Would you, could you, should you?

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steve-kville

steve-kville

Member
Feb 4, 2017
118
8
Pennsylvania, United States
I touched on this in a few other threads. PCP is just not popular in our area. For the most part, its finding a source to charge them. We have no scuba shops close by. There are a few within an hour's drive.

I am coming into some money in the form of a bonus this fall (for that of which I am thankful!). I am giving some serious thought to buying a bigger compressor, one that can fill bigger tanks. I was warned that my little Nomad would implode to do anything beyond what I am already doing. I'm not sure how I would structure this enterprise. I'd obviously have to be careful how I advertise this, perhaps keep it "word of mouth."

Has anyone done anything like this? I talked to our local gun shop and they have no interest in dealing with PCP's. We have a Dunham's Sports nearby that will do CO2 but that's it.

Thoughts? Ideas? 
 
i have a yong heng ... it can fill any size tank, just give it breaks .. after using mine for about a year now ive settled on a 10 on 20 off cycle as best for it 'with' a fan on it .. typical top off on a 45 size tank is two cycles and a piece .. if it was a larger tank or filling from empty it would just take more cycles .. not a big deal .. i set mine up on a day off and top all my tanks in one shot about once a month ... so a BIG compressor ... why ... not unless your running a range and supplying free air to all or something ...
 
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NO YOUR NOMAD IS MADE FOR 1 GUN@ A TIME!!,

If it's just for you, yong heng is a cheap alternative. If you go that way, Walmart sells them and you can get a 4 yr warranty. Highly advised! They have the smaller compressors also. It's the warranty!

Even then, these and similar compressors are made to fill A bottle not several. Bottles are expensive and you need to know if they're safe. 99% are but watch for the 1%.

If you want to be a "fill station" . At one time, crosman would list you as a filling station, but you had to be 'certified", and insured. Just put a few signs around in sporting good stores. Most would like to help their customers get paint ball and such fill. It'll take time.. make sure what state and local regs ensue. Just because you buy a more expensive compressor doesn't mean it won't fail. Use the Nomad as long as you can. Study here and elsewhere about dependability. Put the scuba quality filter on it. I've been using my AV 4500 since they come out. Can't remember but around 4 yrs.

Long drawn out rambling answer to a simple question. Believe me, there's more. It is HIGH PRESSURE AIR!
 
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An alternative is to find a welding supply store and get nitrogen from them. Get yourself a large bottle that is around 6000 psi. Now you’ll have an awful lot of refills for a relatively inexpensive price that has a couple of benefits. One benefit is dry gas - don’t have to worry about corrosion issues. Another benefit is not having to worry about compressor maintenance or failures. 


This what Charlie Frear from Georgia Airguns does (or so he told me). 
 
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Try checking with your area paid and volunteer fire departments. Many nowadays have high pressure equipment in house for refilling firefighter SCBA tanks and if you ask, will fill tanks for you.

Another idea would be looking around for companies that sell and service fire equipment to those fire companies. Many have equipment for hydrotesting and refilling SCBA's and will for the public. 
 
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Sigh, yet another vote for Yong Heng style. Mine is now 3 or so years old. Filled many buddy bottles, now filling a 74cf bottle. Just runs for 15 minutes at a time, give a rest is my experience. make sure the motor has plenty of air flow, and ensure the water in the 5 gallon bucket stays coolish. Have a metric wrench set handy for replacing dowdy seals. I keep a pile of seals and the wrenches handy, but maybe that's just mine as no one else seems to have that problem.

Parts are cheap, but typically come from China so 6 to 8 week wait time.

It works. What more can I say?
 
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First, I would follow the advice of many here and make sure that you are covered from a liability standpoint (waivers from your “customers” AND Insurance).

Then I would suggest that trying to use a Yong Heng or any small compressor to fill SCBA tanks or bottles on a constant/commercial basis is a recipe for disaster. Get yourself a good heavy duty compressor (Alkin, Baue, etc.) and a couple of large SCBA CF bottles. Fill the SCBA bottles to 4500 psi (310 Bar) and use those to fill your customers guns, most of which probably only take 200- 250 Bar. Refill the SCBA tank whenever it gets to 250 BAR. For your customers who have large SCBA tanks you’ll fill those directly to 310 BAR

If you spend $3500 on a compressor and the various fittings, plus $1500 on the tanks (2) plus some accessories, then you’re up to $5K. At $20 a fill (for an SCBA tank) you’ll need 250 fills to recoup all your cash outlay. This may be doable in a year if you are the only guy around doing this and have 10-20 air gunners who need air for tanks. You’ll need a lot more air gunners than that if all you are doing is filling guns, since you can’t charge $20 for filling an airgun tank.

This ain’t gonna make you rich, but might cover the costs of airgunning for you over a two - three year period. 

my 10 cents.

Chris
 
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Nitrogen in my opinion is the best way to go if money is no concern and you can deal with the size and weight of the tanks and the third party BS that goes with dealing with the suppliers. If you shoot a lot you will be surprised how quickly you can burn thru a 6000 tank . . 

Using a fire station would be great. However showing up every week or so you might not met with open arms.

Which compressor is based upon how much you use it. Frankly having studied this in some detail the YH compressor is great for guys that don't mind tinkering or who can't justify the expense of a 3 or 4 thousand dollar compressor.

If you find yourself owning more then say three PCP rifles just buy the Bauer of Alkin and be done with it
 
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I touched on this in a few other threads. PCP is just not popular in our area. For the most part, its finding a source to charge them. We have no scuba shops close by. There are a few within an hour's drive.

I am coming into some money in the form of a bonus this fall (for that of which I am thankful!). I am giving some serious thought to buying a bigger compressor, one that can fill bigger tanks. I was warned that my little Nomad would implode to do anything beyond what I am already doing. I'm not sure how I would structure this enterprise. I'd obviously have to be careful how I advertise this, perhaps keep it "word of mouth."

Has anyone done anything like this? I talked to our local gun shop and they have no interest in dealing with PCP's. We have a Dunham's Sports nearby that will do CO2 but that's it.till

Thoughts? Ideas?
Click to expand...

Don’t do it. I used to fill for friends … compressor failed during a time I was grudgingly doing it for a guy and its STILL broke! I do have another compressor that I CAN get parts for, but its in the house now, and only for private use.
 
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