Does anybody have a home soda fountain?

cadillacman

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Ive been tinkering with this project for a couple years in my spare time. Just an old minifridge(necessary to chill brewskis with anyways) an ebay used cold plate.. And coutresy of a cousin of a friend whos cousin worked at pepsico.. new two-head fountain, new carbonator tank, new carbonator pump, new hoses, new surup pumps, new surup pickup tubes.

The cabinet is just some junk 1x4s and some plywood.. paint.. nothing fancy. Just putting something togther from what i had laying around.

Picked up some syrup bags off of craigslist today dirt cheap from a local retailer that had to close shop. Some of these are slightly expired some still good into next year...

I collected a co2 tank over the last couple years so finally after all this time all thats left is some plumbing for water supply(maybe a filter also) and fillup the co2 tank, and um.. pray lol.

The carbonator does already have a 2 way backflow preventer on it but im still thinking about adding another one just in case.

Anybody else tinker with these either at home or on the job?
 

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a couple more pics of awesomeness. I think this has motovated me enough to get this project moving again.
 

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My brother in law have put a lot of thought into it ... Finding used equipment, sourcing the syrup, etc, etc.

I think in the end though, we both didn't want to encourage any more coke drinking at home.
That and it would only really be good if you could also get the rabbit pellet ice -- and those machines aren't very realistic for homes.
 
I've used expired soda syrup a few months afterwards. It's more like a sell-by date. The diet sodas (especially Diet MT. Dew.) seem to spoil much quicker. Diet Dew syrup changes from a clear yellow syrup to a milky color. Gross.
 
I've used expired soda syrup a few months afterwards. It's more like a sell-by date. The diet sodas (especially Diet MT. Dew.) seem to spoil much quicker. Diet Dew syrup changes from a clear yellow syrup to a milky color. Gross.


Ewwww. More motivation to stay away from diet drinks ;)
 
I've had one for years and have yet to set it up. Got it from arcadejunkie who used to work in the business. Actually I'm pretty sure that was how I met him. May still have pics on my old phone from the training set up at pepsi. They're really pretty simple but I think I was missing one fitting I needed and that sidetracked me setting mine up a couple years back. The project has not since been resurrected.
 
I've used expired soda syrup a few months afterwards. It's more like a sell-by date. The diet sodas (especially Diet MT. Dew.) seem to spoil much quicker. Diet Dew syrup changes from a clear yellow syrup to a milky color. Gross.

Ok then. That was the worst offender was a diet mountain dew expired like 5 mos ago iirc.. guess that ones going to hit the trashcan. Sucxh a shame, gone before ite time.


Ive already put the brisk syrup into a big glass "lemonade dispenser" for lack of a better term, hand mixed the mrs some brisk iced tea in a big cup, and she went from pissed off about the whole deal to super happy. I guess thats good. That leaves me the doc360, seirra mist to test with and once im happy i can switch over to the big still fresh boxes of pepsi and regular mountin dew.
 
Ok.. i have this 20 lb co2 tank i need filled.

WHo the eff fills these? theres a joint called rockford industrial welding supply here and they wan tto sonic test it and all this drama. Everything i need something filled its a pita with them(had torch tanks fulled before there)

MAybe a firs extinguisher place?? Any haardware stores or party stores fill co2?
 
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Are there any beer and wine making shops around you?
You can ask them if they fill or who they recommend.

Miller Carbonic Inc
21W741 Bemis Rd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
61.0MI from Machesney Park
(630) 790-9190

Praxair
26th & Beach Ave, La Grange Park, IL 60526
70.0MI from Machesney Park
(708) 352-6698

A Barr Carbonic Gas
4424 Prescott Ave, Lyons, IL 60534
73.0MI from Machesney Park
(708) 447-7842


Don't know if these places are close to you.

In Madison, tanks can be safety inspected and filled at:

Badger Welding Supplies
101 S. Dickinson St. 257-5606

Madison Recharge
2237 Winnebago St. 249-3300

AIRGAS
4101 Robertson Rd. 241-1440

Jefferson Fire and Safety
7617 Donna Dr., Middleton 800-697-3473

Proof of ownership is sometimes required, and the tanks must be pressure tested every so many years, per state regulations.
 
yeah.. i have discovered this thing has a last hydrotesting of 6/1983 so.. its been awhile lmfao

Ive had more then one local tell me airgas but theyre ooen 8-5 m-f and about a 45 min drive each way from where im at. Might have to con the mrs into going for me. THis should go over well.
 
I called dicks sporting goods. They said they fill them but not one that big. WIll have to hit up a few more stores tomorrow.
 
Yeah, 20 lbs is probably too big. Mine is 10 I think. Honestly 20 is way over kill, you should probably get a smaller one anyway.
 
In the bay area there is an auction for restaurant equipment. You will find used soda fountains for sale there.

http://jgbonillaauctions.com/

When my brothers restaurant changed from pepsi to coke, they just cut out the old equipment and left it. Pepsi never came back for it. Its still in in his storage. Pretty sure they left a 4 select unit, syrup rack and pumps. But they have been sitting for like 10 years now.
 
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