Elmo wrote:
I've built a home CO2 carbonation system but I have a question about carbon
dioxide flow (see pictures below).
http://yfrog.com/13homec02system5jx

Using a tire valve and a tire chuck, I can easily fill the soda bottle
empty space with 50 psi of carbon dioxide, but that only gets the water
slightly bubbly.

The build-it-yourself tutorials on the web say the carbon dioxide must be
FLOWING and they say they remove the inside part of the automotive tire
valve.

I have tried both ways and have two subsequent questions:

If I keep the tire valve stem (i.e., the white soda top in the photo):
Q: Why doesn't the cold water get more bubbly (like soda) at 50psi?

If I remove the tire valve stem (i.e., the red soda top in the photo):
Q: How do I get the tire chuck to work since it won't flow w/o the stem?
Q: Even if I attach the hollow tire valve directly to the CO2 hose, how can
more than the headspace of the bottle FLOW into the bottle?

I don't get how I can get the CO2 to "flow"; seems to me it would just be
static and fill the headspace.

What am I doing wrong?
See pictures he http://yfrog.com/13homec02system5jx


Use cold water. Squeeze the bottle to force the air out before
putting on the cap. Shake the bottle while the tire chuck is
attached and the CO2 will flow as the pressure drops (will drop
because the CO2 is being dissolved.) Then let it rest a minute
before you open it. I think I usually set the gauge at about 60 pounds.

You can even overcarbonate it this way.

It works really well with filtered apple juice, or with cheap wine
to make it bubbly.

Bob