How much would you pay for a HPA compressor?

[DougT]

If there was a non-SCUBA air compressor capable of pumping to 3000# and operate on 120v AC, what would be the most you would pay for it?

[kiwi]

DougT - 1/24/2010  4:42 PM

If there was a non-SCUBA air compressor capable of pumping to 3000# and operate on 120v AC, what would be the most you would pay for it?

Other than a piston style...???
there is..a multi stage screw compresser..uses a roots
type compresser.."Supercharger style"
but they are not used as most places that fill tanks
don't need that amount of air volume per minute..
& 2nd...the service cost every so meany hours is stagering...
As the oil separaiter has to be changed....the one in our screw at
work is $1200.00 alone for the separaiter...

Pete

[triry]

doug, watching craigslist, ive found Scuba specific compressors in the 12-1500 dollar range. theyre stand alone, gas powered and are set up for 3000psi fills. of course i dont have 12-1500 to play with so im limited to the $6.oo 3000psi refills.......................

[DougT]

If I were to build a 3000# compressor and sell it for about $750-$1000 would anyone be interested in buying one?  Non-SCUBA rated.  It's hard to believe nobody sells one already.

[Als69GT]

Sounds Interesting- Any idea on the durability ? My shop air compressor has run for 10 Yrs with nothing but belt changes and oil changes.

Al

[davee1]

Doug, yeah...like Al was sayin...if we had more of an idea about the durability of it, are all the parts brand new, then that might go a long way in determining how much folks were willing to pay. I know Crosman has one thats still in development, and they have said that it will be "affordable". To me affordable means a few hundred dollars at most.

So with all that said...can you give us more info...like are all the parts new, and how long is the thing expected to last if you just use it to fill up a Marauder -vs- fillingup a buddy bottle or a carbon fiber tank with it.

[DougT]

I'm brainstorming on the design and will work on a concept version for myself over the next 6-12 months.  If that works well, I'll build more after our new house and shop is built.  

It would be all new parts, probably be a single cylinder, single stage with a 1/2hp-1hp 120v motor using a shop air compressor to provide 120-140psi to the piston.  3000psi output would be the goal.  It could be used for filling reservoirs or smaller tanks.  The main problem I'm having now is keeping the heat to a tolerable level for the Teflon piston seals.

If you think you're going to get a motorized HPA compressor for a few hundred dollars, think again.  A basic hand pump runs $180-$300.  If it works out well, design-wise, and has good durability, I think $500-$1000 would be the target price.  A SCUBA tank cost a few hundred dollars plus the cost of the fills plus the cost/time to drive to a dive shop.  Also, if you had an  AR buddy or group of AR buddies, you could split the cost.

[davee1]

Doug...thanx for the info. I'm thinking again.

[Als69GT]

Still sounds interesting. It will be great for all the people who are a long ways from a dive shop or do not have a dive shop.  That is not a bad price when you factor in the time and annoyance to get your tank filled. And you can fill at your convience not theirs.

Al

[davee1]

To me its all about what it costs somebody to make -vs- what they charge me. It doesnt matter to me about what scuba tanks cost and how much time, effort, and gas I spend on filling...because I use a handpump.

I'm all for folks making a buck, of course. You gotta make some profit. But if yer sellin it for 500~1000 bucks and somebody else comes up with a similar model for say 300~400, then I think I would go with the cheaper price.

Maybe its not possible to build a HPA compressor for 150 bucks and sell it for 300~400 bucks...I dont know. But I figure sooner or later, they'll be something cheaper than 500.

In the meantime, I have my Hill handpump, which I am perfectly content with.

[davee1]

Doug, by no means let my thinking discourage you. Develop it and bring it forth. Its a good thing

[fatback]

I would be interested in a compressor. let me know how this turns out and keep us posted on your progress.

[Als69GT]

For those of us that have a shop air source, you might make one without the 120V compressor?

Al

[Zzyzx]

Keep it under $500 and more will find it affordable. Over that and you are looking at the perception of a Major Purchase. Under that and it isn't quite at that level for a hobby purchase.

[DougT]

I'm looking at two designs: one 120v motor powered with 120psi shop compressor input and the other shop compressor air powered.

Nearly every PCP air rifle would be considered a "major purchase" if $500 is the threshhold.  Manual pumps cost $190-$300 and nobody *_*_*_*_*_*es about the cost of those but do complain about the effort it takes to pump them.

I'll try to keep the costs low but parts, labor, etc = cost.  If Crossman or somebody else makes this type of compressor, I'll probably only build one for myself just to do it.