Ok, I've searched for and read just about every thread I could find on this topic and I came up with about 50% say that "co2 is co2" and the other 50% say to use only "beverage" grade co2. There seems to be a lot of conjecture about oil, silicone and the possibility of benzene being in non-beverage grade co2, but I can find nothing to support that.
Here is my dilemma. I don't have a full keg setup, I'm using a Tap-a-Draft with fittings so I can use a regulator and standard co2 tank. However, I don't have room for a 5lb co2 tank and so I'm looking at a 20oz tank. Dick's Sporting Goods will refill the latter for about $4. Or, a local beverage company, CR Frank, will charge $13 to fill any co2 tank up to 20lbs (not bad if I had a large tank). The latter is supposed to be filtered and "beverage" grade.
Does anyone have experience using a sporting good store or paintball supplier to charge their tanks? I'm looking for firsthand experience, preferably with a sporting goods store like Dick's or Sports Authority. Obviously I want to avoid ruining my beer with oil or other pollutants, but I also don't want to poison myself either.
Here is my dilemma. I don't have a full keg setup, I'm using a Tap-a-Draft with fittings so I can use a regulator and standard co2 tank. However, I don't have room for a 5lb co2 tank and so I'm looking at a 20oz tank. Dick's Sporting Goods will refill the latter for about $4. Or, a local beverage company, CR Frank, will charge $13 to fill any co2 tank up to 20lbs (not bad if I had a large tank). The latter is supposed to be filtered and "beverage" grade.
Does anyone have experience using a sporting good store or paintball supplier to charge their tanks? I'm looking for firsthand experience, preferably with a sporting goods store like Dick's or Sports Authority. Obviously I want to avoid ruining my beer with oil or other pollutants, but I also don't want to poison myself either.