Air Compressor

[Largo]

Hi! Can anyone recommend an air compressor for filling SCUBA tanks?
I need a small compressor, that runs on 110 or 220 volts.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by Phil

Hi! Can anyone recommend an air compressor for filling SCUBA tanks?
I need a small compressor, that runs on 110 or 220 volts.

Just wondering, any particular reason you want your own compressor?

[Bigg_Budd]

Heck, I'd love to have my own compressor...

[Largo]

I'm tired of wasting all of that money on air fills.

At $6 a fill, I could have my own compressor after only 1000 fills.

[terrillja]

Originally Posted by Phil

I'm tired of wasting all of that money on air fills.

At $6 a fill, I could have my own compressor after only 1000 fills.

It's not just the initial cost, it's also the filters and electricity to consider.

check this out:
at home compressor

[Largo]

Thanks for the info.

[CompuDude]

Yeah, I wish it was that simple, too. It's not.

[ScubaToys Larry]

There is a small one called a Bauer Jr... You're probably looking around 3 grand or so. There are some that go a bit cheaper, but they don't last as long. If you want to get one, call up August Industries August Industries for Bauer Compressors, Davey and Worthington parts and supplies

Real good people - the folks I get all my compressor parts, filters, oil, etc from.

Now mentioning those things, with a compressor that size, when you factor in the electricity, maintenance, filters and oil... plan on the actual cost of filling to be right around 5 bucks a tank. So a 3G investment to save a buck a fill may not be worthwhile. But if you have a situation where you have a boat, and want to sail around and not have to find shore and a shop to fill... then it might be worthwhile.

[jbres1]

Well I think I need to revise my costs for the home compressor set up over on Scubaboard.
The 5k was low. I forgot about the 10,000 psi rated pressure gauges, the extra fittings and valves i needed to finish my project.
But on a happy note, I just finnished filling all of the stage bottles, and all of my tanks today. It only took me 17 hours to fill all the tanks and cylinders. So I think I have about 6k tied up in this system, so now i need to do either 1000 air dives or 500 nitrox dives to offset the cost of the set up. I'll look at the o2 bottle rental, the o2, the filters, the oil, and the electric bill as the gas money and time I will save filling my own.
Jim Breslin

[mike_s]

Originally Posted by terrillja

Just wondering, any particular reason you want your own compressor?

Who wouldn't want their own compressor? (I said want).

Originally Posted by Phil

I'm tired of wasting all of that money on air fills.

At $6 a fill, I could have my own compressor after only 1000 fills.

Don't forget what a filter setup cost, replacement filters, hoses/lines, installing electrical circuits, electrical usage costs, compressor oil, compressor maintenance, any mixing panels you build, etc.

Find out how hard replacement parts are to get and what costs are. Everyone who's owned a compressor has pretty much had to fix it at some time.

I'm betting that in the long run, even after 1000 fills that it'll cost you more money to buy your compressor over what you save. But still I can't blame you for wanting a compressor.

To be fair in you comparison, you'll run out trips to your LDS for fills. So if your nearest LDS is 100 miles away (200 miles roundtrip) and gas is $3.25/gallon, and you get 22mpg in your vehicle, then going to get fills at your LDS cost you an extra $30 bucks in gas alone, not including other wear and tear and your time...

If you get a compressor, Then all your buddies will want to come over for fills. Remember you don't have any liability insurance either, so if one of them dies diving, not related to your fill, chances are their family will still sue you regardless for some "home brew" fill.

Just things to think about...... (but like I said, we'd all love to own a compressor).