CO2 tank for filling paintball tanks vs welding tanks

[themangeraaad]

So from what I have read thus far you need a tank w/ a siphon tube for filling paintball CO2 tanks.

Now based on what I have read: if I have a non-siphon CO2 tank (that came with my welder) laying around I can use this to fill paintball tanks if I flipped it upside down... is this correct?

I understand the theory of why this would work but I wanted to make sure it was OK to flip a non-siphon CO2 tank over and use it to fill paintball tanks. I have the CO2 tank readily available (and full) and figure rather than wasting it I might as well put it to use. I am buying a proper argon mix tank for the welder sooner than later but figure I could save some money here and there if I just use the CO2 tank I have left over for paintball.

 

[wishihad1]

meh...Your messing with extremely high pressure gas here. flip that tank over and have the valve pointing toward the ground. if it happens to fall you've got a fairly powerful missile your dealing with.

when I filled CO2 tanks in my basement I got a proper fill station, and charged friends a buck or 2 to fill them. the tank paid for itself pretty quickly and I had a safe set up

 

[Darky]

Yeah, I wouldn't screw with it. At my last job, we kept our tanks chained to the wall because the threat of them falling and busting a valve was a huge worry. Empty, our tanks weighed in around 75-100 pounds and held 50 lbs (weight not psi) of CO2. The pressure contained in those tanks could fill 50+ 9oz bottles to 1500-2000 psi.

 

[themangeraaad]

Well I would be welding up a cart for the tank that would protect the valve and hold the tank while it's upside down so I wasn't too worried about breaking the valve off.. No way in hell I would just tell my buddy to hold it or lean it against a wall while upside down while I filled a tank :gee:

 

[ZacSquatch]

Just get an anti siphon tube. They have them aftermarket for paintball c02 tanks so why not for welding tanks.

Or pony up for a 3 stage compressor and fill compressed air paintball tanks, haha. 4500 PSI here we come!

 

[kastein]

Just trade in your CO2 tank for a 75/25 tank. When I brought my CO2-only tank to the local welding supply place they said they couldn't fill it with 75/25 but would be perfectly happy to take it in exchange for a full 75/25 tank of equal size. I had just bought it empty at harbor freight and was told I could have it filled with 75/25 by the HF employees, so I got a decent savings out of the deal vs just buying a 75/25 tank at the welding supply shop.