Party Star deluxe and CO2 cartridges

[WierdFish]

I've just acquired one of these devices and am impressed by the look of it so far. However, I've yet to use it and have a couple of questions, mainly regarding CO2.

Firstly, does anyone know of a reasonably priced (inc postage) cartridge supplier?

And second, will a threaded cartridge fit, without actually using the thread to screw it in as the holder does that job?

Just thought of a third, do you have to use food grade CO2 or will the cartridges for bike tyre inflation do the same job?

I do have a couple of spare cartridges, so have no real excuse for not testing it. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Thanks.

 

[BradleyW]

I've just acquired one of these devices and am impressed by the look of it so far. However, I've yet to use it and have a couple of questions, mainly regarding CO2.

Firstly, does anyone know of a reasonably priced (inc postage) cartridge supplier?

And second, will a threaded cartridge fit, without actually using the thread to screw it in as the holder does that job?

Just thought of a third, do you have to use food grade CO2 or will the cartridges for bike tyre inflation do the same job?

I do have a couple of spare cartridges, so have no real excuse for not testing it. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Thanks.

I got one of these for xmas and even though I've only used it once, I'm happy with it. From the looks of it the CO2 cartridges are the same as the ones you have to inflate bike tyres so I am just going to buy from a bike shop.

 

[WierdFish]

I got one of these for xmas and even though I've only used it once, I'm happy with it. From the looks of it the CO2 cartridges are the same as the ones you have to inflate bike tyres so I am just going to buy from a bike shop.

I think they are the same size, but I read that they may contain oils and other additives that may taint beer. If anyone has used tyre inflators with no adverse effects, I’m happy to go with it, but I don’t want to ruin a beer trying.

 

[BradleyW]

I think they are the same size, but I read that they may contain oils and other additives that may taint beer. If anyone has used tyre inflators with no adverse effects, I’m happy to go with it, but I don’t want to ruin a beer trying.

Ahhh I hadn't heard that. I'll do some more research on it

 

[WierdFish]

Have found these as the best/cheapest online price so far.

 

[Mungri]

Have found these as the best/cheapest online price so far.

That's a good price if you could get 20 delivered for the one delivery charge.
I've been using these for my Dark Farm kegs https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-x-16g...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Doesn't taint the beer, though they are threaded for my system.

 

[Banbeer]

I have two of these systems and I like them but I find that they both leak (drip) from the nozzle after pouring and have to have them over the sink or have a vessel of some sort underneath.

 

[WierdFish]

That's a good price if you could get 20 delivered for the one delivery charge.
I've been using these for my Dark Farm kegs https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-x-16g-Threaded-CO2-Cartridge-Canister-Capsule-Bike-Tyre-Inflator-Pump-Gas/121859327771?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Doesn't taint the beer, though they are threaded for my system.

This site does threaded and they do them in 30's at a discount.

 

[BradleyW]

btw I have another question about these, you know the black tube that you breach the keg with? Does anyone else's have something inside it to make the hole smaller?

 

[Dutto]

btw I have another question about these, you know the black tube that you breach the keg with? Does anyone else's have something inside it to make the hole smaller?

They all should have a solid black plastic rod inside them. It called an "attenuator" and it cuts down on the amount of foam that is produced when the brew flows into a glass.

It operates in a similar manner to the long length of small diameter tubing that is recommended for other types of systems.

 

[BradleyW]

They all should have a solid black plastic rod inside them. It called an "attenuator" and it cuts down on the amount of foam that is produced when the brew flows into a glass.

It operates in a similar manner to the long length of small diameter tubing that is recommended for other types of systems.

Yeah mine has that too but it's hollow, there was a piece of plastic inside that made the hole even smaller but I dug it out because I thought it shouldn't be there.
View media item 879View media item 878

 

[Dutto]

Yeah mine has that too but it's hollow, there was a piece of plastic inside that made the hole even smaller but I dug it out because I thought it shouldn't be there.

Before I retired, I made a great living out of telling people to "Read the Manual." ...

... so it's nice to know that I could still be working!

 

[BradleyW]

Before I retired, I made a great living out of telling people to "Read the Manual." ...

... so it's nice to know that I could still be working!

hahah Sadly the manual was a series of pictures

 

[Dutto]

I used to write them as well - fortunately, not the one for the Party Star Tap!

 

[BradleyW]

Just wondering, once you attach the party star to your keg is that keg now "open" and at risk of oxidation or does the tap still keep it sealed shut?

 

[Dutto]

The tap and the CO2 keeps the keg sealed from the air ...

... but as a keg only lasted a couple of days, it didn't really matter!

 

[BradleyW]

The tap and the CO2 keeps the keg sealed from the air ...

... but as a keg only lasted a couple of days, it didn't really matter!

Great, so if let's say I think I may have taken too long to fill my keg and I think too much air got in would attaching the Partystar and then giving it a blast of co2 be a good idea?
Thanks :)

 

[Dutto]

Hmmm! I always carbonated the kegs with 3g per litre of sugar before the kegs were filled.

I presumed that the air would be displaced as the keg was filled; and any left in the headspace would be displaced by CO2 coming out of the brew or used up during the carbonation process.

I actually got fed up of spending money on CO2 capsules to maintain pressure on the kegs whilst they were in use, so I adapted a cycle pump to fit the Party Star tap and used air to increase the pressure when the carbonation pressure disappeared.

In synopsis, "Maybe!" Sorry!

 

[BradleyW]

Hmmm! I always carbonated the kegs with 3g per litre of sugar before the kegs were filled.

I presumed that the air would be displaced as the keg was filled; and any left in the headspace would be displaced by CO2 coming out of the brew or used up during the carbonation process.

I actually got fed up of spending money on CO2 capsules to maintain pressure on the kegs whilst they were in use, so I adapted a cycle pump to fit the Party Star tap and used air to increase the pressure when the carbonation pressure disappeared.

In synopsis, "Maybe!" Sorry!

No worries, thanks anyway :)