Compressor, boost pumps, Lions tigers and bears oh my.......

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fpgt72

fpgt72

Member
Oct 12, 2017
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MO
I am doing some research on this home compressor deal....having to drive an hour to get a fill is getting old. Looking at all options....well not the $3k options.

Looking at all the boost pumps, Altaros, shoebox, air venturi....never gave two thoughts to the altaros as it is a bit putting off if you are in the states.....not an easy click and buy, and I just think any service I would need would be a chore....I could be wrong.

Shoebox was always expensive, and AV, well they are new, and the jury is still not fully in on them.

Now to the "cheap" chinese pumps.....one has to think, why would I spend the money for a booster, then have to spend money again for a "first stage" compressor?......

Shoebox has support, but it is not stand alone, and is about the same price as as the "cheap" chinese pumps.

Now shoebox is down to under $500, so that is an option I am thinking about again....however finding someone to say a bad thing about the "chinese" compressors is pretty difficult.

​As of now I am on the fence on what to do.

Really looking for a sounding board....suggestions....all that jazz.
 
I've only used my Air Venturi compressor a few times and it's performed flawlessly. I filled 4 tanks (several small and an 80cuft 3446psi steel scuba tank). 

I know it's not much of a history but I'm a happy camper and I have a bunch of scuba shops within 15 mins of my house. I just got tired of getting 3800psi fills on my 4500psi tanks. LOL

Plus it's compact enough to haul around in my truck when I want to take a week-long trip for Thanksgiving and fill my brother-in-laws tanks and Benjamin Bulldog :)
 
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You say you can’t find someone to say something bad about the Chinese cheap compressors . I will say that they are junk you are on borrowed time with them you must be prepared to do rebuilds on them quite often. If that is all you can afford I guess it’s better than a hand pump but most people who buy them do not have the cash to get a water removal filter they will use a Tampax filter I’m just waiting for an internally corroded tank to blow.
i would never buy a used gun from someone who uses these cheap pieces of crap.
if you can afford a decent pump get your tanks filled elseware or buy a springer
 
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"Brian10956"You say you can’t find someone to say something bad about the Chinese cheap compressors . I will say that they are junk you are on borrowed time with them you must be prepared to do rebuilds on them quite often. If that is all you can afford I guess it’s better than a hand pump but most people who buy them do not have the cash to get a water removal filter they will use a Tampax filter I’m just waiting for an internally corroded tank to blow.
i would never buy a used gun from someone who uses these cheap pieces of crap.
if you can afford a decent pump get your tanks filled elseware or buy a springer
Click to expand...
What is your first hand experience with them?

I have found a great many people need to justify high $$ expenses....then if something comes along that does the same job as well....well lets just say people feel the need to defend their purchase.

I have a feeling you do not own one, have never used one, or laid eyes on one.

One last thing it is not that I can't afford a "decent" pump....I just refuse to pay that price for one....we know they are making a killing on it, and I have a feeling we will be seeing prices falling over the next year or so.
 
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If the Altros Booster would work for you grab one!
Super easy to deal with, outstanding customers service. After purchase Altros contacted us twice, once to ask if hte unit was working as it should then a Month later they again contacted us saying they had a new lube for rebuild and were checking the address so they could shop a bit here for free. Comes with a rebuild kit and is SUPER easy to rebuild - I havent needed to but did take a look. Vid for strip down:



Had ours right at one year and never an issue.

John

I might ad, the shoebox was still about $400.00 more than it is right now or I "might" have considered one of those but now realize the shoebox is much worse ( and not that bad really) to work on than the altros booster.
 
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I have been and now can say WAS in the same boat. I had to drive 80 miles round trip to get air so,I looked, priced compared, fretted, second thought, and on and on. Really considered the Carette. It's got to be the Cadillac of the sort of medium priced compressors. I like what Joe does and he offered a $100 discount to forum members. Still, the Air Venturi was more in my comfortable price range and I researched them and landed at Pyramid Air. They have refurbished units, same warranty etc,, but were mishandled by UPS during delivery, PA now uses Fed Ex, so there are cosmetic flaws. I have a few cosmetic flaws myself! My final concern was did that unit without an additional moisture removing system really get rid of the moisture enough to keep from damaging my rifles. I spoke with _ _ _ _ at PA and was told the air is dry. The US Olympic team used the Air Venturi for their air rifles. I accepted the PA rep at their word and ordered a refurbished Air Venturi. It was $1105.00 delivered. That price beats some of the shoe box options and it's stand alone. No booster compressor needed. If the air is not dry enough I can add Joe's Alpha filter and still be comfortable with the money spent. They have 2 refurbished units left and people grab them when available. If you are teetering and almost ready to jump in give them serious thought.
Time will tell...I let you all know if I screwed the pooch.
 
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"fpgt72"
"Brian10956"You say you can’t find someone to say something bad about the Chinese cheap compressors . I will say that they are junk you are on borrowed time with them you must be prepared to do rebuilds on them quite often. If that is all you can afford I guess it’s better than a hand pump but most people who buy them do not have the cash to get a water removal filter they will use a Tampax filter I’m just waiting for an internally corroded tank to blow.
i would never buy a used gun from someone who uses these cheap pieces of crap.
if you can afford a decent pump get your tanks filled elseware or buy a springer
Click to expand...
What is your first hand experience with them?

I have found a great many people need to justify high $$ expenses....then if something comes along that does the same job as well....well lets just say people feel the need to defend their purchase.

I have a feeling you do not own one, have never used one, or laid eyes on one.

