I have been kicking the idea of getting a Shoebox. I have come close to buying some used Max models for around $400. I just happened to look at the Shoebox website today and the Freedom 10 was one sale for $499. I was looking at them a month ago and they were like $1100. The Max model was $499 but it is no longer listed on the website. So I took the bait and ordered one. It won't get used much. I have a nitrogen tank down the street from me at the range I shoot at I primarily use. I just wanted a way to top off my CF tank that I take to matches and to deer camp. Since I won't use it much do I need to buy a high side water separator filter? Let's say I use the compressor in my house where the A/C is running. Would that make a difference?
Just ordered a Shoebox Freedom 10
- Thread starter Brazos
- Start date
Sorry You need the filter in a $300 compressor or a $5000 one unfortunately there is no way around it. Unless the primary low pressure compressor and the Shoebox are in a 0 humidity room or in Death Valley. If you don’t do it eventually The moister in the tank will cause corrosion.
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Congrats on the shoebox, if it was that price a month ago I'm sure it would be on my bench right now. And yes you will need a good output filter.
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Good choice on the Shoebox F10 purchase. Here are a few links to HPA air dryers I've seen on the internet.
Diablo Air Dryer System From AOA (Might need to change the Female Quick Disconnect).
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/pcp-accessories/diablo-dry-air-system/
Don't know too much about this one but it's also available on E-Bay
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20180103212407&isPremium=y&SearchText=PCP-oil%2Fwater-separator-30-mpa-4500psi-310bar
Diablo Air Dryer System From AOA (Might need to change the Female Quick Disconnect).
http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/pcp-accessories/diablo-dry-air-system/
Don't know too much about this one but it's also available on E-Bay
https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20180103212407&isPremium=y&SearchText=PCP-oil%2Fwater-separator-30-mpa-4500psi-310bar
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Seems a good deal, they've been reduced since at least September- http://www.airgunnation.com/topic/shoebox-compressor-now-449-00/ - and seem to be selling out the lower models first, then???????
It seems these may be sold for other purposes which will pay more ( $2,200 for oil extraction) hopefully Tom is just slimming the line.
And people are still selling older used units for $500+ , you need to keep an eye out these days ( you can get a deal on anything somewhere ) for what you want to spend your $ on.
Congrats on having air - on the way- it is great having air at home.
Do dry that air.
John
It seems these may be sold for other purposes which will pay more ( $2,200 for oil extraction) hopefully Tom is just slimming the line.
And people are still selling older used units for $500+ , you need to keep an eye out these days ( you can get a deal on anything somewhere ) for what you want to spend your $ on.
Congrats on having air - on the way- it is great having air at home.
Do dry that air.
John
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If you put a big filter on the inlet (between your primary compressor and the SB) and you run it in a low humidity environment you should have NO issues. I did this for 2 years without any signs of moisture in my tanks or guns. What i did wind up getting was a small HPA filter for use when the humidity is not ideal. Since the SB compresses at a slower rate the moisture has much more time to "drop" from the air as it's going thru your preliminary lines and filters. Just google SB set-ups and you will find lots of guys running homemade filters and coil lines. I am tinkering with my guns tunes all the time so I am disassembling them all the time. NEVER have I experienced any water (or evidence of corrosion) inside.
The Diablo or the Alpha or even the Gold Chinese filter is (IMHO) too big for the SB (I had one). It would take like 15mins to fill the filter prior to filling my tank. (Which was talking just about an hour. So 1 hr vs 1.25hr was kinda a big deal to me.)
I got this filter (he took $25 offer). He sent lots of paper and foam elements with it. I use one of each at each end and then fill the center with silica beads.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PCP-Airgun-Filters-separators/182506126749?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
The Diablo or the Alpha or even the Gold Chinese filter is (IMHO) too big for the SB (I had one). It would take like 15mins to fill the filter prior to filling my tank. (Which was talking just about an hour. So 1 hr vs 1.25hr was kinda a big deal to me.)
I got this filter (he took $25 offer). He sent lots of paper and foam elements with it. I use one of each at each end and then fill the center with silica beads.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/PCP-Airgun-Filters-separators/182506126749?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
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+1 on BigTinBoat's comments. I used a Shoebox F8 for 3 years and had no moisture issues. I had no high pressure outlet filter whatsoever and never saw moisture. What I did have was a Wilkerson X06-02-000 filter with reusable desiccant beads. It was installed in between a quiet running Rolair JC-10 compressor and the F8.
It mystifies me that guys pay $499 for a Shoebox, $100-200 for an airless compressor, then another $400 for an Alpha output filter. At $1499 you can have a much faster Carette with PMV, auto drain, self timer, runing at 110 volts, with a Carette factory output filter. No hassle with connecting hoses, secondary filters, and waiting 24 hours to fill your 88cf tank for the first time. The Carette has all the features of a dive compressor, is easy to maintain, and a better investment than any booster with all of it's required add ons.. It is plug and play. The Air Venturi fills faster, but it is loud, has direct drive, and puts much more stress on it's pistons and motor to achieve faster fill times.
