Pretty good deal if you want to get into Sodastream. This is the Crappy Tire 100 Anniversary edition, I think the only difference is the marking on the bottle. Saw them at the Sheppard/Leslie location last night.
Additional $3.20 back if you have the 25X Sodastream offer in your Triangle app (I think it is 40c x 40 x 20)
In Cambridge, they have the unit by itself (not in a box or anything) for $10. They were flying off the shelves.
So it worked out to approx 35 for cylinder + 10 for unit = $45 out the door. Ended up buying a few flavors too so it came a bit higher. I'm still not sure there's a huge savings to these units unless we can find cheaper flavor and co2, but there is the convenience factor
kenj wrote: ↑
In Cambridge, they have the unit by itself (not in a box or anything) for $10. They were flying off the shelves.
So it worked out to approx 35 for cylinder + 10 for unit = $45 out the door. Ended up buying a few flavors too so it came a bit higher. I'm still not sure there's a huge savings to these units unless we can find cheaper flavor and co2, but there is the convenience factor
You won't be saving much money unless you get your CO2 for cheap like via big cylinder or refill via dry ice.
If it's too troublesome for you and you want cheap soda, buy a Sparkel Carbonator. The CO2 packets are expensive, but it's literally just baking soda + citric acid so you can just buy that in bulk and use it instead. If you can get a good deal. it's literally pennies per bottle.
The advantage of the Sparkel is that you can carbonate anything that isn't dairy (instead of just plain water like the Sodastream). The disadvantage is that it takes 1-3 minutes to carbonate a bottle and it has much more moving parts, so there's more chances of a breakdown in the future.
VillageIdiot wrote: ↑
You won't be saving much money unless you get your CO2 for cheap like via big cylinder or refill via dry ice.
If it's too troublesome for you and you want cheap soda, buy a Sparkel Carbonator. The CO2 packets are expensive, but it's literally just baking soda + citric acid so you can just buy that in bulk and use it instead. If you can get a good deal. it's literally pennies per bottle.
The advantage of the Sparkel is that you can carbonate anything that isn't dairy (instead of just plain water like the Sodastream). The disadvantage is that it takes 1-3 minutes to carbonate a bottle and it has much more moving parts, so there's more chances of a breakdown in the future.
While Sparkel is a wonderful idea, their packets are also pretty expensive ($50 for 90) and each one only makes two cups of soda and takes a few minutes as you say. In theory, making your own is simple with just two basic ingredients - baking soda and citric acid - that can be had for cheap in bulk bags. However, it is quite a bit messier to measure it and get it into that small hole. When citric acid powder dries, it's very hard and stubborn to clean. I made my own and my Sparkel broke down completely in about a year, right after the warranty period ended. Sometimes it would leak out, explode with gas, not make much C02 etc. All types of issues. At the end, I would basically have a 20% success rate and so was just wasting the ingredients. I don't think the machine likes the grain sizes of your own powders, which is why Sparkel tells you not to use them and threatens to void the warranty if you do. As you said, it's basically too complicated for its own good. Today, I would not recommend it. Sodastream is a much simpler, faster and foolproof design.
Last edited by thelasthunter on Feb 17th, 2023 12:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
kenj wrote: ↑
In Cambridge, they have the unit by itself (not in a box or anything) for $10. They were flying off the shelves.
So it worked out to approx 35 for cylinder + 10 for unit = $45 out the door. Ended up buying a few flavors too so it came a bit higher. I'm still not sure there's a huge savings to these units unless we can find cheaper flavor and co2, but there is the convenience factor
is this a separate SKU? How do we find it on stock track?
UPD: wait so for $10 it does NOT include a CO2 canister? I got excited because I only have one and I want at least one more
Last edited by elfion on Feb 17th, 2023 2:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
thelasthunter wrote: ↑
While Sparkel is a wonderful idea, their packets are also pretty expensive ($50 for 90) and each one only makes two cups of soda and takes a few minutes as you say. In theory, making your own is simple with just two basic ingredients - baking soda and citric acid - that can be had for cheap in bulk bags. However, it is quite a bit messier to measure it and get it into that small hole. When citric acid powder dries, it's very hard and stubborn to clean. I made my own and my Sparkel broke down completely in about a year, right after the warranty period ended. Sometimes it would leak out, explode with gas, not make much C02 etc. All types of issues. At the end, I would basically have a 20% success rate and so was just wasting the ingredients. I don't think the machine likes the grain sizes of your own powders, which is why Sparkel tells you not to use them and threatens to void the warranty if you do. As you said, it's basically too complicated for its own good. Today, I would not recommend it. Sodastream is a much simpler, faster and foolproof design.
