CO2 Tank

[rrawhide]

Can you use CO 2 to top your wine off? I know that you can use nitrogen. The reason for this question is that when in Wally World today I spotted a small refillable CO 2 tanks for about $19. These are for the paint ball guns. I have no idea what volume they hold and how long they would last but might just be an inexpensive CO2 tank.

Advice please,

Thanx


rrawhide

 

[Tom]

I may be wrong but, I thought the paint ball CO2 has oil in it to lubricate the gun when shot.

Topping off.. I dont like gas I rather rack to smaller carboys. I am not a big fan of marbles.

 

[ibglowin]

The specific gravity (or density) of CO2 is ~1.52. Air is 1.00 so its heavier than air and would blanket the wine. Argon is ~1.38, Nitrogen is actually lighter than Air at ~0.97 so it is actually not a very good choice.

The problem may be in how can you do a controlled release with this cylinder? Does it have any type of valve? If not you would need to see if one is available or it would be useless. I use Argon for short term backfilling myself.

Can you use CO 2 to top your wine off?  I know that you can use nitrogen.  The reason for this question is that when in Wally World today I spotted a small refillable CO 2 tanks for about $19.  These are for the paint ball guns.  I have no idea what volume they hold and how long they would last but might just be an inexpensive CO2 tank.Advice please,Thanxrrawhide

 

[Wade E]

Im n ot sure if they are the same grade on C02 so I cant say but if they are it would work fine but youll need some way of getting it out of the tank)a hose of some sort with a connector to the tank and a shut off valve.

 

[xanxer82]

The paintball gun canisters do have oil in them.

 

[ibglowin]

If true that would kill the deal.

Wonder what the purpose of putting oil in is.

 

[vscottcolorado]

I tackled this same question a month or so ago. I purchased a Bicycle tire inflater that uses the small canisters for like BB and pellet guns. Wally World sells them as well. But I also dug through my sons Paintball equipment and found one of his old tanks. When I took it down to the local Paintball shop I found out it was a compressed air tank could not be used for CO2. While I was there the local gas supply Co. was delivering 2 lbs. CO2 cylinders. It had no oil in it and they do not add any at least not here in Colorado Springs. I would double check in your area.

Also there is a article on page 13 of Dec 2009/Jan 2010 Wine maker Mag. That address Argon use.

 

[ibglowin]

Yep,

That was sent in by yours truly!

 

[vscottcolorado]

Here is a link to my original post on using CO2



http://forum.finevinewines.com//forum_posts.asp?TID=8837&KW=

 

[vscottcolorado]

Just looked at it again and reconized Name and NM state. Great ? Are you using Argon?

 

[ibglowin]

Yep,

No problems so far. I have a cylinder and regulator. I have it set low and slow and just backfill with Argon for ~15-20 seconds and then recap. I didn't like the answer I got. I realize you may not get ALL the O2 out but your getting most of it. I have reopened after several weeks and stuck in a butane lighter and the flame went out instantly so its NOT going anywhere. From everything I have read, some commercial wineries are also using Argon for short term use. An Oak barrel leaks O2. Planks of Oak swollen by wine do not make for a completely airtight container by any stretch of the imagination. They leak, just slowly over time.

I have 6 months of data that says it works just fine for the small amount of headspace in these new Italian carboys. It's not cheap but neither are glass marbles!

 

[JimCook]

Argon and CO2 from a tank work fine - both can be rented or 'purchased' from welding supply shops as well. While my Zinfandel wine from grapes was undergoing extended maceration, I used CO2 to keep a blanket of anti-oxidation covering the wine and skins. Perhaps Mike can share the specifics of an Argon tank, but I know that a 5 pound cannister (stood about 1.5-2 feet high) of CO2 was $10/month for the tank and it cost $15 in gas to fill it up. I used it for about 3 weeks or so and returned it without a rental fee. Do note that I did have a regulator already.


Mike - thanks for letting us know about your time tests - it's good to know that the gas is hanging out in there without any reason to vacate the premises.


- Jim

 

[vscottcolorado]

if I had a 6 gallon carboy filled to 5-5/12 gallons, how often would you add argon to it?Doyou use an air lock or solid bung. I give a 5 gallon carboy with 4 gallons in it a good dose of CO2 every couple of weeks with an airlock.

 

[ibglowin]

I top off every 2 weeks about 20 seconds. I have a 6 foot piece of tygon attached to my regulator and I insert as far down into the carboy as I can and open the valve. I sweep the end around the surface and slowly back it out and stopper it immediately with a pre-filled airlock. The airlock bubbles for a few seconds until it reaches equilibrium. 2 weeks should be good for either scenario. Just make sure to be liberal with the use of the gas.