Bringing liquid nitrogen to the playa

[Repete]

I know others have done the liquid nitrogen/ice cream thing on playa before, and we want to do it too!

While I've worked with liquid nitrogen and made ice cream before, I don't know about other aspects concerning logistics out on playa. Here are my questions

+ Does anyone have any recommended vendors in Reno/Sparks?
+ Are there any concerns with storage of the tank? Eg making sure the tank is shaded and never exceeding a certain external temperature?
+ Will I need to purchase a dewar or are there options for rental?
+ Also, we're hoping to make vegan ice cream with coconut milk - any differences I should be aware of here?
+ What are ballpark prices we should expect to pay? I've seen on the internet prices ranging from $1/liter to $20/liter - does that sound right?

We're looking to get at least 50 liters, so I imagine we will get a big tank. But I suppose we will need a smaller dewar that we will fill from the big tank and then pour into our bowl while making the ice cream, right?

Am I missing anything? Any words of wisdom/caution here are appreciated!

Thanks!
Repete.

*No animals were harmed in the making of this post*

[maladroit]

Don't transport it in a sealed vehicle, any outgassing will be colorless, odorless, undetectable, and deadly if it displaces the oxygen in your car.

[danibel]

+ Does anyone have any recommended vendors in Reno/Sparks?
+ Are there any concerns with storage of the tank? Eg making sure the tank is shaded and never exceeding a certain external temperature?
+ Will I need to purchase a dewar or are there options for rental?
+ Also, we're hoping to make vegan ice cream with coconut milk - any differences I should be aware of here?
+ What are ballpark prices we should expect to pay? I've seen on the internet prices ranging from $1/liter to $20/liter - does that sound right?

+I get my dewar filled at Praxair in Watsonville. The have locations everywhere. Check the website.
+As far as I know, you must purchase one. Ours a ten liter and it makes about 6 double batches. Each batch is about 20-24 scoops depending on size.
+Vegan ice cream with coconut milk will need more LN, simply because it's a thinner viscosity than whipping cream and half and half (what we use to make our ice cream). Buy the thickest you can.

+I pay about $30 to fill the 10 liter tank. Sometimes a little less, some times a little more depending on the price the day I buy. But about $3 a litter sounds right.

Praxair does not allow you to have the tank in the same compartment as the driver when getting it filled. Expect them to check the vehicle to make sure you are not trying to transport in a car. We keep out dewar in a cooler, not on ice, but to keep some insulation around it on the playa. We think it makes it last longer. The cooler is specially mounted to a luggage roller to make sure no one tries to set the cooler in a direction that would make the LN leak out. We also put signs all over the cooler to let people know this is not a regular cooler and should handled with care. We also make sure it stays in the shade. Bring eye protection, gloves, and long sleeves for the folks handling the LN. Safety second in this case, LN burns badly.

[caffeineslinger]

Airgas carries it as do a few welding supply shops. I use to know of a guy who worked for Airgas who brought a lot out there.

You'll definitely need a dewar. You might be able to rent one from your LN supplier. I'd call around.

Make sure you know how to transport safely and not in the passenger compartment of you vehicle.

Also I'd plan on making your ice cream earlier in the week than later.

[danibel]

Also I'd plan on making your ice cream earlier in the week than later.

We make it every day we are there, and even bring some LN home sometimes. Just depends on how many people show up for ice cream.

We keep all the dairy in a well iced cooler. We also bring Kailua in case we run out of LN before running out of dairy (hasn't happened, but kailua shakes are AWESOME!).

And just fyi - the 10 liter dewar we have fits perfectly in a coleman extreme 62 quart. Any larger dewars are going to be, um, larger!

[Repete]

Sweet thanks all for the info! Ice cream on the house for ya'll, no charge!

We'll have a 9' closed uhaul trailer. I imagine it will get warm in there as we wait on line for entry.

[Repete]

We filled our dewar earlier the week to make test batches. (They came out awwwwesome by the way).

Didn't have another chance to refill and now we're headed out to reno.

It seems praxair and airgas are closed on Sundays.

Anyone happen to know if it's possible to refill LiN on Sunday on reno?