Air compressor recommendation

[hanleyfan]

I am considering buying a low cost high pressure air compressor,  give me a recommendation for a easy to use compressor for under 600.00 that is fairly reliable and won't break down after a few weeks.

[mobilehomer]

There are several that fit your requirements. You WILL get many recommendations. Do a little research and you will find that most of the troubles come from filling large tanks instead of just guns. Although you will have others say the opposite.

I just bought a Yong Heng. If you go that route, make sure it is a genuine YH with Yong Heng on the side. Got mine from Amazon, received it in three days. And I will only fill guns with mine. It takes about a minute to fill a Fortitude from 0 to 3000psi. 135F/57C

[Wayne52]

I bought the F10 Shoebox last year myself and am very happy with it but in reality by the time I bought the oiless compressor to drive it along with accessories I probably have $750 into it, so far it's been very reliable.  The Shoebox is pretty much a time proven reliable compressor, it's not super fast like some of them but it gets the job done.  I'll actually be topping off the one of my SCBA's later today or tomorrow.

[hanleyfan]

I want  one that will fill a 4500 psi tank, it would get tiresome to be filling my guns directly, that is what I use my guppy tank for.  right now I am leaning toward a shoe box F10.

[larspawn]

I had an original Shoebox 3000 PSI I modded for 4500.  Served me well.  This year I got back into shooting and got the F10.  Couldn't be happier and know this one will last a long time.  Everything needs maintenance and the nice thing about Shoebox is by and large its just a few o-rings and you are back in business.  The new ones seem to last a long time between rebuilds. 

Some say you can get two Yong Hengs for the price of a SB.  Very true but I wanted something rock solid that will last a long time. I'd rather be shooting than troubleshooting or rebuilding a compressor.

[avator]

If I were filling tanks the least I would use is the F 10.
These single piston, low cost Chinese compressors tell us right there in plain (broken) English in the manual/website. "For filling guns only". If you choose to fill tanks with one I would say, that's on you.

[cootertwo]

Only thing I can ad, is you mostly get what you pay for. I started with a yung heng, it's still working, but also have 2 large tanks and a smaller tank. Messing with the water bucket is a pain. So I bought a Carette ( a bit over $1000). Worked well for awhile, but slowly got slower and slower to build up to 4000psi, and at present, will not go past 3000psi, and takes quite awhile to get there. No leaks, just a worn out high pressure piston and sleeve. (has no rings on high pressure piston). So coming tomorrow via FedEx is a DAVV SU100 "scuba" compressor. Also, like most everything now-a-days, made in China. It actually has 4 separate cylinders, one for each stage, so I'm hoping it might last awhile. Got it off Amazon $2,199.00 Another thing to consider is where, if at all possible, do you get parts? I've yet to find any parts for my Carette, so it's coming close to becoming a throw away item. Do research, here, you tube, anywhere that deals with PCP air guns. Daystate is supposedly made in Italy, but I wouldn't bet my teeth on it. And you can always go BIG $$$ and get a REAL scuba compressor from Alkin, Bauer, and others. But you might have to get a second mortgage on your home.

[PCPhack]

Steve, I easily got parts for my Alpha-Carette here in the US. As to my knowledge, Airtanksforsale is the only official seller of them in the US. If you received it through another seller, then I would go ask that seller for parts.

Don't throw it away though! I will take it off your hands if you don't want it (well I would, but I don't live close and shipping is costly).

[Lefusil]

I got a Benjamin Traveler, and use it to fill the guns directly.  It runs on 12 volts DC, so you can use it with a car battery.  Also can get a separate rectifier that converts 110 AC to 12 volt DC.
Has been working just fine.  Haven't timed it but it takes about 3-4 minutes to pump up my gun's 480cc bottle  from 125 to 250 bar when plugged into 110V.

I think the Nomad II and Hatsan Spark are similar, and have the rectifier built into the unit.

[avator]

I got a Benjamin Traveler, and use it to fill the guns directly.  It runs on 12 volts DC, so you can use it with a car battery.  Also can get a separate rectifier that converts 110 AC to 12 volt DC.
Has been working just fine.  Haven't timed it but it takes about 3-4 minutes to pump up my gun's 480cc bottle  from 125 to 250 bar when plugged into 110V.

I think the Nomad II and Hatsan Spark are similar, and have the rectifier built into the unit.