One last thing it is not that I can't afford a "decent" pump....I just refuse to pay that price for one....we know they are making a killing on it, and I have a feeling we will be seeing prices falling over the next year or so.
Click to expand...
I am a retired electrical engineer the last 30 years I worked I was in sales and management for a large company. When I started I did design of large electric dc motors used mainly in railroads and ships. When I see poor sloppy workmanship it gets me mad maybe because I was spoiled working for a company that demanded excellence. The cheap compressors look like a project that was done by students in a freshman lab were the goal was to make the cheapest simplest pump they can design. If you are a mechanic that can fix things you can probably handle the regular rebuilds they require (good luck finding parts). I feel bad for the people in this hobby who just can’t afford anything better if I were in their shoes I would look for another affordable source of air and hopefully in the future they can upgrade. Renting a nitrogen tank is a reasonable way to go also. I know some have had no problems with these but I feel they are lucky. I compare these compressor to buying a very old used car it just won’t last. Look at some of the compressor blogs on other sites you won’t see many success stories. The least expensive compressor are the Carette, Omega or the Air Venturi. They are sold by reputable dealers and you can get service when needed. Before I got one the pressure boosters were another choice and if you funds are limited you can go that way especially if you only shoot occasionally. 
 
Upvote 0
"Jim81"I have been and now can say WAS in the same boat. I had to drive 80 miles round trip to get air so,I looked, priced compared, fretted, second thought, and on and on. Really considered the Carette. It's got to be the Cadillac of the sort of medium priced compressors. I like what Joe does and he offered a $100 discount to forum members. Still, the Air Venturi was more in my comfortable price range and I researched them and landed at Pyramid Air. They have refurbished units, same warranty etc,, but were mishandled by UPS during delivery, PA now uses Fed Ex, so there are cosmetic flaws. I have a few cosmetic flaws myself! My final concern was did that unit without an additional moisture removing system really get rid of the moisture enough to keep from damaging my rifles. I spoke with _ _ _ _ at PA and was told the air is dry. The US Olympic team used the Air Venturi for their air rifles. I accepted the PA rep at their word and ordered a refurbished Air Venturi. It was $1105.00 delivered. That price beats some of the shoe box options and it's stand alone. No booster compressor needed. If the air is not dry enough I can add Joe's Alpha filter and still be comfortable with the money spent. They have 2 refurbished units left and people grab them when available. If you are teetering and almost ready to jump in give them serious thought.
Time will tell...I let you all know if I screwed the pooch.
Click to expand...
I would say the Air Venturi is a decent choice but I disagree about the air filter not being needed The Olympic team probably gets new guns on a regular bases or they replace internal parts that have degraded. I know I’m a bug on this point but air rifles need absolutely dry air I wish it wasn’t true and I just don’t understand why so many ignor this point. 
 
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"Brian10956"
"fpgt72"
"Brian10956"You say you can’t find someone to say something bad about the Chinese cheap compressors . I will say that they are junk you are on borrowed time with them you must be prepared to do rebuilds on them quite often. If that is all you can afford I guess it’s better than a hand pump but most people who buy them do not have the cash to get a water removal filter they will use a Tampax filter I’m just waiting for an internally corroded tank to blow.
i would never buy a used gun from someone who uses these cheap pieces of crap.
if you can afford a decent pump get your tanks filled elseware or buy a springer
Click to expand...
What is your first hand experience with them?

I have found a great many people need to justify high $$ expenses....then if something comes along that does the same job as well....well lets just say people feel the need to defend their purchase.

I have a feeling you do not own one, have never used one, or laid eyes on one.

One last thing it is not that I can't afford a "decent" pump....I just refuse to pay that price for one....we know they are making a killing on it, and I have a feeling we will be seeing prices falling over the next year or so.
Click to expand...
I am a retired electrical engineer the last 30 years I worked I was in sales and management for a large company. When I started I did design of large electric dc motors used mainly in railroads and ships. When I see poor sloppy workmanship it gets me mad maybe because I was spoiled working for a company that demanded excellence. The cheap compressors look like a project that was done by students in a freshman lab were the goal was to make the cheapest simplest pump they can design. If you are a mechanic that can fix things you can probably handle the regular rebuilds they require (good luck finding parts). I feel bad for the people in this hobby who just can’t afford anything better if I were in their shoes I would look for another affordable source of air and hopefully in the future they can upgrade. Renting a nitrogen tank is a reasonable way to go also. I know some have had no problems with these but I feel they are lucky. I compare these compressor to buying a very old used car it just won’t last. Look at some of the compressor blogs on other sites you won’t see many success stories. The least expensive compressor are the Carette, Omega or the Air Venturi. They are sold by reputable dealers and you can get service when needed. Before I got one the pressure boosters were another choice and if you funds are limited you can go that way especially if you only shoot occasionally.
Click to expand...
As I understand it they all require rebuilds...every one of them....the scuba shop I go to was down while their compressor was being maintained.

Having checked out the sling shot guy's video of the total tear down of the chinese unit I was pretty shocked....the only thing that struck me is no bearing surface.....however swimming in oil, not sure how long it will live before needing to be sleeved.

I don't mind spending money on a quality unit, I would buy an Omega if I felt it offered a 10x + better product...issue is I don't know if they do....I really don't see how they can be just that much better.....this is why I brought it up.

I have a bad habit to read, then hem and haw, then read some more....put off the decision. Spring guns are not really an option any longer as they are getting difficult to cock...nerve damage....so PCP from a rest is about where I am going....that and 22 rimfire.

I am really looking for someone that actually OWNS one of the chinese machines that has had it go south on them....not bad shipping, not wrong thing....but had it and it has issues....this is what I am looking for.

From my limited research these things seem to be a pretty hot item....they might be the next step in airguns.

I have said for years give Joe Blow a way to fill his PCP for under $500 and it is a game changer.....there are some new PCP rifles out there that are really making noise....I am thinking that these yong heng or whatever compressors could be the next QB78....something that punches way above its price point.
 
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