So I finally got away from hand pump and went to local wield supplier and got a lease on a 6k tank and boy is it heavy but man it is a breezy to shoot my guns now.
Filling with Nitrogen
- Thread starter addison
- Start date
I'm really thinking on doing the same thing in the spring..my only problem is my local weld supply wont lease a tank without a business license ID number! Kinda sucks!
But they will sell me one for $640 and fills are pretty cheap...I have 2 SCBA 4500 tanks and think I could get quite a few fills from the big 6000 tank. Bigger molecule and super dry! No worries of moisture in your gun...
James from Michigan,
But they will sell me one for $640 and fills are pretty cheap...I have 2 SCBA 4500 tanks and think I could get quite a few fills from the big 6000 tank. Bigger molecule and super dry! No worries of moisture in your gun...
James from Michigan,
Upvote 0
I went through a company called Airgas here and they set me up nicely and gave me the whole setup for $400 and some taxes for delivery. I absolutely recommend this method to anyone trying to save up for a year for compressor and wants to get the most out of there guns. I own Kailbergun Cricket .25cal and air armss510 .25 and also Edgun Leyla 2.0 .25 these guns love air and the hand pumping after 5yrs had to go.
Upvote 0
I've been using Nitrogen since July 2014 and love it. Beats upkeep and maintenance on a compressor any day for me. I guess I just prefer it for the simplicity factor alone?
I know I could have bought a nice compressor for the money spent on Nitrogen over the last 4.5 yrs, but I just like the fact I can turn the valve on the rental tank and voila instant air with no worries that my compressor is gonna over heat and blow a seal, or a myriad of things that can go wrong?
Plus it's dry and I don't have to worry about moisture entering my guns.
When I first started renting the tank in 2014 it was around $100 a year for tank rental and just under $150 for a fill. Which will last me about 8 months with all the plinking and target shooting I like to do.
Now it's around $120 yr tank rental and I believe the last fill was closer to $165. So, what's that.....about $368 dollars a year for Nitrogen? Say $1.00 a day.
I use my nitrogen bottle to keep my SCBA tanks filled. When my nitrogen bottle gets down to 3000 psi , I fill my guns directly from the nitrogen tank for a while before I call Arc3 gases for a change out. Yup, don't even have to leave the house. Call them today and they will bring me a fresh bottle and change out the old one by next Tuesday.
Now if I didn't have access to Nitrogen, I would buy a compressor. Why?....because compressor maintenance and upkeep is much less of a headache than driving into town to get my tanks filled
Peace and silicone grease
Fuss
I know I could have bought a nice compressor for the money spent on Nitrogen over the last 4.5 yrs, but I just like the fact I can turn the valve on the rental tank and voila instant air with no worries that my compressor is gonna over heat and blow a seal, or a myriad of things that can go wrong?
Plus it's dry and I don't have to worry about moisture entering my guns.
When I first started renting the tank in 2014 it was around $100 a year for tank rental and just under $150 for a fill. Which will last me about 8 months with all the plinking and target shooting I like to do.
Now it's around $120 yr tank rental and I believe the last fill was closer to $165. So, what's that.....about $368 dollars a year for Nitrogen? Say $1.00 a day.
I use my nitrogen bottle to keep my SCBA tanks filled. When my nitrogen bottle gets down to 3000 psi , I fill my guns directly from the nitrogen tank for a while before I call Arc3 gases for a change out. Yup, don't even have to leave the house. Call them today and they will bring me a fresh bottle and change out the old one by next Tuesday.
Now if I didn't have access to Nitrogen, I would buy a compressor. Why?....because compressor maintenance and upkeep is much less of a headache than driving into town to get my tanks filled
Peace and silicone grease
Fuss
Upvote 0
Very nice!
Leasing compressed airs and gasses can sometimes be the way to go..
I used to own/operate a few custom shops, and have had an account with Airgas for almost 20 years..
I still have two huge tanks in my mini-shop, but, they're filled with Argon [for TIG welding]
No matter how much looking around, I couldn't nail down a 100% sound answer whether or not it would be okay to fill my pcps with..
Nitrogen seems to be the way to go - even though there are some 'warnings' against it [by manufacturers & ransoms on the internet]
As for Airgas and/or Haun, yes.. they usually do require you to set up an account with them,
as the tanks are basically leased, and they're expensive, so, they just don't want people running off with them or selling them..
If someone really wants to jump over the red tape,
you can 'start a business' simply by coming up with a name, then going to your local county clerks office,
and submit / apply for a business under the DBA option. [Doing Business As] I don't think it's more than around $20 bucks..
That'll give you your business name, and a state tax id #, and info for obtaining your federal tax id # and info too..
[None needed unless you actually plan on doing business under that business name] But the name/info will get you an account..
Now - Another option..
