ShoeboxMax - upgraded model performance

[Case Stuffer]

Two weeks ago  I received my SB Max with many years of development improvements such as , belt drive,hardened pistons , coiling fins machined into cylinder heads , auto (wick based) cylinder rod lubrication . I also opted for the cooling fan option, not sure way as I run it with cover off and a much larger fan cooling it anyway.

Based on performance chart on their website  the Max requires 3.5 Hrs. to fill a 68 ci paintball tank from 0-4500.
My  17 cf / 118 ci tank which is  1.7 times that capacity   required  3:35 to fill from 0 to 4,400,   1.7 times 3.5 hrs. is right at 6 hrs.

Same chart shows   44   cf  requires 12 hrs. from 0 to 4500. That would be like 23.7 hrs. for my 87 cu one. 
I am currently filling a Scott 60 min /87 cf  starting at  zero   at a rate of 300 PSI per hour  or a 15 hr. fill rate. .

Either I have a very special SB Max or the ongoing improvement made over the years have really improved performance or     Tom   K. just does not to brag.               


Up Date 7-23-15

Chart shows 12 Hrs. to fill a 44 cu ft from to 4500 which would equal 23 hr and 42 min.for a 60 min / 87 cu ft one.

Scott 60 min. / 87cu ft SCBA . Starting at zero , filled at rate of 300 PSI per hour . Not close to 300 per hour but exactly (well as close as I could read the gauges) and both the SCBA gauge and the gauge in the fill manifold matched through out the whole range..

2hrs. 600
3hr. 900
4 hrs. 1200
etc. each hour and yes I checked withing one min. each hour and logged the results.

At 14 hours and 25 minutes 4,500 it had not cut off so I shut if off.

I did this in three runs . First one 3 hours , next 9 hours. I drained moisture from the shop compressor each time and there was not that much and also bleed SB and tank fill hose using the SB valve. SB ex spelled just a trace each time.     


Summary added 9-14-15

Original ShoeBox rated 4 Cu Ftper  Hr
Freedom 8  rated 8 Cu Ft  per Hr

My ShoeBox Max delivers just over 6 Cu Ft per Hr       operated with 120 PSI input and pressure switch defeated.       
















                                                         

[Case Stuffer]

Recently  I made this Desiccant holder / air  dryer

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=94779.0



mostly to keep from having to replace the Motor Guard ones very often and also purchased  a Diablo Dry Air System for the HPA output side.

I did not have a moisture problem before these improvements  IMO but now there is no trace of  any moisture  at all.

My SOP is to top off my 18 cf Guppy tank to 4,500 when  it gets down to  3,000. This happens about once a week and last run was this morning from 2,900 to 4,500 ,  time required  was 70 minutes.


                             

[cilami]

Same results here. It takes 70-75 minutes for my Shoebox to fill my Guppy from 3,000 to 4,500 psi. I have the basic SB model but with the hardened pistons option. I am going to build a larger desiccant holder following your design, just not sure if it will be pvc sch 40, sch 80 or metal. Also considering to add a water separator, is it necessary?   

[Case Stuffer]

Also considering to add a water separator, is it necessary?

 
If you are referring to between the shop compressor and the SB  then  IMO no it is not. SB uses such a low volume of air that the air has time to cool down and deposit most of its' moisture content in the shop compressor tank. My Porter  Cable C2002 only runs for 30 sec. every 15 min. and has very little moisture in its' tank even after the SB has been running for several hours continuously.


Honestly the Diablo Dry Air System was added as more of a ,well it is less than $200 and makes me feel  like I added another layer of protection  needed or not.       


Added  8-16

For clarification my response to  use / need of a water separator was  indeed was referencing a water separator not a air dryer , . Some  seem to think these are the same but they are not. A water separator  does not contain any desiccant media but uses expansion / swirling  and filtering   to extract  the moisture from the compressed air. Water separators can be very effective where high volumes of compressed air  are flowing but not effective at all with very low air flow.     

I find the air dryer prior to the Shoebox very necessary and the Diablo on the Shoebox output removes that last little bit of moisture from the HPA.                                 

[sixshootertexan]

I got my water filter machined this week. I still need my orings and some all thread to assemble it. Oh and the media to go in it.

[Case Stuffer]

Looks really good, what type of clear plastic(?) did you use? I tried to find some that was rated for fairly high air pressure but did not have any luck.

[sixshootertexan]

It acrylic. 2 3/8 od  -1 7/8 id

[Case Stuffer]

I can see clearly now , the desiccant that is.
ID is 1.380"  X 12" length /  18 cu in  - ( 10 fluid ounces) so should last many hours
Note safety sleeve is 2" PVC Sch .40  with view holes in itand is a slip fit .


Auto cut off on SB  is safety wired solid so it does not go clack-a-de- clack. Much quiter and I believe  it pumps faster. I use a timer and also set an alarm.



Porter Cable is set at 120 PSI which also increases output.

This ShoeBox Max is a recent model with hardened pistons, new improved  seals, auto lube , belt drive,fined cylinders, built in fan plus I ran with cover off and 12" Box fan blowing on it also.

It took 12 min. to bring Diablo Dry Air Sysytem ( red cylinder) up to 3000 PSI and an addational 58 min. to bring Guppy (18cf) up to 4,500 from 3,000 PSI.so 70 min. total run time.

87 cf SCBA on top shelf is my reserve and makes a handy air line hanger.

[Jr_Explorer]

I only post as I'm concerned about your health and well being.  Plastic (PVC) is not supposed to be used for pressurized air  applications.  And using PVC as a "safety sleeve" is like wrapping a pipe bomb with a layer of nails.  All your doing is adding PVC shrapnel. 

Could you get a steel or aluminum (thick walled) tube and drill holes in it for your safety shield?  And you could run it a couple inches past both ends so even if the caps fail they will be directed in one specific direction.  It wouldn't cost much and would be SO much safer.

[Case Stuffer]

Thanks again for the PSA   Safety Announcement . I will have to look for you first post warning me <insert>

found it

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=94779.msg887278#msg887278

<end insert>

but in the meantime here is  a 2013 Thread you missed.

http://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=43279.0



Snip from my responce to your first In the interest of safety post

Not saying two wrongs make a right just that I feel safe enough and
in my case mine will only be used while ShoeBox  Max is running ,no  long  unsupported sections , not exposed to freezing temperatures during the winter, not subjected to the normal rigors  of a shop air supply line.

What are your feelings / thoughts on the  Diablo Dry Air System  considering  this snip from a post by a very well known vendor

B) Most importantly SAFETY.   NEVER make a high pressure filter where the filter material directly touches the cylinder walls of a high pressure filter. This is filter element 101. The moisture in filter media leaches acid, and hence must not come in direct contact with the filter tube. Acid that leaches out will eventually make it to the threads on the end-caps of the filter, weakening them, and eventually causing the high possibility of catastrophic failure. This point can't be stressed enough. 4) I have left out some of the more obvious points, such as ensure your tubing can handle the pressure and is from a reputable source.