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Dry ice to pressurise tank
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:01 am
by shiny455
i have done a bit of searching and research on this although admittedly probably not enough. It has been discussed that dry ice can be used to refill paintball tanks and the amount needed in relation to volume
Here. the problem is as i live in Australia i do not have access to any form of CO2 tank

. i am wondering what kind of container would be able to hold the pressure which i have roughly assumed would be approximately 1000psi as it can reach well over 30 degrees on a hot day. my best solution so far is a fire extinguisher the only problem is i have not yet seen a CO2 fire extinguisher anywhere near small enough to carry around. Does anyone have any idea how a regular dry powder extinguisher would hold up to the same pressures or another option for a tank I've nearly certainly ruled out making one
Re: Dry ice to pressurise tank
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:14 am
by Crna Legija
shiny455 wrote: Does anyone have any idea how a regular dry powder extinguisher would hold up to the same pressures
very badly.
You defiantly haven't looked hard bunnings sell small co2 tanks for welding, pretty expensive though like 70bux, beer making stores sell them too you can even get regulators from them and big W sell soda stream bottles.
you don't even have to be 18 to buy them.
Re: Dry ice to pressurise tank
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 6:45 am
by waza8u
shiny455 wrote:my best solution so far is a fire extinguisher the only problem is i have not yet seen a CO2 fire extinguisher anywhere near small enough to carry around. Does anyone have any idea how a regular dry powder extinguisher would hold up to the same pressures
bunnings have small fire extinguishers for about 25 bucks and they hold up to 1000 psi as its marked on the gauge
IGA has soda stream bottles for 22 bucks each
Re: Dry ice to pressurise tank
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:07 am
by Crna Legija
waza8u wrote:bunnings have small fire extinguishers for about 25 bucks and they hold up to 1000 psi as its marked on the gauge
yeah id have a better look at that gauge its most probably reads 1000 KPA not PSI. co2 fire extinguishers go for around $300 hear in ozland.
but yeah soda streamers are fine only problem is finding a fitting that will thread into it or adapt it to something usable
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:21 am
by Zeus
So I got a good deal for a CO<sub>2</sub> extinguisher for $2 then?
Re: Dry ice to pressurise tank
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 3:11 pm
by waza8u
yeah id have a better look at that gauge its most probably reads 1000 KPA not PSI. co2 fire extinguishers go for around $300 hear in ozland.
oops me bad
i should get the facts right
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:21 pm
by MrCrowley
Well the gauge may have read 1000PSI (or equivalent), but chances are it was in the 'red zone' meaning the fire extinguisher should not be pressurized that high. Generally, the working pressure on fire extinguisher gauges is located in the middle of the dial range.
Dry powder fire extinguishers generally operate at a few hundred PSI so the gauges read up to ~30bar or so; perhaps 1000kpa was the working pressure printed in the middle of the dial.
The only fire extinguishers I can think of that are good for 1000PSI would be CO2 ones; which are frickin' expensive brand new.
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:31 pm
by waza8u
The main problem is we cant import co2 bottles into australia as i have tried on amazon. there hard to find on ebay, i found a paintball site in australia but they want a big chunk out of the wallet for them
Australia has strict laws about weapons mainly on projectile release types in which it makes life dull
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:56 pm
by jonesy42
You can buy c02 cylinder's similar to this hpa air bottle (in photo).
Search "aquarium co2 cylinders" on ebay.
$35 bucks, plus postage...refillable
and 3000psi pressure tested. They can be
sent to australia coz their "empty" when sent.
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:58 pm
by Zeus
Look, go to a recycling tip, fire extinguishersare less than $20. Or you could buy a SCBA/SCUBA tank, and refill with that. A HPA fill is usually $5.
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:10 pm
by Lazyboy
Try fire extinguisher re fillers they often have spare tanks or would know where to look for one
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:26 am
by Crna Legija
waza8u wrote:Australia has strict laws about weapons mainly on projectile release types in which it makes life dull
I still prefer it this way.
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:40 am
by shiny455
thanks all the suggestions were more than i could think of. i had a bit of a look and the best bet in my opinion is brewing or aquarium tanks
I still prefer it this way.
As do i its still possible to get nearly anything just harder if your using it for the wrong reason
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:47 am
by Crna Legija
shiny455 wrote:wrong reason
its all for science experiment if they ask.
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 8:44 am
by jonesy42
In australia?,..mate!.... Seriously, they would fair dinkum book you for picking a "booger" out your nose while walking down the street if they could make a quid out of it!
Say NO!,...too the nannies, and support freedom to choose, and enjoy the sport we love!