Others Let's get serious about Nitrogen

[Bdempsey]

We all worry about our PCP's getting the purest and the driest air possible for fear of corrosion. Two things cause corrosion, water and oxygen. Air is composed of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gases as well as water vapor. The solution is staring us in the face, NITROGEN. Compressed nitrogen is used in welding and other industrial uses. It is made to be as pure as possible and completely free of water. Nitrogen is very nonreactive to metals, whereas oxygen is very reactive and causes rust among other types of corrosion. Oxygen can cause explosions in areas that contain volatile hydrocarbons such as lubricants, yet we go about pumping air into our tanks and guns at pressures of up to 4500 psi in the presence of oxygen. Hmm! I have a degree in chemistry, and possibilities like these bother me. When I see air-gunners squirt flammables into the breach of break barrels to cause dieseling I cringe. So I think we need to share the details and specifics of how nitrogen can be used. I personally have not set up to use it, but I plan to do it. This forum is great for helping all of us by sharing our successes so the we all don't have to reinvent the wheel. So I look forward to the time when we don't have to worry about water getting into our guns and can use green fill port caps to indicate that we are using nitrogen (like the green valve caps on tires filled with nitrogen). Love to hear from you N2 experts!

 

[Solo1]

Good idea in theory but you would have to get major events to change first to get everyone else to follow unless you find a nearly free way to get nitrogen i don’t see it happening.

 

[Solo1]

Another thought as far as i know most containers for nitrogen are good for 3000 psi not 3625 and where are you going to find a source of higher pressure?

 

[wolfmangreg]

Nitrogen is available in 6000 PSI cylinders (use them at work for cooling). Looked into it before buying an Alkin, but none of the local sources panned out- either wouldn't do residential, or had a minimum order that was waayyy more than I was willing to take on.

 

[Solo1]

Nitrogen is available in 6000 PSI cylinders (use them at work for cooling). Looked into it before buying an Alkin, but none of the local sources panned out- either wouldn't do residential, or had a minimum order that was waayyy more than I was willing to take on.

Thanks! Didn’t know they went that high

 

[wolfmangreg]

Would be a great option for those who can make the logistics work. Have seen forum posts from people that use it. Charlie Frear at Georgia Airguns has a nitrogen setup.

 

[Solo1]

But i can’t imagine an industrial supply filling our cf bottles and like you said they want you to turn over fairly large quantiles frequently

 

[Brazos]

I have done it. You need the 6000psi tank. You rent them from the welding supply place. Ask for a 6000psi tank. You will need a regulated gauge for around $600. It all works great. I set it up for a neighborhood air rifle range and the club covered the cost. It worked great as the regulated gauge was very safe and the tank lasted a long time. I don’t know the current cost for tank rental and delivery of a refilled bottle. Also realize we never got a 6000psi tank that actually came filled to 6000psi. Typically closer to 5000psi. It’s a darn big tank though so it lasted a while. Seems like we got 350 fills +/- though it could have been more.

 

[Solo1]

I know from when i was younger they charged for you having 1 of those bottles for any length of time + the nitrogen so i think an air compressor is cheaper in the long run

 

[PasadenaMike]

This makes sense if you are in some sort of industry that you can access nitrogen easily. Us peasants have to just stick to what makes sense which is just air from a compressor.

 

[Bdempsey]

Great responses to our N2 discussion! I think I omitted the one thing that I was thinking about. I think the route to go is to use an airgun compressor but input N2 into the air intake. I think a lower pressure N2 tank could "feed" the compressor. Is that doable? N2 SOLVES the water and the O2 problems.

 

[PasadenaMike]

Great responses to our N2 discussion! I think I omitted the one thing that I was thinking about. I think the route to go is to use an airgun compressor but input N2 into the air intake. I think a lower pressure N2 tank could "feed" the compressor. Is that doable? N2 SOLVES the water and the O2 problems.

I’ve heard of people doing that. I don’t see why not

 

[wolfmangreg]

Great responses to our N2 discussion! I think I omitted the one thing that I was thinking about. I think the route to go is to use an airgun compressor but input N2 into the air intake. I think a lower pressure N2 tank could "feed" the compressor. Is that doable? N2 SOLVES the water and the O2 problems.

Like @PasadenaMike, have read of someone doing this though I don't remember the details. Seems like it was used as a feed source for a Shoebox compressor but don't quote me on that.

 

[PasadenaMike]

Like @PasadenaMike, have read of someone doing this though I don't remember the details. Seems like it was used as a feed source for a Shoebox compressor but don't quote me on that.

Yeah something like that but I imagine if you put the feed by the intake it should work

 

[Danman]

I know from when i was younger they charged for you having 1 of those bottles for any length of time + the nitrogen so i think an air compressor is cheaper in the long run

Around here anyways you can rent or outright buy a cylinder. Then swap it when empty....Nitrogen, 02, MIG gas etc. The bigger tanks of course make more sense. Never thought about going this route TBH but I do some welding and swap a big tank out once a year roughly. Was renting but it's more money in the end.....cancelled that. It could probably be done but I'd think it is not worth the hassle to feed a compressor with Nitrogen vs buying a decent pre/post dryer combo and keep on top of it? You mention dieseling....I'd love to do/see a study on effects of doing so on a springer!?

 

[PasadenaMike]

My combination of equipment that I use the moisture doesent even reach the desicent canister let alone to the tank

 

[elwoodblues]

You know I've been feeding my compressors N2 for years, everyone talks about water and that is a big issue but,
Oxygen and trace gases in air are much more likely to cause your compressor to detonate in a cylinder or in your gun when fired due to petroleum lubes. The best way is to go to your local Welding supply store for N2 don't have one close how about a farm supply of a fire safety supply all those ABC fire extinguisher's are charged with N2.
All of my compressors and any that I have looked at have a single point of air intake either 1/4 npt or 1/2 npt
just need a few fittings some hose and a flowmeter gauge style set at 10-15 cfh the tanks can be purchased in most places anywhere from a 20cuft to a 230cuft bottle. I have several a 20 for travel feeds my GX CS2 its about a foot tall and 4 inches diameter, in the shop I have 2 150cuft tanks feeding a Tuxing twin and a GX CS4. the flowgauge can be the cheapy from harbor ft about $50, 150 tanks about $220 refills run $20 to $30. I fill mine about twice a year

 

[pan60]

i thought about it but with my comp and the added cost its not in my futer

 

[PasadenaMike]

I’d probably blow something up lol

 

[MountainSportAirguns]

I've used it before, not very cost effective for an already expensive hobby. It's almost impossible to cure a PCP from obtaining moisture, will nitrogen help? yeah probably, but proper maintenance is equally effective imo.