The reason Shoeboxes dropped drastically in price is that they were no longer competitive in the marketplace at their old price. Anyone who does research will realize that a Shoebox setup, an Altaros setup, or an Omega have been surpassed in value and features at their cost. They are either too slow, require booster compressors, or are just not a value for their total investment price. The Carette followed by the Air Venturi compressors are the current best values for users who want a decent compressor for long term filling 66cf to 88cf carbon fiber transfer tanks. The state of the art changes each year and who know what will become available in the future, but for now the Carette and the Air Venturi offer more value and ease of operation than their competition.
It mystifies me that guys pay $499 for a Shoebox, $100-200 for an airless compressor, then another $400 for an Alpha output filter. At $1499 you can have a much faster Carette with PMV, auto drain, self timer, runing at 110 volts, with a Carette factory output filter. No hassle with connecting hoses, secondary filters, and waiting 24 hours to fill your 88cf tank for the first time. The Carette has all the features of a dive compressor, is easy to maintain, and a better investment than any booster with all of it's required add ons.. It is plug and play. The Air Venturi fills faster, but it is loud, has direct drive, and puts much more stress on it's pistons and motor to achieve faster fill times.
The reason Shoeboxes dropped drastically in price is that they were no longer competitive in the marketplace at their old price. Anyone who does research will realize that a Shoebox setup, an Altaros setup, or an Omega have been surpassed in value and features at their cost. They are either too slow, require booster compressors, or are just not a value for their total investment price. The Carette followed by the Air Venturi compressors are the current best values for users who want a decent compressor for long term filling 66cf to 88cf carbon fiber transfer tanks. The state of the art changes each year and who know what will become available in the future, but for now the Carette and the Air Venturi offer more value and ease of operation than their competition.
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Thanks guys. I just ordered the one off the link Bigtinboat provided. So BigTinBoat you say you put silica beads in the filter. Do you just cut the paper filter into sections and put the beads in between? How big of sections do you cut?
I will get an air dryer for my shop compressor. Wouldn’t hurt to have one anyway. Hopefully between the two I will be ok. I will monitor and if I need to take additional steps I will. I think this shoebox will fit my needs fine. It will only get used to top off my tank 2-3 times a year since I have access to N2 for most of my shooting. I like the fact it is simple and I can rebuild it myself cheaply. I have no places go to fill my tank so this will be nice.
I will get an air dryer for my shop compressor. Wouldn’t hurt to have one anyway. Hopefully between the two I will be ok. I will monitor and if I need to take additional steps I will. I think this shoebox will fit my needs fine. It will only get used to top off my tank 2-3 times a year since I have access to N2 for most of my shooting. I like the fact it is simple and I can rebuild it myself cheaply. I have no places go to fill my tank so this will be nice.
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Brazos,
Here is a pic of the box that I was sent when I got the filter. I just put one of the "cigarette" style filters in the short end and one of the "disc" filters in the body. I then fill up the center of the body with my silica beads (got a qt from amazon a few years ago). You can see the one filter is "squashed" from me tightening it and compressing against the beads. Could probably jut cut that filter off even with the filter. I just use it so that no silica dust goes thru the filter.
Now this other pipe is what I use as a preliminary filter between the two compressors. (shown next to CP 4-16 scope for size) I just tapped the end caps 1/4 npt and threaded QC connectors from Harbor Freight. I also use one of the "coil" hoses on each side of the filter. I got my coil hoses at Lumber Liquidators for $1 each. During the summer they have sales and sit them outside in buckets. Otherwise they are like $3 each at HF.
The clear filter was my original prelim filter and when I replaced it with the pipe I put it on the end so I can see how my beads are doing and when they need a recharge.
Here is a pic of the box that I was sent when I got the filter. I just put one of the "cigarette" style filters in the short end and one of the "disc" filters in the body. I then fill up the center of the body with my silica beads (got a qt from amazon a few years ago). You can see the one filter is "squashed" from me tightening it and compressing against the beads. Could probably jut cut that filter off even with the filter. I just use it so that no silica dust goes thru the filter.
Now this other pipe is what I use as a preliminary filter between the two compressors. (shown next to CP 4-16 scope for size) I just tapped the end caps 1/4 npt and threaded QC connectors from Harbor Freight. I also use one of the "coil" hoses on each side of the filter. I got my coil hoses at Lumber Liquidators for $1 each. During the summer they have sales and sit them outside in buckets. Otherwise they are like $3 each at HF.
The clear filter was my original prelim filter and when I replaced it with the pipe I put it on the end so I can see how my beads are doing and when they need a recharge.
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I own a Diablo filter but agree with BigTinBoat on the HPA filter issue. I also think that unless you use a lot of air the Carette is a little indulgent for most of us at a cost of $1600.00 with a filter and auto drain. At that cost you can buy 3 Shoebox F10’s and a really good shop compressor. I guess this whole activity is a bit excessive. Before you know it Carette will need repositioning in the market place just like Technicor Industries did. Until then the Shoebox is still a great value. No excessive spending, middlemen, oil, coolant, or special order parts needed to top off your 90ci bottle in under 30 minutes. Works for me!
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Thanks BigTInBoat. That makes more sense now I see it. Need to order the silica beads. I am sure I have not seen all the Shoebox videos on YouTube but have yet to see one where any of them have a filter between the shoebox and the tank. Most have the basic air dryer between the shop compressor and the shoebox. All swear they don't have any moisture. I would rather have something than nothing and for $30 it's worth a go before spending more.
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