Portable air compressors

For filling guns, they are easy go to. They're not real fast. Some people have had less than stellar experience with them, but others like myself have had more good times. I have ruined two, but that was my mistake for how I was using it. Use them to fill guns and guns only. Don't expect them to be a high volume solution to say it shooting clubs needs.

In my experience they are good in a pinch and for occasional use. They are convenient for hunting scenarios as opposed to a day at the range. While hunting you likely won’t empty a magazine on a repeater PCP rifle, so one fill should last the day unless you’re hunting fowl. Some of us shoot at the range for hours. With that in mind I think a SCBA is more appropriate to use for filling PCP rifles. I am of the opinion that many small air-cooled compressors are good for filling guns directly, but they are not built for long-term daily use. I use mine when I don’t feel like toting a tank around. I’ve had one for about a year using it on occasion and when I need it. It serves its purpose. I’ve plugged it into a/c wall outlets and ran it off my car battery. I have a Benjamin Traveler Gen 1.

I have one that has served me very well for about three years or so now. I have only ever used it to direct fill my rifle. However, it has done the job well and has given me zero issues. I just purchased a larger compressor recently, but I still have my small portable and will continue to keep it as a back up. Many people have had bad experiences with some of these small air cooled compressors......mine has worked flawlessly.

I have one that has served me very well for about three years or so now. I have only ever used it to direct fill my rifle. However, it has done the job well and has given me zero issues. I just purchased a larger compressor recently, but I still have my small portable and will continue to keep it as a back up. Many people have had bad experiences with some of these small air cooled compressors......mine has worked flawlessly.

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What brand ya got? TIA

I am still on my first Sprit-tech. I make no claims to it's longevity as I have read enough on this forum from people with much more experience that these aren't going to last forever. that said, mine was affordable, it is super convenient, VERY portable, and I can fill rifles anywhere with it.



The problem? My most recent air rifles like 225-250 BAR fill, and have larger bottles. The first time I filled a 580cc to 250BAR, I could hear the difference in the way that this little compressor was working. I think if one stuck with 200bar rifles/pistols, you'd get more time on these.

Are they dependable?

They are Made in China so dependable even as a brand new unit is not guaranteed.

The oil-less water-less compressors are not very durable and not made to last much over 20 hours of use. Although a few state they last much longer they do not.

Still if you need a portable unit, don't want to spend the extra on a tank, then they is what you gets. If you don't use them too much, never start them when they are pressurized and are very careful not to overheat them you may be satisfied with a year or a bit more out of them.

The water cooled units are so much better and last much longer.

The Yong Heng being the best and least expensive, at only $300.

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/a-dedicated-yong-heng-subforum/#post-1127767

But there are a couple in the $1400 – $1600 range that may do just as well.

Other than that if you want something that is going to last for, more than a few years, you need to spend $2500 – $3000 on an Arkin, Bauer or Coltri.

If I had to spend $3000. on a air compressor I would still be shooting a spring gun/.

I have one that has served me very well for about three years or so now. I have only ever used it to direct fill my rifle. However, it has done the job well and has given me zero issues. I just purchased a larger compressor recently, but I still have my small portable and will continue to keep it as a back up. Many people have had bad experiences with some of these small air cooled compressors......mine has worked flawlessly.

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What brand ya got? TIA

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Don, I have a first generation Benjamin Traveler. I bought it new when I bought my Marauder F&T. However, and I must be honest here. My Traveler has never seen heavy use. Over the period that I have owned it, I haven't worked it very hard at all. It only has direct filled the rifle and I have not shot the PCP at nearly the volume many do or would. I've always shot my springers at a much higher volume........but the Traveler has never let me down. If you are a high volume shooter it may not get you long mileage....?? I've added another PCP and am also getting into shooting them much more. Because of this I have upgraded my compressor as well to a water cooled and oil lubricated compressor. Based on what I know and have heard from others, I feel that the little air cooled compressor will not hold up to my future needs. 

I have the orange one (Tuxing?, maybe). Daily use is fine but does extend waiting time while shooting. With care they'll last who knows how long. It's fairly easy to take apart and clean, once you've done it the next time will be much easier. There's a good video on another thread (don't remember at the moment where). 

They make kits to replace the rings and check valve and some models have o rings to replace. They have replacement pumps for around $100. It's a good deal when we can't afford the higher priced compressors and if you're out hunting somewhere and have no bigger tank.

You can fill the 68cc ninja paintball tanks easy but just go around 5 or 10 minute run times with rest in between, I usually stop when my temp hits 38C/100F, they're rated for 140F max I think but that's definitely pushing it, mine would stay at around 104F to 108F the whole time while filling but I believe where I was pushing it too hard was letting it run until the tank was full with out letting it rest.

