Best place to refill CO2 tanks in SLC?

[Guyver]

I exchange my 10 lb tanks at The Beer Nut for $15 - commercial grade CO2, so it's better than the industrial-grade (better diffusion because it's more pure). Anybody know any other places to refill commercial or medical grade CO2 in SLC? Thanks.

[Hashbaz]

That seems like about what I payed for industrial grade.

[EntoCraig]

Yeah I payed like 13 bucks for a 10#. I didnt know there were different grades.

[Flood]

From my understanding the gas is the same but tanks are different. Food grade tanks have an inner lining of glass to prevent rust from forming incase of liquid backflowing into the tank. The rust can contaminate whatever food product they are using the CO2 for: beer, soda, etc...

I usually exchange my 20lb tank at Humphries gas/welding supply in AF for $20-$25.

[EntoCraig]

That is where I go also.

[Guyver]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I was under the impression that industrial vs. food vs. medical was a measure of purity, but I've also heard that commercial and medical grade generate less waste bubbles and better diffusion for the same bps into a reactor than industrial? The glass lining makes sense. I wonder what makes medical grade that much better...

On a side note, I'm in East Millcreek (3900 South 3700 East). The Beer Nut is on State and ~13th. Are there any places closer to my neighborhood that do refills? Fish-4-U doesn't, as they don't carry any pressurized CO2 systems at all.

[Flood]

Rex has this on his CO2 FAQ:

Are there different grades of CO2?

Yes, in the United States there are two basic grades of CO2 that you can find. Beverage/food/welding grade which is 99.99% pure CO2 with the main contaminant being water. The other grade is Medical grade. Medical grade CO2 is 99.999% pure. That extra 9 costs a lot of money. Some places will try and tell you that there is a difference between welding grade and food/beverage grade. If this is the case then that difference happens at their location. If you could be there when the CO2 truck comes you would find that they fill both containers from the same truck.

[EntoCraig]

So essentially the Co2 would be the same and its the containers they are stored in that make the difference?

[Flood]

So essentially the Co2 would be the same and its the containers they are stored in that make the difference?

That sounds about right. CO2 is only as clean as the tank that holds it. I know they make inline co2 purifiers to remove any crap that might come out of your tank.

I never knew about medical grade CO2. Sounds like it has been processed (dried) further to remove water. Probably used get more accurate measurements in labs and protect sensitive lab/medical equipment?

[Guyver]

Good info Flood! Between you and Craig, I'm pretty sure my records are set straight.

Industrial = 99.99% pure, regular metal bottle.
Beverage = 99.99% pure, glass-lined metal bottle.
Medical = 99.999% pure, probably glass-lined as well.