Been wanting to play around with CO2 for awhile now and finally got the inspiration to go out and get everything needed. Here's what I did followed by my experience:
2x big trash bags
1x Roll of wide tape
1x CO2 gas regulator (low pressure, so that the gas isn't coming out at a high PSI)
1x 7-liter steel gas tank filled with FOOD GRADE CO2 (you can get a smaller tank)
1x 5-feet tube (longer or shorter as you see fit)
1x Small zip tie/cable tie
1x String/Ribbon - to tie the bag shut around your neck
1x Chair/stool
1x Scissors
***Probably best do this outside/patio/deck or in a well ventilated area.
***CO2 is heavier than air, so it sinks.
1. Tape 2 black trash bags together so that it's long enough for you to get into. Use a fan to blow air into the bag and grab the open end shut with your hand to ensure the bag can hold pressure to ensure its sealed. You will need to cut one end of the bag open with scissors.
2. (Optional): tape off some of the bag by folding a flap over long-ways so that you don't need to use as much gas. But make sure you can still get in and out of the bag comfortably.
3. Press your tube onto the barb nipple on the regulator and place the zip tie over the tube so that it is more secure on the barb nipple. (note, your regulator might not come with a hose barb fitting, but with a NPT or some other type of pipe fitting, so get what you need accordingly. a hose barb to a hose connection would be easiest and idea.)
4. Make sure the gas regulator is at its lowest setting.
5. Get into the black trash bags and feed the other end of the tube into the bag and sit down on a chair/stool.
6. Get someone else to tie the bag shut around your neck.
7. Have someone else Slowly turn the the CO2 tank valve open. If no gas comes through the line after you've turned it 1-2 full turns, the regulator knob might not be open enough. So slowly turn the regulator valve clockwise.
8. Once the gas starts flowing, wait for the bags to fill up.
9. When you can start to feel the gas or air escaping out through the neck area of the bag, once that starts, turn off the CO2 tank valve.
Gas regulator: $43
Empty 7-liter tank: $54
7-liter tank fillup: $25
Everything else I already had or were pretty cheap.
2. The guy at the gas shop thought I wanted it for a Sodastream or similar type of setup and I just said yes something like that. A Sodastream machine doesn't need the gas regulator since it just runs off the bottle pressure (which can be a very high 860psi depending on the temperature), so you have to insist that you need one that outputs low pressure around 10-30psi should be ok? you may can go higher too.
3. I've used this tank for around 12-15 fillups so far and it seems to still be going strong.
4. At times when you release the gas into the bag, you can feel some ice crystals coming out of the pipe and the pipe/tank get cold. This should be due to the high pressurization of the CO2 and it's subsequent release.
I thought that maybe the heat feeling was a placebo affect, so I tried just getting into the bag without the CO2 for 5+ minutes and I did not have the same intense heat sensation. Note that once the cool CO2 stops flowing into the bag, I immediately feel the production of heat.
I honestly have not seen any other improvements or other sensations outside of the bath after doing it for around 2 weeks now. But it's an interesting phenomenon regardless.
Warning: You can suffocate and die, please go slowly, make sure someone is around, and always empty the bag of CO2 after your bath, especially if you have kids. ***t happens.
Supplies:
1x Other person to help you2x big trash bags
1x Roll of wide tape
1x CO2 gas regulator (low pressure, so that the gas isn't coming out at a high PSI)
1x 7-liter steel gas tank filled with FOOD GRADE CO2 (you can get a smaller tank)
1x 5-feet tube (longer or shorter as you see fit)
1x Small zip tie/cable tie
1x String/Ribbon - to tie the bag shut around your neck
1x Chair/stool
1x Scissors
General idea:
***Probably best to eat something sweet before getting in.***Probably best do this outside/patio/deck or in a well ventilated area.
***CO2 is heavier than air, so it sinks.
1. Tape 2 black trash bags together so that it's long enough for you to get into. Use a fan to blow air into the bag and grab the open end shut with your hand to ensure the bag can hold pressure to ensure its sealed. You will need to cut one end of the bag open with scissors.
2. (Optional): tape off some of the bag by folding a flap over long-ways so that you don't need to use as much gas. But make sure you can still get in and out of the bag comfortably.
3. Press your tube onto the barb nipple on the regulator and place the zip tie over the tube so that it is more secure on the barb nipple. (note, your regulator might not come with a hose barb fitting, but with a NPT or some other type of pipe fitting, so get what you need accordingly. a hose barb to a hose connection would be easiest and idea.)
4. Make sure the gas regulator is at its lowest setting.
5. Get into the black trash bags and feed the other end of the tube into the bag and sit down on a chair/stool.
6. Get someone else to tie the bag shut around your neck.
7. Have someone else Slowly turn the the CO2 tank valve open. If no gas comes through the line after you've turned it 1-2 full turns, the regulator knob might not be open enough. So slowly turn the regulator valve clockwise.
8. Once the gas starts flowing, wait for the bags to fill up.
9. When you can start to feel the gas or air escaping out through the neck area of the bag, once that starts, turn off the CO2 tank valve.
Cost:
Your cost will vary, and I spent way more than I was expecting (prices in USD):Gas regulator: $43
Empty 7-liter tank: $54
7-liter tank fillup: $25
Everything else I already had or were pretty cheap.
Notes:
1. I found its better to SIT than LAY. The gas doesn't escape nearly as fast (or at all) so you get more of the benefits. I even tried laying on a pillow and blanket to lift my upper body up, but the "puffy" bag still deflated and I had have someone refill the bag.2. The guy at the gas shop thought I wanted it for a Sodastream or similar type of setup and I just said yes something like that. A Sodastream machine doesn't need the gas regulator since it just runs off the bottle pressure (which can be a very high 860psi depending on the temperature), so you have to insist that you need one that outputs low pressure around 10-30psi should be ok? you may can go higher too.
3. I've used this tank for around 12-15 fillups so far and it seems to still be going strong.
4. At times when you release the gas into the bag, you can feel some ice crystals coming out of the pipe and the pipe/tank get cold. This should be due to the high pressurization of the CO2 and it's subsequent release.
Experience:
I felt that my body heated up quickly and significantly. When I initially get into the bag, I feel warm, but once the CO2 in, it feels cool. Once the bag gets inflated with CO2 and the flow stops, that's when I get a huge heat sensation. I originally thought it felt like being in a sauna, but instead of being heated by hot air or steam, I felt like I was the heat source that was radiating heat. I sweat quite a bit and in my case I get itchy (maybe PUFA oxidizing in the heat?).I thought that maybe the heat feeling was a placebo affect, so I tried just getting into the bag without the CO2 for 5+ minutes and I did not have the same intense heat sensation. Note that once the cool CO2 stops flowing into the bag, I immediately feel the production of heat.
I honestly have not seen any other improvements or other sensations outside of the bath after doing it for around 2 weeks now. But it's an interesting phenomenon regardless.
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