subject: CO2 Cartridges: A Practical Guide [print this page] CO2 Cartridges: A Practical Guide CO2 Cartridges: A Practical Guide
Carbon dioxide cartridges are small metal containers that contain pressurized gas that is most commonly used for inflating tires. These cartridges are also used to inflate life jackets and operate gas-powered guns. They work with an adaptor, which is screwed down to the cylinder. The inflator head is twisted or pushed down to transfer highly pressurized CO2 from the cartridge to the tires. They are very easy to carry around and can speed up the process of inflating a tire, a life jacket, or a portable pool. This is why cyclists prefer to carry around these cartridges especially when on a distance cycling.Here are several tips when choosing CO2 cartridges:Threaded cartridges are more expensive than unthreaded ones but they possess a screw thread on the neck, which ensures a secure screw with the pump. Unthreaded cartridges for air guns are usually wasted because the lubricant in the cartridges is reported to weaken the rubber of tire inner tubes. On the other hand, the threaded cartridge has a possibility of freezing the thread and the pump as it cools during expansion making it useless because then it will jam. The only difference from these drawbacks is the price since these are single use tools, it is necessary to choose the one, which is secure to use.Cyclists often find it a disadvantage that CO2 cartridges sometimes add to the weight and slow them down on their track. Distance cyclists often choose the nozzle-only pump because it is smaller and lighter although it cannot be attached to an unthreaded cartridge. The nozzle has an insulated sleeve for the cartridge and it is made of metal so it does not break easily. It has a rotating knob or a trigger-pull gas release control in order to control gas release especially when fixing tires. It also has a cap that protects the nozzle in order to prevent breaking.A full body pump can be used with threaded or unthreaded cartridges and has an easy control of gas release with the rotating knob or trigger-pull control. Though it is slightly heavier, it can support both the 12 gram and 16 gram cartridges. It is also made of metal and does not break easily.CO2 pumps are replacements for manual pumps and not that suitable for regular use. A cyclist should have enough spare cartridges for both tires. One should also be aware that although the tires are in good condition, sharing your extra cartridge may not be a good idea especially if you are up for a long trip. These pumps often do not come with pressure gauges and the cyclist should know or at least have a hunch about the gauge needed to inflate the tire. The safest way would be to deflate the tire completely before inflating it again; this way the cyclist will be able to practice the amount of pressure that the tire should get.Using a CO2 pump with a full-body cartridge, a metal head and has the ability to support both threaded and unthreaded cartridges is the best type for cyclists.
