Others The advantage of tank over ac/dc compressor

[tomiboy]

Thanks!

 

[ranchonodinero]

I own both, 1 portable compressor and multiple SCBA tanks. Some of the advantages of SCBA tanks over portable compressors are as follows:

Moisture control in humid climates.

SCBA tanks are quieter than compressors

SCBA tanks/buddy bottles are more portable needing no power supply

SCBA tanks require less maintenance

I agree about the SCBA tanks. I have two tanks-well, three if you count the Scuba tank. The scuba tank is great for the lower pressure guns and it was inexpensive to find locally on craigslist. However, I am limited to lower pressures with it. I got a big high pressure SCBA tank from a well known on-line vendor and it has worked flawlessly. I got my latest tank, an SCBA tank off of Ebay for really cheap and it had 7 or so years left on it. In the Ft Worth area, there are many places to get the tank filled inexpensively and recertified if necessary. I just haven't seen the need to justify a compressor and the maintenance that could potentially go with it.

 

[Linehauler73]

Biggest advantage I see is if you get your tank filled at a dive shop you know you are getting clean dry air. With a compressor you can use all the filtering devices you want and unless you have some expensive testing equipment you really don’t know. I have both. Two 6.8L tanks and a gxcs2. When I run the cs2 I use both a smaller cotton filter and a larger desiccant filter. There doesn’t ever seem to be evidence of moisture in the output or the gun but I really don’t know absolutely for sure.

 

[Linehauler73]

I sold off all my PCP stuff a couple of years ago and now I want to start up again. I really would like a compressor, but all my reading tells me they are still unreliable. If you can't fix it yourself how do you get it fixed? Ship it back to China where most all are made? It seems it is a roll of the dice to get a good one. Most I see have no oil and many no water cooling, instead just some grease. The only one I have seen that I think I'd consider is the GX CS3.
I'm thinking of going back to a 100 CF carbon fiber tank. $700 but you know it's good to go for 15 years! A lot of fills!!

I have the gxcs2. Been solid for nearly 2 years and I have only done very basic maintenance that is super easy. Just removing the head and re lubing and cleaning. Target forge in California sells parts for them and the cs3 you mention. The cs3 and 2 are identical other than the cs3 has the auto shut off. Great pumps for the money.

 

[Sr.airgunner]

I use a SCBA tank with a HPA paintball tank with adjustable regulator with an accurate 3000 psi pressure gauge in series for benchrest shooting. This turns all my pcp airguns into regulated air pressure for consistent shot accuracy.
I use tape on each airgun to remember best pressure setting for each different airgun. I get hundreds and hundreds of shots from my 60 minute SCBA tank. When tank runs low on pressure I switch to another SCBA tank and refill the tanks at a convenient time later.

 

[ernroe]

I use a SCBA tank with a HPA paintball tank with adjustable regulator with an accurate 3000 psi pressure gauge in series for benchrest shooting. This turns all my pcp airguns into regulated air pressure for consistent shot accuracy.
I use tape on each airgun to remember best pressure setting for each different airgun. I get hundreds and hundreds of shots from my 60 minute SCBA tank. When tank runs low on pressure I switch to another SCBA tank and refill the tanks at a convenient time later.

Good idea for competition but I just shoot in backyard. However, if I owned a SCBA tank I would probably hook it up.

 

[Firewalker]

This really isn't an either/or issue, many have both compressors as well as tanks and dont be put off by the few bad reviews, the venerable Yong Heng compressor, though loud, watercooled and heavy, it's easily repaired, parts are cheap and they can live long lives!

Used SCBA tanks on Ebay are great too, some won't touch them if they can't do destructive testing on them but I've found my 2 Scott tanks to provide 4500psi of reserve air for my business every day and reliably so.

You can have your cake and eat it too, no need to limit your options.

 

[Sr.airgunner]

You are so right about destructive testing. A 4500 psi SCBA tank pressured up with water to 7500 psi for a TEST?
Stretch that tank out a few times and it is sure to fail. If not, then the 15 year arbitrary "lifetime" clause kicks in.
You know if these tanks are designed to be worn by firefighters crawling, dropping, and banging them around in a fire there is a huge safety margin built into them. Safe for firefighters until year 15 and then dumpster material??

 

[Firewalker]

You are so right about destructive testing. A 4500 psi SCBA tank pressured up with water to 7500 psi for a TEST?
Stretch that tank out a few times and it is sure to fail. If not, then the 15 year arbitrary "lifetime" clause kicks in.
You know if these tanks are designed to be worn by firefighters crawling, dropping, and banging them around in a fire there is a huge safety margin built into them. Safe for firefighters until year 15 and then dumpster material??

The NAVY got so tired of both the DOT and the method used to test carbon fiber bottles that they underwent an exhaustive search of other non-desteuctive testing, an extension of life and new certifications for CF-SCBA.

In the end, ultrasound was chosen due to zero added stress on the fibers. Fractures in the inner liner show up as airleaks around the jacket and cracks in the epoxy, separation of fibers show as fuzzy sections in the carbon fiber.

DOT granted 30 yearvexpirations on new, non-pressure tested tanks that now carry the new testing date plate.

Hydro testing CF is always destructive, CF does not catastrophically *fail. We are blessed that as long as you are not in commerce, DOT rules do not apply to you as a hobbies and transporting refilled expired tanks is not **illegal.


*Early CF windings as well as nylon/kevlar windings broke down with high infrared heat in fires. Crown separation was possible.

**DOT rules do not apply to those not in commerce, meaning that as long as you are not selling items, you are a private citizen and hobbies. You are not prohibited as labeling indicates for commercial transportation.

 

[Sr.airgunner]

The NAVY got so tired of both the DOT and the method used to test carbon fiber bottles that they underwent an exhaustive search of other non-desteuctive testing, an extension of life and new certifications for CF-SCBA.

In the end, ultrasound was chosen due to zero added stress on the fibers. Fractures in the inner liner show up as airleaks around the jacket and cracks in the epoxy, separation of fibers show as fuzzy sections in the carbon fiber.

DOT granted 30 yearvexpirations on new, non-pressure tested tanks that now carry the new testing date plate.

Hydro testing CF is always destructive, CF does not catastrophically *fail. We are blessed that as long as you are not in commerce, DOT rules do not apply to you as a hobbies and transporting refilled expired tanks is not **illegal.


*Early CF windings as well as nylon/kevlar windings broke down with high infrared heat in fires. Crown separation was possible.

**DOT rules do not apply to those not in commerce, meaning that as long as you are not selling items, you are a private citizen and hobbies. You are not prohibited as labeling indicates for commercial transportation.

Thanks for the update details. Non destructive testing sure interferes with planned obsolescence.