Hambleton Bard gas cylinder

[pascal]

I have received (from Freecycle) a Hambleton Bard carbon dioxide gas cylinder.

I do not know how old it is, I do not know if it's full or empty. I do not know where to get it filled, or what it costs, or if they fill or exchange. I do know that the blue seal around the top is unbroken.

I'm a bit afraid to try gassing my keg with it in case it blows up in my hand or something. We don't have - TTBOMK - a HBS in Chelmsford, so can anyone suggest where else I may be able to find someone who can take care of it for me?

Thanks,

[Anavrin]

If its sealed its probably full, normally you can just give an empty one for a discount on a full one at a home brew shop, Ive got some that are years old, I'd use it no problem, just be sure not to over gas your keg, you'll only need a quick burst, saying that any excess gas will come out through the seal on top of your keg so its not gonna blow up.

[pascal]

Sorry, by seal, I don't mean the valve is covered over - there's a seal around, I guess, the join from brass valve to bottle, "Not acceptable for refilling if this seal is broken or removed".

Should the weight tell me if it's full or empty? It says "TARE WEIGHT", then '875g' written on by hand. Does old CO2, I don't know, go off? If it's twenty years old, do I want to be gassing my brew with that?

[chivelegs]

Yup, the weight will show you if there's any CO2 left. If the cylinder weighs over your 875g it's good to go. I'd check that there isn't a load of crud or rust on the valve if I were you.

[bigdave]

Try pressing the valve in with a fork prong. if it hisses at you angrily you're gassy and good to go.

[Skiptonian]

Try pressing the valve in with a fork prong. if it hisses at you angrily you're gassy and good to go.

Point it away from you or you might get a frozen eyeball

Skiptonian

[pascal]

Thank you for all the replies.

I bottled up (PNI) my courage and had a go with a fork.

Anti-climactically, I couldn't make it do anything. So I wound it onto a spare keg valve and it worked. My only question now, I think, is given it's of unknown age, will the CO2 still be "good"? I know nothing can get in once it's sealed, but how pure are the contents when it's initially filled, and will any "air" (rather than CO2) have got in to have "gone bad". Sounds unlikely, but I thought I'd ask. The bottle does look very old.

[chivelegs]

You'll be fine. If any air could get in then the highly pressurised CO2 would have long since got out. Probably quite quickly and spectacularly.