DAYSTATE T2 COMPRESSOR

I have been around high pressure compressors for the last 20 years and it has been my experience that there is a direct relationship between quality of compressor vs maintainability and reliability. These machines (compressors as a whole) are so mechanically stressed in doing the work that we ask of them. Compressing air is a two fold mechanical wear or stress on a device. One there is the compression, which creates mechanical loads on moving parts such as the pistons, rings, bearings, valves, etc. The second factor is the heat generated when gasses are compressed. (ideal gas law, PV=nRT) Which in our case simply put means that when we compress a gas we have increased the Pressure with all other factors being constant that the Temperature has to rise.

Simply put, the better a compressor is made or shall I say designed the more reliable and maintainable it will be over time. These features, costs money. 4 pistons will always be better than two pistons from a mechanical loading point (wear) on the compressor, as well as heat build up. When you have a two stage compressor (two pistons), you are taking ambient air pressure and raising it to say 500psi in the first stage, this air is then transferred over to the second piston which will then take it from 500psi to say 4500psi. This is a very large delta in pressure (4000psi) for one piston to handle mechanically and heat dissipation. Hence wear.

As you can imagine, 4 stage compressors spread the compression delta over 4 stages (pistons), rather than two, hence less loads on each piston, and less heat generation. This explains why we see many of the two stage compressors with additional liquid cooling, they really need it, or the heat would distort parts, create excessive wear in a much shorter period of time. 4 stage compressors on the other hand are usually cooled using heat transfer via convection cooling or radiant heat transfer fins. Simply put there is no mechanical moving parts to wear out in the cooling process except the fan blades (tongue in cheek).

Is the Daystate T2 a good compressor? I will say this, it is a Coltri made system. Coltri, Bauer, Mako, (some surplus military compressors of other mfg, but parts are an issue) are some of the best in my opinion. Why? They are time proven to be reliable, serviceable and maintainable, as well as having a good second hand market resell demand.

Why these brands? They are the ones I have personal experience with over the last 20 years. I don't sell these, I don't even work in this industry so I don't have a horse in this race, but I do currently own a Daystate T2 and so far it has lived up to my expectations. I would say that from an engineering analysis point of view, in the long term, and I mean over a 5 year period (long term in the air gun industry, people change hobbies point of view). You have a much higher probability of your Coltri, Bauer or Mako still running strong as compared to the some of the much cheaper two stage compressors on the market. I could sum it up with the phrase, "Pay the man now, or pay the man much more later." It's really a matter of personal needs and wants. Finding the right compressor for your needs is the real point at hand. Keep in mind, there is a pretty strong after market for these name brand compressors, I have personally owned a Bauer and a Mako in the past that I bought used. They were great compressors and used for life support equipment....primarily my own, so I do believe in them. When it came time to sell them, I actually recouped my cost.

Personally I believe that if we all have the correct and honest information in front of us, we will all make the decision that is best for ourselves. Is my decision right for you? Maybe or maybe not, but when it comes to buying these compressors, search out experienced people and the web for time proven answers. Then weigh the economics for your personal budget. Good luck everyone and hope this helps. Just my 2 cents on compressors. 

Sure hope my Daystate starts today, I need to fill a bottle, ......I think it will! :)
 
+1 to Fungun. I agree 100%. In high pressure compressors as with most things in life you get what you pay for. Guys buy a $300 compressor to fill their 9 liter carbon fiber tanks when they are specified for 1 liter tanks or direct gun fills. This is the same as using a chihuahua to pull an ox cart. They're not built for the task and not going to live very long trying.

Alkin aka Airetex, and Nardi Atlantic are also excellent multi staged, air cooled compressors which are built to last for years.
 
No question the top end compressors are better, but is it over kill for topping off your air tanks every so often? The $300 dollar compressor may well fail but we are too early into this to know how long, and if and when it does they are so easy to work on and parts are so cheap, you can have them back up and running in a matter of an hour or so at the longest. Then you must ask yourself are you going to go through the price of ten of them to get in the ball park of what the top line compressor is going to cost you?

If money was no object then I am sure everyone would have Bauer or Coltri, but since that simply isn't the case, and with the cost of the guns, most are going to try and maximize their dollars to get as much equipment as they can for as cheaply as they can. Wouldn't make much sense to have that nice top of the line compressor sitting there with no guns or no money left to buy pellets to shoot your guns. 
 
  • Like
Reactions: sonny
FYI.. we are not affiliated with Airetex anymore. Airetex used to sell our compressors in the past but due to poor customer service they provided and their short warranty period, we have stopped working with them and started our own distribution network and servicing in the States. We carry all the parts and products in NJ warehouse with plenty stock.