This week I’ve built a CO2 carbonator using parts mostly found from the hardware store.  The CO2 tank is a 16oz paintball CO2 tank that I had laying around the house.  The most difficult to find part was the paintball tank to CO2 regulator adapter.  I had to purchase it online for around $7.00.  I imagine you might be able to find it at home brewing store if you have one locally.

This carbonator can be used to add bubbles to pretty much anything with liquid and a thin skin.  You can make soda water, carbonated fruit juice, or you can even carbonate fruit!  I put orange slices and pineapple slices inside the carbonator and when they came out they were actually fizzy.  It adds some extra fun on top of the already delicious fresh fruit.

I have found that you need to experiment with the pressure and the amount of time that your medium is pressurized.  Different foods have different requirements and you can really only figure it out by experimentation.  I can carbonate water in just a minute, but fruit slices might take an hour or so to get really fizzy.