Open the bleed and let the compressor push out any water, shut the pump off, let the fan run a couple of minutes, watch the temp and it should last a very long time especially with a good cleaning every 3 months if you shoot daily.

I'm also not a heavy shooter but I can say I've ignorantly pushed it harder than I should have which showed when I cleaned it and it had a carbon build up I had to remove. I was worried before I cleaned it because pumping had slowed way down and it had started shutting off on it's own before it reached the psi set point. But now that I've cleaned and lubed it it's about 98% back to normal. When my rebuild kit comes in I have no doubt it'll be back to 100% when I replace the wear wear rings.

I have the orange one (Tuxing?, maybe). Daily use is fine but does extend waiting time while shooting. With care they'll last who knows how long…

Open the bleed and let the compressor push out any water, shut the pump off, let the fan run a couple of minutes, watch the temp and it should last a very long time especially with a good cleaning every 3 months if you shoot daily.

I'm also not a heavy shooter but I can say I've ignorantly pushed it harder than I should have which showed when I cleaned it and it had a carbon build up I had to remove. I was worried before I cleaned it because pumping had slowed way down and it had started shutting off on it's own before it reached the psi set point. But now that I've cleaned and lubed it it's about 98% back to normal. When my rebuild kit comes in I have no doubt it'll be back to 100% when I replace the wear wear rings.

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Carbon build up in a portable electric compressor? I don’t think I’ve heard of this before. Where does it come from?

Carbon buildup comes from detonation when using improper oil. People sometimes complain of stinky air, which I believe may be a sign of detonation. I quickly switched to Chemlube dive compressor oil. This subject can be contentious, but for me, it’s worth the additional cost for the peace of mind, real or imagined. When I changed out the Royal Purple, it smelled very strange indeed. 

Carbon buildup comes from detonation when using improper oil. People sometimes complain of stinky air, which I believe may be a sign of detonation. I quickly switched to Chemlube dive compressor oil. This subject can be contentious, but for me, it’s worth the additional cost for the peace of mind, real or imagined. When I changed out the Royal Purple, it smelled very strange indeed.

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Here’s where I am confused. Which type of compressor are you referring to? I was under the impression we were discussing cheap, portable, air-cooled, electric compressors. The ones I’m familiar with that cost around $100 - $400 are either oiless or take silicone oil or grease. 

These small ones don't use oil, only fan cooled. Perhaps using the term 'carbon buildup' was from old habits. Carbon was the only way I can describe the hard black buildup I had to remove by hand, the cleaner didn't cut it.

I can only guess it was from whatever lubrication the factory used because the wear rings are a brown plastic and didn't appear very worn. The lubrication on the gear was black, maybe they used a similar black grease inside and I basically hardened it with the prolong running.

I used the silicone oil this time like the video suggested, I've never had any silicone oil before, only grease and I'm not sure if the differences are critical since you can get a thin layer with the grease but I used it anyway just in case. 

The noise was cut in half after the cleaning and relube

Yeah, Ezana, I'm also talking about the air cooled ones also.

My bad

@RickRick Thanks for clearing that up. I think I follow what you’re saying now. I haven’t needed to take one apart so I haven’t seen what you’re describing. 


@Scotty1 it almost sounded as if you were describing a Yong Heng. What confused me was the mention of ignition and dive compressor oil. 

After taking mine apart I would highly recommend a clean/relube like the video said, at 6 months for light shooting and 3 months for heavy shooting, way before any signs show up. I can see that doing this can extend the life of these small compressors drastically and provide years of service. 

But of course only time will tell. Right now I'm in the process of finding the right slug for my new barrel so I'm filling my ninja paintball tanks constantly and I've been playing with changing the washers in my cheap regulators to hit one right on the 2500 psi mark so I'm having to refill these ninja tanks from empty multiple times.

Fortunately I have a scuba tank I get filled at a dive shop to fill them a little before I use the compressor but it's been on the low side of psi for a while, I'm getting it refilled this week so that'll get me back to the 3k psi and that will be easier on the compressor.

Changing those bellville washers have been an incredible undertaking, I'm either way to high or way to low on psi.

I’m seriously looking at the GX CS3 which is a small step up from an air-cooled. Anyone have experience with them?

I’m seriously looking at the GX CS3 which is a small step up from an air-cooled. Anyone have experience with them?

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I have one. Only filled my 300cc tank from 150 bar to 250 bar rnd a dozen times as its my first filling solution for my first pcp.

It is in fact air cooled though, fills that 100 or so bar in just 5 mins or so. Not loud. Its smaller than what i expected. fits in my browning range bag.

It might be developing a problem. its hanging at around 2000 psi. only while connected to the gun. goes right to set pressure when whip is plugged tho. ill be doing more trouble shooting tomorrow.