Is an Altaros booster pump worth it? In your opinion.

[keefd]

So I finally got my Yong Heng up and running.
It works, but I ain't happy with it. Mine heats up too fast for me and the oil/water blow-by makes me glad I got a really big gold filter. And it's LOUD! Oh-em-Gee it's loud!

I asked Altaros a few weeks ago if they had any of their booster compressors in stock and how much is shipping. Well, I got an email saying I could order one and shipping is 110 Euro. A lot, but that's trans-atlantic shipping for you. No Chinese subsidized shipping for you!

To me the biggest downsides are:
- It's slow.
 -- on this point, I'm not so worried. If I can babysit a 8 hr brisket smoke, I can watch a tank fill.
- You need a shop compressor.
 -- got this one covered. Got a good twin-cylinder 150 PSI compressor that works well.
 -- has the advantage of most of the moisture coming out in the shop compressor tank, so even better.
- It wastes compressed air.
 -- energy ain't free and the compressor's energy has to come from somewhere. I guarantee my YH isn't the most efficient thing.
- It's pricey.
 -- you got me there, but now that Shoebox sells to NASA only, it's less than the competition.

The upsides are that it's very, very quiet compared to a YH, it runs fantastically cool, and since it runs slow and cool, I would expect the compressor to last a very long time. It also can fill guns as well as tanks, as long as you have the time to spare. Most smaller compressors can only fill guns.

So what do ya'll think? I'm open to arguments against.   

[Chickenthief]

I started with an YH and hated it from gitgo! It's my least favorite dust collector now.
Bought an Altaros and love it dearly.

I run mine of a 0.75hp oilless compressor and yes it's slow like molasses in winter, but i can set a timer once in a while and continue my life while it chucks away all by it's lonesome self. It has a pressure switch so it's kinda set and forget. If leaks drops pressure while you're away then it will start up by itself and does'nt need bleeding to function/kick in again.

The folks at Altaros are top notch and provided me with spares despite it being myself tearing it apart and losing stuff. I offered them beer money but they declined despite the Czechs making the finest beer in the world;-)

If you want a race (or have big leaks in your system) then yes you do need a high hp compressor but in reality almost anything will do if you got the time.
My 9liter CF bottle will take @10bar~145psi (past 250bar~3625psi) an hour with that measly compressor.
As you said, brisket pace ;-)

Do go for it and remember that i paid in € and the prices in $ are even lower so you get a discount without lifting a finger.
Oh and please sell empty bottles, blood or a kidney but upgrade to the blue metal thingy. It has a much nicer "quality" feel to it and is well worth the extra $.

[T3PRanch]

Keith you have a PM.

[Madd Hatter]

For the price I'd say it's worth it considering I gave$500 for my shoebox compressor and it is basically the same thing except the SB needs electricity to run the motor but your shop compressor will run more to feed the Altros compressor. the electrical power used would probably be the same. Nice thing about the Altros compressor you could feed it from a gas powered compressor which would make it more portable.

[KnifeMaker]

Issue I had with the Altros is it is a virtual water pump. I have a full size Ingersoll Rand shop compressor and it runs it to death. Heat is up there in the full size compressor, and even though I have two full sized water traps and bead traps, it still pushed a lot of water.


When you run the Altros, make sure to disconnect it from the bottle and run if for a minute or two to clear the water out of the system. if not, it will corrode the back check valves in the unit. GRRRRR!!!


The F-10 shoe box is quite a bit faster and NO Water!


Knife

[mobilehomer]

There is one in the classifieds right now at a good price.