Why El Cheapo compressors are no bargain

[SpindleB]

All you nay sayers will eventually agree with me that these cheap compressors are a bad investment once you have been in this hobby long enough. Most of you nay sayers are newbies to this PCP sport. With my 4 cyl. Bauer I recharge my 12 liter CF bottle to 300 bar in 10 minutes. It was made in 1968.

Yes, only 4 years or so in PCP. My original cheapo compressor is in Oregon with my nephew. 4 years later and still running. My Tuxing is coming up on 2 years of only minor issues. I fill and top off 6.8L and 9L tanks regularly. Not as fast as a Bauer, Alkin or Firehouse but for $325 I can accept that.

I could buy 10 Tuxing 110V dual cylinder for the price of 1 used SCBA compressor. So where exactly are my savings?

 

[Avator]

My sub $300 compressors and portable 12v compressors eliminate the need for tanks and their required visual and hydro testings.
Some things fit some folk's needs but maybe not so much for other's. I'm good with what I have. That said, if I had unlimited funds I would probably opt for all the big money luxuries in life.. I just don't have it like that.
BTW.. I'm not a newby to PCP or HPA compressors.

 

[Gerry52]

All you nay sayers will eventually agree with me that these cheap compressors are a bad investment once you have been in this hobby long enough. Most of you nay sayers are newbies to this PCP sport. With my 4 cyl. Bauer I recharge my 12 liter CF bottle to 300 bar in 10 minutes. It was made in 1968.

And IF we nay-sayers don't eventually agree with you I hope it doesn't ruin your day. I happen to think that the MAJORITY of long time members own economy compressors. Don't know where you get your "facts" from if they even are FACTS! However if your special self needs me to kiss the ground you walk on because you have a BAUER & I only have a lowly Yong Heng it'll be a LOONNGG fricking wait.

 

[WoodWelder]

All you nay sayers will eventually agree with me that these cheap compressors are a bad investment once you have been in this hobby long enough. Most of you nay sayers are newbies to this PCP sport. With my 4 cyl. Bauer I recharge my 12 liter CF bottle to 300 bar in 10 minutes. It was made in 1968.

If I ever decide to get into the business of filling bottles for members, I'll be sure to purchase a unit just like yours.......On second thought, I'll need a much better unit!

 

[6gun]

I hate waiting, I'd never own one of those GX compressor. Quantify the cost of waiting around as that slow compressor takes its sweet time to reach 4500psi. I think I saw recently a 9L took over 5 hours to fill with a GX. My Tuxing was about 75 minutes empty to 4500psi when I filled the 9L I picked up a while back.

Costs can be relative, I think my time is worth something. Maybe I have to replace my Tuxing, but look how much time (money) I saved using a more efficient compressor.

-- Matt

And Mines 15 minutes or so . The thread turned to people justifying their purchases and not facts, figures, and engineering flaws a long time ago tho. So you and I worried about L/min will go unnoticed.

 

[6gun]

And IF we nay-sayers don't eventually agree with you I hope it doesn't ruin your day. I happen to think that the MAJORITY of long time members own economy compressors. Don't know where you get your "facts" from if they even are FACTS! However if your special self needs me to kiss the ground you walk on because you have a BAUER & I only have a lowly Yong Heng it'll be a LOONNGG fricking wait.

It's not about that either. I've posted my experiences with various brands and I can make many of my own replacement parts. It's important to remember we are in a forum where most dudes will return a gun for a blown oring if they spent more than umarex money on it. People get defensive when their chosen brands or what they could afford is called into question. It's supposed to be dispassionate facts

My big tuxing is faster than your shoebox or Yong heng or v twin compressors but it's still chinese, it's still effectively junk in my mind because it's chinese. I couldn't afford a Bauer or Coltri. Luckily I can do electrical and run a big circuit to start the motor on this.... That would've been an entire thread here too.

 

[Ricklin]

Never overlook the fact that team China can and does produce quality products that rival or exceed all others. Give products manufactured in India a go for instance, they can't even get cheap injection molded parts correct.
Buy a new DJI drone, then try to find a better product for the same money. Ukraine is fighting a war with DJI drones.
Be really careful condemning Made In China, excellent quality is available, just not for less than a buck or three.

 

[6gun]

Never overlook the fact that team China can and does produce quality products that rival or exceed all others. Give products manufactured in India a go for instance, they can't even get cheap injection molded parts correct.
Buy a new DJI drone, then try to find a better product for the same money. Ukraine is fighting a war with DJI drones.
Be really careful condemning Made In China, excellent quality is available, just not for less than a buck or three.

I've had enough of India with their cast brass cabinet hardware . The 4 cylinder chinese radial is the best ive had, but you see where the technical prowess just isn't there, or what they're willing to ship. Tube bending, flared ends, paint. I'm being nit picky to be less biased. All of this because I figured out where joe Brancato was getting the alpha carrete compressors, as he calls them. Originally I wanted the v twin.

 

[Ricklin]

When we are willing to purchase the very cheapest of the cheap product wise, someone in China will be willing to manufacture the item. The materials themselves are then suspect.

 

[BluegrassBill2020]

Yong heng going strong for 3 years filling tanks and guns. I never let it get too hot, even if it means taking longer to fill up my 45 minute tank and 3L tank.

If it dies, I'll get another and rebuild the old one. I'll still be miles ahead on savings at that point. I paid $200 for mine.

The secret to make the YH and TUX last is the proper oil. Mobil rarus is the one I use, No problems in 3 yrs , But I don't use it as much as some and only guns.

 

[Gerry52]

The secret to make the YH and TUX last is the proper oil. Mobil rarus is the one I use, No problems in 3 yrs , But I don't use it as much as some and only guns.