*Thoroughbred Shielding Gas* Basically, it is Airgas. Same tanks but they paint the tanks blue, re-name them,
and have them readily available at all the local Tractor Supply Co's. You have to buy the tank outright 1st, [expensive]
but can then swap them out at TSCs. I've done this too.. Airgas would also refill and/or swap out those tanks if the needed gas isn't at TSC.
Just a few options..
Sam -
Leasing compressed airs and gasses can sometimes be the way to go..
I used to own/operate a few custom shops, and have had an account with Airgas for almost 20 years..
I still have two huge tanks in my mini-shop, but, they're filled with Argon [for TIG welding]
No matter how much looking around, I couldn't nail down a 100% sound answer whether or not it would be okay to fill my pcps with..
Nitrogen seems to be the way to go - even though there are some 'warnings' against it [by manufacturers & ransoms on the internet]
As for Airgas and/or Haun, yes.. they usually do require you to set up an account with them,
as the tanks are basically leased, and they're expensive, so, they just don't want people running off with them or selling them..
If someone really wants to jump over the red tape,
you can 'start a business' simply by coming up with a name, then going to your local county clerks office,
and submit / apply for a business under the DBA option. [Doing Business As] I don't think it's more than around $20 bucks..
That'll give you your business name, and a state tax id #, and info for obtaining your federal tax id # and info too..
[None needed unless you actually plan on doing business under that business name] But the name/info will get you an account..
Now - Another option..
*Thoroughbred Shielding Gas* Basically, it is Airgas. Same tanks but they paint the tanks blue, re-name them,
and have them readily available at all the local Tractor Supply Co's. You have to buy the tank outright 1st, [expensive]
but can then swap them out at TSCs. I've done this too.. Airgas would also refill and/or swap out those tanks if the needed gas isn't at TSC.
Just a few options..
Sam -
Upvote 0
Does this apply to all PCP's,if it does I should have asked a long time ago and been on the pcp bandwagon.
Upvote 0
Do they charge for nitrogen filled or just a full bottle? Makes me think they just charge a bottle and if you are leaving some gas you are losing out in it. Might be able to regulate it down to fill a compressor to suck it dry.
Upvote 0
wolfdog,
I've been using nitrogen in every airgun I own since 2014 from the Walmart specials to the high dollar Thomas rifles.
Insanity,
My yearly tank lease was $120.75 back in July last year. That's $110 for the tank and an added $10.75 Hazmat fee?
Got the last bottle changed out April 2018 . Cost me $167.08
Beak down $144.45 for the fresh 6000 psi fill, $4.75 Cylinder Drayage, $6.95 fuel surcharge delivery, $7.42 state tax, $3.51 county tax = $167.08 total
The bottle before that I had shot down to about 2600-2700 psi before I called for the change out. So yes, I lost that amount of the fill.
The bottle from last April has about 3200 psi left in it. I'm just into my 9th month. So I'll start filling my guns straight from the bottle shortly.
I mostly shoot .177 and .22 and most of my guns are very efficient with air use and give me high shot counts. Now if I were shooting big bore air rifles it would be a different story.
I could buy a booster pump and get more use out of the left over 2700 psi of pressure? I would probably do that if I shot big bore mostly?
https://youtu.be/HWoH7f90c4U
Hope this helps guys!
Peace and Booster Pump grease
Fuss
I've been using nitrogen in every airgun I own since 2014 from the Walmart specials to the high dollar Thomas rifles.
Insanity,
My yearly tank lease was $120.75 back in July last year. That's $110 for the tank and an added $10.75 Hazmat fee?
Got the last bottle changed out April 2018 . Cost me $167.08
Beak down $144.45 for the fresh 6000 psi fill, $4.75 Cylinder Drayage, $6.95 fuel surcharge delivery, $7.42 state tax, $3.51 county tax = $167.08 total
The bottle before that I had shot down to about 2600-2700 psi before I called for the change out. So yes, I lost that amount of the fill.
The bottle from last April has about 3200 psi left in it. I'm just into my 9th month. So I'll start filling my guns straight from the bottle shortly.
I mostly shoot .177 and .22 and most of my guns are very efficient with air use and give me high shot counts. Now if I were shooting big bore air rifles it would be a different story.
I could buy a booster pump and get more use out of the left over 2700 psi of pressure? I would probably do that if I shot big bore mostly?
https://youtu.be/HWoH7f90c4U
Hope this helps guys!
Peace and Booster Pump grease
Fuss
Upvote 0
was a cat a camera guy LOL
do you know if old air bottles used by a fire dept would work as a portable supply ??
do you know if old air bottles used by a fire dept would work as a portable supply ??
Upvote 0
Hawkeye
Yup , I use the 30 and 45 minute SCBA bottles the Firemen use. I've got three of them and a Joe B Guppy.
They have a 15 yr shelf life and need a hydro check every 5 yrs.
I think they have a process where you can send your old tank off and have it re-certified for another 15 yrs if it passes?
Fuss
Yup , I use the 30 and 45 minute SCBA bottles the Firemen use. I've got three of them and a Joe B Guppy.
