharge was going to be £11!??
I'm not now sure I'm completley happy using this as a source of gas, half of me thinks it'll be OK (and seems to be the popular opinion) the other half says is it worth (the small risk). I've looked into getting Pub gas locally and so far hit a blank, will reasearch more tomorrow. Alternatives so far are to fork out for a Widget World rig or try the Calor guys or Air products (nearest that does cellar gas is 25 miles away so far) and havn't got a price yet....Can't believe I'm finding this so hard to find-it's not as if I'm in the middle of no where..
Having now tested the set up with water I've also got another issue, I don't seem to be able to get much out of the tap Norm supplied unless I pressurise to 20 psi. This seems exessive and not what I wanted -anyone had similar issues?
Will play with it a bit more before I call Norm to see if i've got a dud tap.
to cap it all I've got a Woodefords Great eastern in Primary using Safale yeast, fermented well for 4 days and now it looks like is stuck at 1020- it's enough to drive you to drink! (better get a TC on the go)
Russ
Yes £10 all in, the guy is just round the corner from where I live, (Evesham, Worcestershire) -think he's only got limited supplies of these, and said a recharge was going to be £11!??
I'm not now sure I'm completley happy using this as a source of gas, half of me thinks it'll be OK (and seems to be the popular opinion) the other half says is it worth (the small risk). I've looked into getting Pub gas locally and so far hit a blank, will reasearch more tomorrow. Alternatives so far are to fork out for a Widget World rig or try the Calor guys or Air products (nearest that does cellar gas is 25 miles away so far) and havn't got a price yet....Can't believe I'm finding this so hard to find-it's not as if I'm in the middle of no where..
Having now tested the set up with water I've also got another issue, I don't seem to be able to get much out of the tap Norm supplied unless I pressurise to 20 psi. This seems exessive and not what I wanted -anyone had similar issues?
Will play with it a bit more before I call Norm to see if i've got a dud tap.
to cap it all I've got a Woodefords Great eastern in Primary using Safale yeast, fermented well for 4 days and now it looks like is stuck at 1020- it's enough to drive you to drink! (better get a TC on the go)
Russ
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Vossy1
Hi Russ,
£11 is expensive for a 2kg refill. A few of us use the 14kg c02 tanks and they rarely cost more than £17 all in.
What tap has Norm supplied? If it's the standard one with his £45 corny and tap set up, it has a flow control lever on the side....does yours
I've got a pic of mine, I'll go and find it
I'll have to take another pic tomorrow as mine has shrunk with age
£11 is expensive for a 2kg refill. A few of us use the 14kg c02 tanks and they rarely cost more than £17 all in.
What tap has Norm supplied? If it's the standard one with his £45 corny and tap set up, it has a flow control lever on the side....does yours
I've got a pic of mine, I'll go and find it
I'll have to take another pic tomorrow as mine has shrunk with age
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Scooby
Russ, not sure what you mean by not very much out? I've 2 of Norms tap and they are excellent. Make sure you have the flow control that Vossy1 mentioned set in the down position.Russ wrote:Hi Johnmac
Having now tested the set up with water I've also got another issue, I don't seem to be able to get much out of the tap Norm supplied unless I pressurise to 20 psi. This seems exessive and not what I wanted -anyone had similar issues?
Will play with it a bit more before I call Norm to see if i've got a dud tap.
Russ
I dispense at 5-8psi with 2m of 3/8 tube, a pint takes about 20-25 secs to pour.
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ColinKeb
the nearest gas supplier i think is actually near where i live now in gloucester. i paid £35 for my widget world kit from h&g and its perfect although you dont get a pressure gauge for that price (you can always add one for anothet £6 later)-
Russ
Hi Vossy,Scooby
Yep it's one of Norms standard jobbies with the flow control valve, beautiful looking bit of kit. I was expecting more flow but just checked mine and it took 25 seconds to fill a pint glass using 2 m 3/8 tube and 8psi. So guess this is OK I've mounted my tap 1.5 meters of the floor, the cornie sits on the floor so this will cause a bit of a flow loss - think I can live with this. (Unless i need a pint quicker than 25 seconds!