That AND dissipating HEAT are the 2 most important factors in getting some longevity from our compressors. In the nearly 4.5 years I've had my Yong Hengs I've only had to fill a tank from empty once. I have 4 different sized tanks & only top them off once or twice a month if/when needed & never try to push the compressor past its indicated abilities. I was going to try Seco or Rarus but I'm still using Husky synthetic non detergent in my newer YH. It's as crystal clear as the day I put it in last April! So, you know, if it ain't broke don't fix it kinda thing. Surprises the heck outa me.

 

[Franklink]

Didn't read through all the comments, but will add that I bought a Yong Heng from Amazon in Sept of 2022 for under $300, tax included.

It's still running and I feel that I've more than gotten my money's worth.

The only thing that failed on mine was the gauge. I plugged the gauge hole and went on about my business. I use the more accurate gauges on the fill stations anyway.

20ish min (or less) runs, super cold water in the bucket, generally keeping it under 50-55C, and Seco 500.

Considering that I went into this with the understanding that they're basically disposable....If it dies tomorrow I wouldn't be upset.

 

[CyberDyneSystems]

I guess it's just a matter of how lucky you get. I was just filling a 700cc bottle with my little Amazon "SpriTech" compressor and was reminded that I bought it in April 2021. That's 3 months shy of four years of use for something I paid about $200.00 for.
At the time it was so affordable, and the failure rates were so common on all these little compressors I almost bought a 2nd just to have it on hand. Instead I took my chances,

I do realize it is a question of when, not if it will die, but I definitely got my $200 worth at this point.

 

[SpindleB]

My nephew is running the $125 Yong Heng knockoff I bought 4 years ago. I just used whatever synthetic oil type they recommended. None of the special type. Throw some ice in the water at the start and fill the guns. I'd say i got my money's worth on that one.

-- Matt

 

[Sleestak]

Yes, only 4 years or so in PCP. My original cheapo compressor is in Oregon with my nephew. 4 years later and still running. My Tuxing is coming up on 2 years of only minor issues. I fill and top off 6.8L and 9L tanks regularly. Not as fast as a Bauer, Alkin or Firehouse but for $325 I can accept that.

I could buy 10 Tuxing 110V dual cylinder for the price of 1 used SCBA compressor. So where exactly are my savings?

There's something to be said for the buy cheap/ buy often philosophy. Especially when discussing semi-perishible compressors that seem to defy the cost to value ratio of normal products.

It's not just HPCs tho. I know of some contractors that avoid buying high end power tools simply because of the eventual replacement costs. It doesn't make financial sense for them to burn through what is basically nothing more than an expensive expendable tool

 

[1900colt]

When I bought my first YH. The cost vs useful life was considered by what it was going to cost to fill my bottle.
45 min drive to shop
Hour plus wait time
Hope they can fill 4500psi
45 min drive home
10 bucks or so to the shop
10 bucks in fuel driving

What's my time worth, and actual cash expenses. Well the cheap YH paid for itself very quickly. Lasted WAY longer than expected and was easy to rebuild. After just about 15 fills, that compressor was free in my mind.

 

[steve-l]

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. If you use these cheap compressors to only fill the guns directly., the design duty cycle of the compressor will not be exceeded and its use may be several years, In that case, the cheap compressor will be one step above a hand pump. However, using these same compressors to charge a bottle will cause the compressor to overheat and exceed its design specs. It's your call. Time is money and convenience.

 

[BlackICE]

I used to CS4 to fill a 9 L bottle from empty without stopping. The temperature reached equilibrium at a relatively low water temperature if I recall about 110°. Fahrenheit. Since the equilibrium temperature is quite low can not see that it caused it any more harm than running the equivalent amount of time in many shorter sessions. Of course the total number of hours you can run on these cheap compressors are limited but for the price you pay it may still be a decent value. One has to consider when buying these low cost compressors you may get a lemon. Infant mortality is probably something like 10% or more. Better buy from the place that has a great return policy!

 

[SpindleB]

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. If you use these cheap compressors to only fill the guns directly., the design duty cycle of the compressor will not be exceeded and its use may be several years, In that case, the cheap compressor will be one step above a hand pump. However, using these same compressors to charge a bottle will cause the compressor to overheat and exceed its design specs. It's your call. Time is money and convenience.

I filled 3L and 6.8L tanks with my cheapo Yong Heng $125 knockoff many times. Had to do it in multiple stages but it filled them. That compressor is still running after 4 years. The last 2 with my nephew in Oregon.

-- Matt

 

[SpindleB]

I used to CS4 to fill a 9 L bottle from empty without stopping. The temperature reached equilibrium at a relatively low water temperature if I recall about 110°. Fahrenheit. Since the equilibrium temperature is quite low can not see that it caused it any more harm than running the equivalent amount of time in many shorter sessions. Of course the total number of hours you can run on these cheap compressors are limited but for the price you pay it may still be a decent value. One has to consider when buying these low cost compressors you may get a lemon. Infant mortality is probably something like 10% or more. Better buy from the place that has a great return policy!

I run my compressors a lot. I play around with guns at night so I use tanks when I refill a gun after I do some stupid idea that made me drain the bottle. Usually let the 9L get down to 3500PSI. The 6.8L I'll use until day time when I can run the compressor. It will get down to under 2000psi. Fill a bottle as much as the 6.8L has then finish with the 9L.

I'd guess I put 3-4 hours a week on my compressor. Probably should have wired in an elapsed time counter. I'll do that if this one dies or I upgrade again. I'm sure the high end units have elapsed counters.

-- Matt