Filling options...compressor vs Nitrogen tank

[Rob_in_NC]

 

All... in trying to help out a fellow member here (trying to lure him to the dark side), I've realized that I am really not up to speed on what's what with filling equipment nowadays.

I had a shoebox back in the day and upgraded to a real compressor from Jim Shelden and I've not looked back. The Shelden compressor should be all I'll ever need.

I've heard good and bad on the Yong Heng, I know of the Altaros booster... and I see a plethora of other compressors out now, but it seems I read more and more about issues.

Would seem that a Nitrogen tank rental would do well for most folks. Pay the rental fee, get a regulator/fill station ($200 therabouts) and be set, no? Since I've no need, I've not looked at prices on rentals. Anyone using such a setup and how much is it running you for a 6k psi tank? 

Just curious

 

[bandg]

Seems to vary greatly area to area. I checked into it a couple of years ago-price and availability were prohibitive in my area (Arkansas). Others seem to find good deals and use nitrogen with excellent results. Local research will probably be necessary to crunch the numbers for each individual.

 

[JimNM]

Nitrogen is dry, every time. One advantage for those with humidity issues.

 

[Smok3y]

Hey Rob. Fellow NCer here. I switched to a Nitrogen tank this past year after Fuss helped me understand how it works. I tried a hand pump, tried a compressor before getting out of the hobby for little while, and then went to Nitrogen when I came back.

I pay Airgas a $75 yearly rental fee and $75 per fill. I had to purchase the fill station from JoeB as well. As I wanted to have a tank that I could carry places and not be married to only filling from the Nitrogen tank, I got the cheaper, non-regulated setup. I think it was around $200. Was a touch cheaper by calling them and telling them I was from AGN or saw it on the FB page or something like one of those. Also, someone is selling one in the classifieds for $125 right now. 

I personally felt this was the best path for me, considering the difficulties some have had with compressors, and me deciding that I did not want to deal with that. Whether or not I come out ahead or behind I guess depends on the luck or lack there of that I could have had with the many different options of compressors. 

As bandg said, there has been a very wide range of prices that people are being quoted. 

 

[davecole]

I cannot speak from experience but to direction.
a small group of us are considering a N2 lease as one of our local dive shops is changing hands. We have looked at the compressor option but feel N2 is a more viable and reliable option if for some reason we need to seek a source to fill our guns.
We too have an Airgas facility so now it’s more of a cost factor than convenience factor.

i don’t recall what the number of times someone calculated we could fill the average SCBA tank but it was a bunch.

 

[bandg]

$75 yearly and $75 per fill would certainly seem to sell most on it, even with the regulator cost. It was MUCH more here when I last checked (2018) and Airgas wasn't interested at all. Good luck with locating a good source.

 

[Kgphotos]

Smok3y-

I am looking on the Airgas website and there are a lot of options for tanks size. What size tank did you get for the $75 yearly fee and $75 per fill? What PSI are the nitrogen tanks? Is it portable or is it carefully secured in your garage? Do they deliver the tank or do you go pick it up? There is an Airgas location in my city that isn't too far away. Thanks for your help.

Kenny

 

[Rob_in_NC]

Good to see it may be an option. As stated, I am set with air...but was trying to help out someone considering PCP. I'm just not familiar enough with the new lot of small compressors out to make any kind of recommendation so figured I'd check on nitrogen. Seems viable for a lot of folks considering getting into PCP.

Thanks all for the discussion!

 

[Smok3y]

Smok3y-

I am looking on the Airgas website and there are a lot of options for tanks size. What size tank did you get for the $75 yearly fee and $75 per fill? What PSI are the nitrogen tanks? Is it portable or is it carefully secured in your garage? Do they deliver the tank or do you go pick it up? There is an Airgas location in my city that isn't too far away. Thanks for your help.

Kenny

Hey Kenny,

Yeah. I tried the online thing but there was just too many options of tank size and quality. I didn't understand any of it. I finally called the local Airgas place, and wish I had just started there. She was super helpful. It is a 6k psi tank. I'm guessing it is around 5ft tall, and pretty dang heavy, over 200lbs probably. It is not really portable, but I do have it strapped to a dolly which makes is portable, and then strapped down in the garage. They can deliver, but my local supplier prefers not to deliver to residential areas, because their delivery truck is massively heavy, and they don't want to be responsible for damaging driveways and such. It is 5 minutes from work, so I picked it up and saved on the delivery fee, which was small (maybe $25 or something). I put it in the back of my pickup and strapped it down to keep it from rolling around. Then rolled it in the garage and strapped it down. 

 

[Kgphotos]

Thank you! I'm going to give them a call. I appreciate your help.

 

[Kgphotos]

Looks like a no go in my area. I called the Fresno office and they wont even serve a private individual. They said business accounts only. Even then he said only 300 CF tanks were available in 6000 psi and that rental was .50 cents per day and a full nitrogen fill was $300+ dollars. I think i'll do more research on the Yong Heng compressor.

 

[Jungle_George]

I feel pretty lucky, all three of the ranges I go to have electricity within 5 yards of the firing line. It's no big deal for me to take my Yong Heng along with a 5 gallon bucket. I have to carry the compressor about 15-20 yards from my car so that's no big deal. I fill my guns directly and it never takes more than 2 minutes so I don't need ice, even in the summer. The temp of the compressor generally doesn't get above 50 C. Since I can direct fill at the range I have no need for a tank, getting rid of that middle step really simplifies things.

 

[MountainGhost]

I checked last week here in Arkansas and it was cost prohibitive for me ,the cheapest was $144 per fill and $348.00 for a one year lease, plus gauges and whip. I have decided to go with the Alkins w-31 compressor instead.