Currently I use a convereted fire extinguisher, but would love a cylinder with the proper valve etc. I've been trying to source cheap CO2 cylinders for quite a while and have contacted a number of companies.
Well it seems that peopel have found a way to get around the big companies, because we now have Air-Up and KegOnLegs (KOL) selling cylinders to the home brew market. Problem is, they are still pricey, particularly when you see how much these cylinders cost our US brew cousins and considering these guys will be buying from the same US manufacturer/wholesaler you would think they would be around the same price (plus cost of freight from US).
Now KOL sell Catalina cylinders, so I contacted them in the US. They put me on to their Australian distributor, who said he wouldn't sell in small lots, not even an AHB bulk buy would be enough. Supposedely KegOnLegs bought several hundred. He talked about the effort that KOL has gone to establishing a network of fill stations that will accept private cyclinders and didn't seem to want to get on the wrong side a customer buying in such bulk (and fair enough).
Now the other impression I got was that the US manufacturers are not putting in the Australian valves, so there does seem to be some extra time and expense in preparing them for the Aussie market, which could explain the extra cost we pay.
So at this stage it looks like you have the choice of the big companies, converted cylinder, or AU and KOL. The new kids on the block have been great, but I hope in the not too distant future we get a little more price competition.
Yes and before all you smart arses in Melbourne say anything we know you get a cheap deal on rentals and it's not a problem for you (just wait until those old steel cylinders are completely phased out ).
Oh and also a big sorry to our non city living brewers who would still find it hard to fill a privately owned cylinder even if they could buy one (except for the someone who has a large source of CO2 at work and has bought their own transfer hose to fill their bottle).
Cheers
MAH
Well it seems that peopel have found a way to get around the big companies, because we now have Air-Up and KegOnLegs (KOL) selling cylinders to the home brew market. Problem is, they are still pricey, particularly when you see how much these cylinders cost our US brew cousins and considering these guys will be buying from the same US manufacturer/wholesaler you would think they would be around the same price (plus cost of freight from US).
Now KOL sell Catalina cylinders, so I contacted them in the US. They put me on to their Australian distributor, who said he wouldn't sell in small lots, not even an AHB bulk buy would be enough. Supposedely KegOnLegs bought several hundred. He talked about the effort that KOL has gone to establishing a network of fill stations that will accept private cyclinders and didn't seem to want to get on the wrong side a customer buying in such bulk (and fair enough).
Now the other impression I got was that the US manufacturers are not putting in the Australian valves, so there does seem to be some extra time and expense in preparing them for the Aussie market, which could explain the extra cost we pay.
So at this stage it looks like you have the choice of the big companies, converted cylinder, or AU and KOL. The new kids on the block have been great, but I hope in the not too distant future we get a little more price competition.
Yes and before all you smart arses in Melbourne say anything we know you get a cheap deal on rentals and it's not a problem for you (just wait until those old steel cylinders are completely phased out ).
Oh and also a big sorry to our non city living brewers who would still find it hard to fill a privately owned cylinder even if they could buy one (except for the someone who has a large source of CO2 at work and has bought their own transfer hose to fill their bottle).
Cheers
MAH
