Using Nitrogen vs. compressed air fills for Carbon Fiber fill Tank

Nitrogen is guaranteed DRY! It is usually available at Welding gas suppliers in "Large" 6000 psi cylinders that cost you rent plus for the gas in the bottle. They do not last long filling 74 cu/ft tanks but do last a long time filling guns. You must also obtain either a fill assembly and regulator or just a 6K psi fill assembly for the bottle. There are quite a few threads on this forum detailing N2 as a fill gas. Just use the little magnifying glass in the upper right corner next to the logout button to do a search.

I have just started investigating this very topic and would appreciate everyone's input - especially sources for nitrogen in central MD. I am leaning towards nitrogen because it is clean, dry, and requires no maintenance. From the reading that I have done it seems that it would be a long time before the cost of nitrogen would surpass the cost of a compressor (assuming a $1300 compressor).

Lot's of good information on the forum, click the search function ( looks like a magnifing glass upper right on this machine) and type in nitrogen, maybe filter the search to this section.

Works great, priced mild - $150ish per year for rental & fill- to wild - over $600-.
You need to call every supplier for price , tank rental, delivery, refill unless you perhaps know someone with a welding shop or such.
The step down reg is pricey, some people have filled 4,500psi CF tanks from a 6,000psi tank without one. I'm not saying I recommend that at all. Reg can cost $300+.
Depending on cost and application you might want a booster also so you can use all the psi a large tank has below your fill point.

Helium issafe fun also but that is really pricey.

John

I too have been studying this. Just today stopped at the local weld supply warehouse. Bottle rental was .70 a day. They said they'd pick up and deliver for $15. Still working on the pricing on the regulators. The weld shop recommended getting high quality ones. I did not price any of those not sure what I'll need yet. Forum search here I come.

But so far, bottle rental, regulators to fill and a shoe box. Now we are talking $$$ again.

Looking at another option if I can find a local production weld shop that uses Nitrogen that would let me fill off their tank with my regulators.

Dave

Hello all

I have been using nitrogen for about five years.
I rent the tank (6000)psi and they do pickup and deliver and only use one to two tanks a year.
There is no reason not use nitrogen . it's dry and clean and more stable than compressed air.
If you use it to fill your gun directly you will need a regulator , however I download to my carbon and scuba tanks directly from the nitrogen tank , then them to my airguns.
The regulator is not needed to download to these tanks , as you can throttle the control valve just fine for the tanks larger volume.
I have filled guns directly . but is very ssensitive and don't recommend.

Donald

what about talking to the local fire dept sometimes they will help you if you have there adapter it cant hurt to ask and generally there good guys.maybe make a small donation to there charity they usually are doing some fund raiser from toys for tots to the boot ,,where they stand in the street with a boot looking to raise monies ,, i still feel getting a compressor is the right thing to do,, to go nitro like john says gonna cost you probably $400 for reg rent deliver and gas another $150 and you still have to get a bottle set up .,,yup u could get one of those yong hengs for $300 i would not reccomend it because of the repair location place and there crappy rep already ,the AIR VENTURI NOMAD would be a good score coming out next month,, good repair dept $499 runs on a car battery,,, im thinking of getting one,, i already have a A V compressor but need something for road trips or when i go to the range for the day i can fill my tank anytime,,, and stay shooting my RAW 30 and 25 cal all day long,i know monies are the main decider try the F D and let us know how you guys make out ,good luck HYNZIE

Try Roberts oxygen, I got my best pricing from them for my Nitrogen.
Craig

I pay $60 a year bottle lease and $70 per fill on a 300 pound 6K PSI bottle. 70 cents a day for a bottle lease is approaching highway robbery IMHO!

I'm right about where you are Thurmond. $80.00 covers hazmat fees and 60.00 for change out.
The regulator cost is a one time charge, and bottles have no moving parts to wear out or break. I just have not investigated the compressors enough but I know of quite a few people that have had mechanical problems. 
Craig

Lowest price bare regulator I have found: https://www.augustindustries.com/adjustable-regulator-0-6000-psi-reg-6000.asp
Low priced liquid filled high pressure gauges from surpluscenter.com

I see welding supplies at auctions now and then. What are the chances of buying your own nitrogen bottle at an auction, and just having a supplier fill it?

I used N2 as a backup to my paintball shop for about 2 years. The air we breath is 88% N2 so there's not a big difference except that N2 is dryer so don't worry about that. I paid $8 per month rental and $45 for refills. I did have to bring the depleted cylinder in and exchange it because the company rented from (Palmers Welding Supplies) did not deliver to sub divisions. They are 444 CF steel cylinders and are heavy. I didn't use a regulator because I filled my tanks from the N2 cylinder and it's easy to control the output and not go over 4500 psi to the tank.

Tom -The number of times I filled will probably be different than most. I basically used it when the paintball shop was low on air or had too many customers to fill my tank. Out of the two years I rented it I only had to fill it up 3 times. The tank in the picture is a 60 min fireman tank so 88 cf size. I do have several PCPs (19), and some have 250 bar (almost 3600 psi) fill pressure so I did shoot a whole lot and used a lot of air. The tanks weigh well over 300 lbs. But I was able to get it on my truck without help.

One thought I completely forgot to ask when I was at the weld supply shop was. If they'd just fill my scuba tank? This might be an option if they are willing to.

Dave

They get their N2 from a supplier. Also, I doubt very seriously that they will have a connection to fit your SCBA tank.