For those who are thinking about or are already into kegging, I've been looking around for 20# CO2 tanks. Here's a few I found for cheap (WAY cheaper than NFC). If I recall correctly, NFC was selling them for $180 (new and filled); they'll fill any tank for $20 (any size). Even if you buy one of the $100 tanks, pay $20 for S&H, and have it filled for $20, that's still $40 less than they sell them.
New:
http://www.bvrgelements.com/20_lb_co2_tank.html
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/tanks/co2/C20.shtml
Used:
This place is a good place to get stuff cheap too
http://www.superprod.com/category/bar/beer-parts.do?nType=1
A-barr in Lyons. IL charges the same if it is 5# or 10#....
You can buy a full steel one at airgas...for like around $100....and then just swap it out for like $18 each time. The good thing about it is if the tank's hydrostatic test is expired the dime is on them...they just exchange it with another...
Call airgas for exact pricing.
Yeah, you're right about the learning experience. It does, however, make me reluctant to go there again.
That's who I talked to as per Chuck Mac's suggestion since I was a total newb at that time when it came to kegging. I'm not really quite sure what the deal was but I got raped on the regulator and hoses (if not the tank as well). He hooked me up with a three-gauge, two product regulator for which he charged $125 (I've found it - or one which looks damn similar - on BeverageFactory.com for less than $75). After 20-25 minutes of him hooking up hoses (he put two y-splitters on each so I can carb two kegs and dispense two kegs, each pair with different PSI) and disconnects and adding a #10 tank filled, the total was over $300.
EDIT: I even asked him if it was too much gauge for just a #10 tank and he assured me it wasn't.
That's a good question: they may charge to inspect the tank which makes it more expensive.
You know a guy who fills tanks: does he fill ANY tank or just ones he has sold?
The shipping for BeverageFactory.com is $18 for the #20 (empty, of course).