)
Regarding the gas best (only!) place I can find in the area (other than the fire extinguisher place) is in Worcester, The'll deliver CO2 or pub gas for one off rental of £25 (all bottle sizes) and £15 for the gas, think he said it was 7lbs? size or £36.50 for 21lbs but I need to check the sizes. They come over this way weekly delivering to the pubs.
Also I have a contact who works occasionally in a pub (he rekons he might be able to help), my best hope.
Hi Colin
Great to hear from a local (well fairly..)
Think I'll end up going for a bigger cylinder than the WW setup as I already have a reg ang guess the gas will work out cheaper in the long run.
Any good HB shops near you?
I've been to Pops in Cheltenham-seems pretty good and a helpful guy.
I found a brewery in Stratford yesterday thats setting up a HB shop in the New Year and hope to do kits based on their brews- Sounds useful, although he nearly chucked me off the premises when I said I was looking for gas to dispense with...He said it would 'taint the flavour of the brew', guess this may be less of an issue with pub gas- going to check posts on forum as I guess this has been covered
Cheers
Yep it's one of Norms standard jobbies with the flow control valve, beautiful looking bit of kit. I was expecting more flow but just checked mine and it took 25 seconds to fill a pint glass using 2 m 3/8 tube and 8psi. So guess this is OK I've mounted my tap 1.5 meters of the floor, the cornie sits on the floor so this will cause a bit of a flow loss - think I can live with this. (Unless i need a pint quicker than 25 seconds!
)Regarding the gas best (only!) place I can find in the area (other than the fire extinguisher place) is in Worcester, The'll deliver CO2 or pub gas for one off rental of £25 (all bottle sizes) and £15 for the gas, think he said it was 7lbs? size or £36.50 for 21lbs but I need to check the sizes. They come over this way weekly delivering to the pubs.
Also I have a contact who works occasionally in a pub (he rekons he might be able to help), my best hope.
Hi Colin
Great to hear from a local (well fairly..)
Think I'll end up going for a bigger cylinder than the WW setup as I already have a reg ang guess the gas will work out cheaper in the long run.
Any good HB shops near you?
I've been to Pops in Cheltenham-seems pretty good and a helpful guy.
I found a brewery in Stratford yesterday thats setting up a HB shop in the New Year and hope to do kits based on their brews- Sounds useful, although he nearly chucked me off the premises when I said I was looking for gas to dispense with...He said it would 'taint the flavour of the brew', guess this may be less of an issue with pub gas- going to check posts on forum as I guess this has been covered
Cheers
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ColinKeb
hi , pops is the only shop around here i think , there are a few brewerys though ,hook norton being the most well known , battledown in cheltenham as well. shipston on stour has a few pub brewerys but if you go there you wont come back for a while . i went there once and ended up living there for about 2 years, cant remember much other than the landlord of one of the pubs hanged himself from the top of the bar once then the next day everyone was back in there drinking as if nothing had happened! i also managed to get into a fight in one of the other pubs there and noone batted an eyelid while it went on we wernt even barred! when i apologised to the land lord a few days later he said that the other bloke was always at it and not to worry 
anyway there is a welding supplier in churchdown who can supply gas and may be able to get co2 although its probably the same distance as worcester and it sounds like youll get it delivered from there anyway.
have a look at the camra site and you will get some usefull pointers possibly. there is plenty of festival activity round here.
we wernt even barred! when i apologised to the land lord a few days later he said that the other bloke was always at it and not to worry anyway there is a welding supplier in churchdown who can supply gas and may be able to get co2 although its probably the same distance as worcester and it sounds like youll get it delivered from there anyway.
have a look at the camra site and you will get some usefull pointers possibly. there is plenty of festival activity round here.