For the issue with getting the powder in the small hole, just use a funnel.
GTA has FizzyDelivery but they charge $18 each PLUS $5 delivery, which is a total rip off.
At that point you're better off just modifying your Sodastream and using a 20 pound tank.
I'm sure there's another service on Marketplace, or maybe someone here could point out alternatives for the Centre of the Universe.
I've seen some people mention KW and figure there must be other locals in the thread. Just bought a Drinkmate last weekend so I've been seeking out the deals:
Cheap refills:
- Paintball HQ can refill the cylinders and uses proper grade CO2
- There's an assortment of Marketplace folks around the city who have big tanks at home and offer cheap refills and loyalty programs even.
DIY Refills:
- Shortfinger Brewing sells big CO2 tanks and has a cheap refill program for those tanks. You'll have an initial investment of a couple/few hundred bucks to buy the tank depending on how big you go. I'm going this route eventually so I can refill for friends and family too.
- Acorn Fire also sells new and refurb tanks and does refilling. Their hours aren't the best though.
That's what I've found so far.
BaboSo wrote: ↑
What I don't understand is if you call a place "crappy", why would you post a deal for it?
It's a Canadian tradition, like hockey.
Last edited by mindabsence on Feb 17th, 2023 1:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
BaboSo wrote: ↑
What I don't understand is if you call a place "crappy", why would you post a deal for it?
LOL it's a running RFD joke because a lot of stuff at CTC are crappy or they have a super overinflated list price. Just like StOOSples, only the OGs knows.
mindabsence wrote: ↑
DIY Refills:
- Shortfinger Brewing sells big CO2 tanks and has a cheap refill program for those tanks. You'll have an initial investment of a couple/few hundred bucks to buy the tank depending on how big you go. I'm going this route eventually so I can refill for friends and family too.
I bought my first 20LB tank and a refill kit from Amazon (the one with a tube) about a month ago. I can't seem to be able to fill the canister more than 60-100g at a time. Once it stalls, I can't resume. Can't figure out what's causing it. But I ordered replacement valves from Aliexpress without the stupid feature that stops the refill. So hopefully once I put that one in, it will be no bs. But somehow those people on Kijiji can fill any valves, so I'm not sure exactly what I am doing wrong. There is very little information available online. The original manual is written by classic chinese marketers, it provides very little direction. I've spent a few hours on youtube and didn't find anything useful. The only tip I found is to maybe not screw in the pin lowering screw all the way in. I will try it next time....
VillageIdiot wrote: ↑
You won't be saving much money unless you get your CO2 for cheap like via big cylinder or refill via dry ice.
If it's too troublesome for you and you want cheap soda, buy a Sparkel Carbonator. The CO2 packets are expensive, but it's literally just baking soda + citric acid so you can just buy that in bulk and use it instead. If you can get a good deal. it's literally pennies per bottle.
The advantage of the Sparkel is that you can carbonate anything that isn't dairy (instead of just plain water like the Sodastream). The disadvantage is that it takes 1-3 minutes to carbonate a bottle and it has much more moving parts, so there's more chances of a breakdown in the future.
I recently bought a Sparkel and can confirm that citric acid and bicarbonate work and also teach the kids something about chemistry. Sparkel is a great idea and you can also just blend some fruit in water and carbonate that, recarbonate beer, make sangria and no need for sodastream's sugary syrupy crap
VillageIdiot wrote: ↑
For the issue with getting the powder in the small hole, just use a funnel.
Wonder if blending the citric acid would work. will try that tonight. Also is there any reason that the two ingredients need to be kept seperate if they are dry? Isnt that what an alkaseltzer tablet is?
