Re: co2 fill up - trust retail stores? [TANKS]

[Gary Warren <gdubb2-at-cableone.net>]

I'm brand new at this tank thing, but have been using Co2 in combat
robots for several years.

If a tank gets overfilled, about all it will do is pop the burst disc.
This will vent the whole tank to atmosphere and scare the hell out of
you. I had problems getting fills, so I just bought a 10 lb. bulk tank, a
fill station, and learned how to do it myself. Since I use a lot of Co2
in my Battlebot, it was cheaper in the long run to do it this
way.

If you don't completely trust the dudes filling the tanks, I would
suggest a few precautions. 
1: Get a small digital kitchen scale. (I got mine at Walmart)
2: Weigh your tanks empty, then figure what they would weigh with a
proper fill. Put a small label on each tank with the tare and full
weights.
3: Check each tank after having it filled. It's not a bad idea to
underfill a little. The dynamics of Co2 changes a lot with
temperature.

Co2 tanks are filled by weight. A 12 oz. tank will hold 12 oz. of liquid
Co2, etc. The tank will actually only be about 1/3 full of
liquid.

Gary

At 09:48 PM 6/23/2006 -0400, you wrote:
> Where do
> you guys fill up your co2 tanks?  I know the MD crew has a filling
> station set up, but does anyone get their tanks filled up at places like
> WalMart or Dick's Sporting Goods?  I'm over an hour away from any
> paintball fields so thats not an attractive option.
>  
> Would you trust Dick's with your tanks - I'd be
> worried about them overfilling and messing it up...?
>  
> -Amir