Diy Co2?

[Dabbler II]

The needle valve that I used I got at Home depot with a threaded end on one side and a hose fitting on the other for $2.50 cdn and I attached it to the electro-magnetic valve so all the "High Pressure" gas is on the thread side, so there is no possabality of leaks.

 

[Richer]

There are a couple of types of needle valves, one that hangs onto your CO2 line, and one that screws right into your regulator... get the one that screws into your regulator. My home depot didn't sell any needle valves that suited my needs, so I ended buying a needle valve (also called a metering valve) from a specialty valve store in my city.

Just FYI, needle valves are not built into your regulator. I found that regulators can only realibly regulate gas output to 15-20 psi. You need a needle valve to reduce this pressure to well below 1psi (ie. 1-2 bubbles a second). Needle valves also act as a checkvalve, prevent water from going into your tank when your gas runs out... it also prevents a CO2 dump when your tank reaches near zero. In a nutshell, needle valves are a MUST for pressuried systems.

HTH
-Richer

 

[djlen]

Richer, would you say that it would be best to buy a regulator with the needle valve already installed, or is it easy enough to attach to the regulator that the average person can do it? And where would be the best place to purchase either or both for the best price?
Len

 

[Dabbler II]

I would suggest looking in your Yellow Pages under Valves. Look for one that talks about instermation or metering in your end of the city and give them a call. Most of the people you talk to in these shop would be more than happy to help you because it is something different to look for, and if they can't help you they would most likely give you the name of someone who could.

You normaly can not buy the regulator with the needle valve on it, the guys that are welding are not worried about 1-2 lbs of gas .
Richer I got my valve at Revy it seems to work ok, time will tell