New compressor

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Smitty8141

Smitty8141

Member
Oct 6, 2020
150
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New Jersey, United States
I have been using a Sheldon Sporting Goods home made compressor for the past 11 years. He doesn’t make them anymore. It’s made from a compressor from a retired military plane. It fills to 4500 psi and the compressor is actually rated to 7500. I am worried after this long it might die at some point. Just wondering what people are using. I would like to keep it under $2000. Just looking for something reliable. 
 
Bump up the budget another $500 and the Coltri MCH6 (genuine not a copy and specifically this model) would be the minimum I would recommend and wouldn't trust anything else cheaper than that if you are looking for long term trouble free reliability especially coming (stepping down) from a Sheldon.
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Are you familiar with the Sheldon compressor? They were pretty inexpensive 11 years ago and was overbuilt with water separator, air filter and assorted old air plane parts. Looks like it was built in a garage, cause it was. The thing has been indestructible and it comes with a quart of Mobil Jet Oil II. 
A0005D47-136C-44AE-A58C-510532F11014.1603001245.jpeg

 
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I got a Sheldon compressor , If you have any problems you can still get hold of jim and he will bend over backwards to help you out,

I did not know its rated to 7500, I fill my tanks up to 5000 all the time thinking its the gauges reading wrong,,,

I only use mine about once a month to fill a great white and a small Ventura tank, I got a third Scott carbon fiber tank , That I fill but its got a leak somewhere, I replaced the gauges but still leaks down to 3000 psi? strange...

My wheel bearing went out a few months back, Simple and easy fix with Jim's help,

I know if anything was to happen to mine I am going to have to fork over a least 3000 big ones to come close to the performance and durability of the sheldon compressor.... 

Mike
 
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I got a Sheldon compressor , If you have any problems you can still get hold of jim and he will bend over backwards to help you out,

I did not know its rated to 7500, I fill my tanks up to 5000 all the time thinking its the gauges reading wrong,,,

I only use mine about once a month to fill a great white and a small Ventura tank, I got a third Scott carbon fiber tank , That I fill but its got a leak somewhere, I replaced the gauges but still leaks down to 3000 psi? strange...

My wheel bearing went out a few months back, Simple and easy fix with Jim's help,

I know if anything was to happen to mine I am going to have to fork over a least 3000 big ones to come close to the performance and durability of the sheldon compressor.... 

Mike
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Nice to see I’m not the only one. I’m not looking forward to ever having to replace it. Quality compressors are brutally expensive. Glad to see he’s still helping to repair if needed. He was a great guy to talked to when I was buying it. I have 2 great whites so the compressor doesn’t take too much of a beating. I shoot a lot through November then the guns get to relax for winter. 
 
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If you only use the Shelden once a month it should outlive you. It has a Kidde compressor head that was designed for army tanks and the hydraulics on military aircraft. Yours as pictured looks very sturdy on it's welded frame base. The majority of Shelden's later built compressors were mounted on wood bases that don't look as refined or as sturdy as yours.

If you Google Mobil Jet oil I saw it for $23.33 a quart which is the same as most high end compressor oils you'd buy for a Bauer, Coltri, Alkin, etc.

I doubt any commercial compressor in the $3,000 and under price range would be an upgrade from what you have. The only complaint I've ever heard of the Davey based compressors is the decibel level is somewhat high.
 
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If you only use the Shelden once a month it should outlive you. It has a Davey compressor head that was designed for army tanks and the hydraulics on military aircraft. Yours as pictured looks very sturdy on it's welded frame base. The majority of Shelden's later built compressors were mounted on wood bases that don't look as refined or as sturdy as yours.

If you Google Mobil Jet oil I saw it for $23.33 a quart which is the same as most high end compressor oils you'd buy for a Bauer, Coltri, Alkin, etc.

I doubt any commercial compressor in the $3,000 and under price range would be an upgrade from what you have. The only complaint I've ever heard of the Davey based compressors is the decibel level is somewhat high.
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It is loud. Plug it into the dryer 220V plug and off it goes. I fill about once every 3 weeks during the spring, summer and fall. Then it usually gets the winter off. Sometimes one fill. Thanks for the information. 
 
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Wow Humdinger you seem to know alot about the sheldon compressor.... You got one?

I took the safely wire off mine to paint and pretty up, Just have not put it back on.



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No, I don't own one but I researched Sheldon's when I was in the market for a compressor. The high decibel level and just one person for service were considerations for me since these use military surplus compressor heads. Mr. Shelden is semi-retired and his availability long term was an issue for me. I do think these compressors are reliable and very unlikely to fail given the low number of hours an individual tank owner will use them. Kidde heads are as well made as any commercial brand. 

Shelden Sporting Goods sold these compressors for $2500 when I was shopping. They now show a link to a company in Texas on their website that can repair Kidde heads. This might have influenced me had this information been available at the time. It is good news for owners of Shelden compressors. 
 
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