They have a 15 yr shelf life and need a hydro check every 5 yrs.
I think they have a process where you can send your old tank off and have it re-certified for another 15 yrs if it passes?
Fuss
Upvote 0
OK....I am on the fence about my nitrogen setup. I have had a 9000 psi tank for the past 22 months. My lease will be coming up next month. The annual lease rate is $137.80. Not too bad....however the the fill charge has shot up to $452 !!! Previously it was almost $100 less. I live in far west Texas and the closest supply is in Ft Stockton which is 64 miles away. When I need to exchange the tank I have to load the tank in my vehicle and unload it at the supply house and then rinse and repeat on the other end. The tank must weigh about 150 pounds. The tank is currently at 1500 psi so can't fill anything. I have been extremely happy using nitrogen and there have been no problems. All that being said I only fill my guns directly and a small Guppy tank. I am leaning towards a Shoebox 10. They seem to be pretty darn reliable with outstanding customer support. The price is right and with a good inline filter I feel the air is clean and dry from what I see on the forum. Thoughts ???
Upvote 0
I used Nitrogen for a few years for the reasons that CampFussell stated. It's just to easy and convenient. I bought a Shoebox and am liking it. But, I may go back to the nitrogen some day.
Chas
Chas
Upvote 0
I bought a used Shoebox in 2013 and had problems with it. Probably through fault of my own being a newbie at the time, but it's just hard to get off this Nitrogen.....it's like crack cocaine for my filling needs ;-) LOL
Upvote 0
When my 6k nitro tank gets too low to fill things, I use it as feed a Yong Heng. So I run the YH as a booster pump, but with only 5-10 psi inlet pressure of nitrogen. I wouldn't give it much more than that - but even just 5 psi cuts the fill time down by more than 50% and 10 psi cuts the fill time in half. When you feed your leftover nitro into the YH, you don't have to worry about moisture (still need the oil filter tho). Just a thought for using the rest of your N2.
Upvote 0
Do you think a compressor is worth it say in 4 5 bottles? Before it saves you money? Just curious as I have yet to delve into pcp yet.
Upvote 0
I checked with my local Airgas shop and they wanted like $1,200.00 for start-up, then a yearly lease and the cost of nitrogen.
The regulator alone, which they said I had to purchase from them, was $650.00.
As an option, they said they could fill my 74 cu.ft CF tank for $60.00. Needless to say I'm not using nitrogen.
The regulator alone, which they said I had to purchase from them, was $650.00.
As an option, they said they could fill my 74 cu.ft CF tank for $60.00. Needless to say I'm not using nitrogen.
Upvote 0
Insanity
I'm not a good candidate to discuss a decent compressor as I only have experience with the used the Shoebox many years back. I'm going to stick with my nitrogen set up as long as I can afford it. I'm sure I could have bought a decent compressor for what I've spent in nitrogen in the last 4.5 yrs, but by now it would be 4.5 yrs old and who knows what kind of shape it would be in, or if it would need to be rebuilt by now?
If you can find Nitrogen cheaper than what I'm paying for it, I would say go nitrogen. There are lots of guys out there that are getting it way cheaper than I can, and there are just as many who have to pay much more? It really depends on where you live and who your local supplier is?
Bob
Yes sir I agree. I definitely could go nitrogen if I were in your circumstances! On the other hand I know guys who can get nitrogen for less than half what I'm paying? It's crazy how the prices are so different from state to state, county to county?????
Good luck guys!
Fuss
I'm not a good candidate to discuss a decent compressor as I only have experience with the used the Shoebox many years back. I'm going to stick with my nitrogen set up as long as I can afford it. I'm sure I could have bought a decent compressor for what I've spent in nitrogen in the last 4.5 yrs, but by now it would be 4.5 yrs old and who knows what kind of shape it would be in, or if it would need to be rebuilt by now?
If you can find Nitrogen cheaper than what I'm paying for it, I would say go nitrogen. There are lots of guys out there that are getting it way cheaper than I can, and there are just as many who have to pay much more? It really depends on where you live and who your local supplier is?
Bob
Yes sir I agree. I definitely could go nitrogen if I were in your circumstances! On the other hand I know guys who can get nitrogen for less than half what I'm paying? It's crazy how the prices are so different from state to state, county to county?????
Good luck guys!
Fuss
Upvote 0
I use a shoebox and nitrogen also. Try a welders supply house. I pay $77 per year for tank rental and $38 per tank exchange. The welders will only have 2000psi tanks, but get the largest (h cylinder size, same tank size as the 6000psi ones) and filling my gun should get about 175 fills. I just got my setup in Sept, and have filled about 30 times and tank is at 1650. It will go down to 125 as that is what the Shoebox wants on the input side. Happy so far and no need for filters etc. Bought a stepdown regulator from them for $85
dan
p.s. I signed up for AirGas initially but it was way more expensive and further away
Upvote 0