Better than hand pumping I say. If I had to hand pump I wouldn't own a single PCP. That's just me, you youngers guys may have other opinions..... have at it. It's a hobby and I'm not planning on keeling over for it.

[KnifeMaker]

I find it hard to believe that Joe B. wouldn't have parts for the Carrette.


Now, in your budget, you want to fill tanks, or wait for parts.


go ShoeBox F-10. Call and ask for Carol. Tell them Mike L. The KnifeMaker in Texas told you to call.


U.S Made, adn parts are only three days away.Not weeks!


I ran my first one for over 7 years. I wore it out. The new one is much stouter built. First one ran HOT! New one runns cool. Just run the fan a few minutes after shut down, and always run any compressor un attached to a bottle or rifle for half a minute or so to rid any possible moisture in the system. Heat and moister kills more compressors than any other thing.


Always watch the dial on the bottle or compressor if it has one. Never open a bottle until the pressure in the line is at or slightly above the bottle pressure. Otherwise, you will either eventually pop a pop off disk, or blow rings or other parts due to shock.


Knife

[PCPhack]

Michael is right about waiting for pressure to be almost equal before opening up a bottle. I didn't want that wait though, so added a high quality check valve after my pressure maintaining valve (PMV). That has been really great to have. I just connect the bottle, start the compressor, open the valve, and walk away.

[Bravo111]

Check the Hatsan Spark can be had for 380.00 and has some pretty good reviews, I have one and have had no issues. Soooo much nicer than any handpump. I am patient and never let it get above 150 degrees.

[maraudinglizard]

I quit trying to fill scuba tanks, I bought the Nomad ll and haven't looked back. I can take it anywhere and not clutter up the back of my truck. I can run it off my truck or an electrical outlet at home. It fills to 4500psi, so I am not limited to 3000psi guns anymore. It weighs about 20lbs, comes with a carrying case to keep it clean and hold accessories. It has a built in cooling system so no water to deal with. It cost me $650 and free shipping from PA. Beats hand pumping and trying to fill tanks.

[lennyk]

make sure to invest in moisture removal also
I use a YH along with the big gold filter and a smaller black filter before the gold one.

This combo of filters seems to work for me in the tropics,
I get some moisture in less than half of the black filter and little or none in the other half.

[SAGERAT NITEMARE]

If you want to fill large capacity tanks then get a compressor DESIGNED for filling large capacity tanks...they work well for filling airguns in general also...it is false economy to to even think of trying to do both with one of the smaller units...but we ALL try it on and get burned while knowing it will happen/is about to happen...and scream and holler when it does, blaming all OUR doings on everything but who/where it belongs.

Be sure to had a good cooling system and pre-moisture filtering system in hand/hooked up BEFORE you start filling.

The smaller, cheaper 4500 psi units will work for quite a while for the larger tanks if you don't let your tank get below 3000-3500 psi, but it's still a grunt for the smaller compressors...to go from 3500 psi to 4200-4300 psi takes longer for BOTH my "no-name" 6000 psi and Nomad II than going from zero to 3000 psi...which should tell you something.
 
YES...you will pay dearly for a quality SCBA/SCUBA compressor and EVERY air gunner wants one, only a few are able to actually go that route.  I have two HPA compressors and 6 portable to stationary compressors around my house/garage...they just keep appearing like flies seems like because I'm too cheap to "spread the wealth" and don't really need anything more or that pricey

The net is full of available units at various prices and made by various Chinese, American and European manufacturers...so decide what YOU REALLY NEED, which is always NEVER WHAT YOU THINK YOU REALLY WANT, cough up the Geetus and get on with your playing, it's much more pleasant and fun than wishing.(I wish I had one of those $4500.00 plus SCBA tank filling Fire house units)

Those Chinese "SCBA" units are not all that costly compared to the smaller units sold on AGD and Pyramyd...$600 to $1500 depending.

Parts are available but sometimes hard to find sellers...these Chinese units are used WORLD WIDE and seem to get repaired...I think the US/Canada is a very small portion of that market...we are just more vociferous because EVERYONE has the net to cry on or more apt, to use for finding repair parts.

My original Y.H. seller was going to give me back 90% of my cost and let me keep the broken unit because it as cheaper that way...they DIDN'T WANT THE BROKEN UNIT BACK...which would have worked had I not purchased it through Walmart and had to follow their rules...it DIDN'T cost me return shipping.  It would have been nice to have that unit to repair and keep as a spare.

Good Shooting