PureFizz vs SodaStream: your take?

[paulraphael]

3 hours ago, cdh said:

What you're looking for is:

1) a tank: https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Cylinder-Handle-CGA320-Valve/dp/B0088P10OO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1521297900&sr=8-2&keywords=20+lb+co2+tank&dpID=31zyh6yydfL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

2) a regulator: https://www.amazon.com/Taprite-Primary-Regulator-3741-BR-Draft/dp/B00PZM6H7S/ref=sr_1_11?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1521297972&sr=1-11&keywords=co2+regulator

3) a gas line: https://www.amazon.com/16-Gas-Line-Assembly-Ball/dp/B0064OI77Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1521298041&sr=1-3&keywords=ball+lock+gas+line&dpID=419E02PgkoL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

and 4) a carbonator cap: https://www.amazon.com/16-Gas-Line-Assembly-Ball/dp/B0064OI77Y/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1521298041&sr=1-3&keywords=ball+lock+gas+line&dpID=419E02PgkoL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

If you wanted to get crazy fancy you might get a diffusion stone like this, to help the gas get into the liquid faster by virtue of much larger surface area of zillions of tiny bubbles: https://www.amazon.com/Diffusion-MRbrew-Micron-Kegging-Homebrew/dp/B0728DY9P7/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1521298188&sr=1-1&keywords=diffusion+stone&dpID=41cQ61Gfa%2BL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

That whole lot comes in at right around $200... You can carbonate anything in a bottle that takes a standard soda cap.  Stay away from glass bottles, as most modern glass is designed to contain pre-existing carbonation, but not beefy enough to reliably take a carbonation charge without going all glass grenade.

 

 

Awesome, CDH. This should have its own thread.

[paulraphael]

I looked up C02 prices online and came up with some price comparisons. These are average prices of C02 for carbonating a 2L bottle of water:

 

-CO2 bought to fill 20lb tank in NYC: $0.20

    Initial investment: $150–200

-Soda Stream, 3rd party cartridges on Amazon: $0.50

    Initial investment: $50–$80

-Generic Seltzer bought at supermarket: $0.70–$1.20

    Initial Investment: $0

-iSi siphon (2 chargers/liter), 3rd party chargers: $1.76

    Initial investment: $100–150

 

Seems like from an economics point of view, the whole enterprise mostly makes sense if you want to carbonate stuff besides water, or if you consume a LOT of seltzer.

 

If you're in the I-want-bubbles-in-all-kinds-of-stuff camp, one reason to consider the big tank, under-counter, DIY approach is that you can also use nitrous oxide. Dave Arnold talks about this in some detail. The idea is that N2O gives a completely different texture (softer bubbles) and flavor (sweet, not sour), and so being able to mix both kinds of gas with your regulator gives you fantastic control. He shows a picture of his under-counter setup, but declines to give instructions, since technically, N2O is a controlled substance (20lbs of whip-its, anyone?). But he invites you to decipher the picture, and assures you that you can indeed buy pharmaceutical grade N2O in bulk from welding shops, if you ask the right questions (you don't want to use industrial grades in anything you eat or drink).

Edited March 17, 2018 by paulraphael (log)

[cdh]

You've gotta take into account waste and leakage, so I'd say that $.20/l is more reasonable an approximation in my own case... but the minimal cost difference for a 10lb and a 20lb fill might make up the difference... I'm now wondering if I want to retire my 10lb tank.. but I just don't think I want to do that.  

[paulraphael]

Has anyone played with CO2 / N2O blends?

[JoNorvelleWalker]

3 hours ago, paulraphael said:

Has anyone played with CO2 / N2O blends?

 

Yes, for MR.  I prefer the sharpness of straight CO2.