Oxygenation- Stone or not

[EllisTX]

Is there a considerable difference in oxygenating using a diffusion stone as opposed to just tubing with no stone?

I've just done the shaking technique for 2 years now and I've been happy with the results but I'm sure I could sqeeze out a gravity point or two is I start introducing pure O2.

[spiderwrangler]

one big bubble doesn't give much wort turnover, but hundreds of tiny ones will.

[EllisTX]

one big bubble doesn't give much wort turnover, but hundreds of tiny ones will.

Suggestions on an inexpensive setup?

[spiderwrangler]

If you are happy with shaking, you could always get a O2 tank and use it to purge the headspace, stopper and shake, purge and shake again. This would get some amount of additional O2 into your wort and your cost would be limited to the tank/reg/tubing, but once you're that far, a stone and wand wouldn't be too much more.

[dogismycopilot]

I seem to remember Jamil saying in a Q&A Brew Strong that purging a carboy with O2 before transferring, then shaking after transfer, would get close to the amount of O2 a stone would give you, albeit on the low end. (I think it was in response to a "Hey, this is what I do, what do you think?" kind of question, but still...)
Ever since, I've been using that method. Less cleaning/sanitizing/risk for nearly the same result works for me!