Author Topic: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?  (Read 2129 times)

Offline djmyers

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Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« on: April 07, 2010, 04:22:54 AM »
Ok now that you guys have gotten up off the floor and wiped the tears from your eyes. I was actually serious. Has any one tried it? How long would it take? How much is it to fill one at a dive shop?

These question just poped into my head because I am cheap and try to be self contained. Sometimes this can be a bad combo.  because it makes me think of stuff like filling a dive tank with a gun pump. lol
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Offline Rickster

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Re: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2010, 04:35:53 AM »
I would say no you can't.
A pump is bought instead of a tank, not to fill a tank.

Look on Craigslist I got my tank for cheap. I put my setup together for less than a hand pump.
The dive shop near my home charges me 7.50 a fill.
Its about 3 miles away, and its on the way to work and back.

Rick
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Offline TCups

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RE: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2010, 04:46:33 AM »
Can you fill a dive tank with a hand pump?  Yes . . . eventually.
How long will it take?  It depends on 1) how fast you can pump, and 2) what pressure you want to fill it to, presuming you mean to fill it with compressed air, and 3) how big your tank is.
Has anyone tried it? -- Not me.
How much per fill at a dive shop?  My local price (Columbia, SC) is $6 bucks for a 3300 PSI fill, usually while I wait.

Offline Rickster

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Cheap tanks on Craigslist
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2010, 02:47:44 PM »
You can get a good deal but watch out.
Do not buy any Aluminium tank made before 1989.
Chances are the cert is expired and you wont be able to get it certified.
They are all stamped with the production date.

There are 2 such tanks listed in my area on craigslist right now.

Rick
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Offline bigbadwulff

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RE: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #4 on: April 08, 2010, 02:34:42 AM »
I got that beat. How about from a pumper gun?

Offline howie1a

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Re: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #5 on: April 08, 2010, 05:42:03 AM »
I don't think it is a good idea to try to fill a scuba tank yourself since the equiptment to do so is a lot more money than you would want to spend it's a lot cheaper to just go to your local dive shop it cost from 4 bucks to about 6 bucks for a fill and you can buy a fill card like 12 fills for a lower price than buying the fills each time you need them, Now as fat as testing tanks Luxfer co. has had a recall for all aluminum tanks they made before 1998 their was a alloy problem the other company's didn't have any problems, A scuba tank has to be checked every year it is called a VIS. you get a sticker on the tank good  for 1 year. it is a inspection for cracks runt in the tank ect. the other inspection is called a hydro it has to be done every 5 years it is a pressure safety test to see if the tank is safe to fill will it hold the pressure or could it blow up you don't want to be any near a tank if it lets go a lot of people have been killed this way , The way it works is they fill the scuba tank with water ( the reason it's called a hydro ) and 8/ 5ths of the working pressure is put on the tank ( water will crack the tank if their is a week spot not let it explode like air would ) the amount of stretch  is measured  and if the tank does not come back to the original size or with in the allowed spects. it is failed and no one anywhere will fill your tank the hydro date of the inspection is stamped  into the top metal of the tank along with the number of the testing facility howie PS I hold a master diver cert.
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Offline howie1a

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Re: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #6 on: April 08, 2010, 10:58:14 AM »
Hi One other thing about scuba tanks if you use air not filled by or at a dive shop and you are using it for breathing not a good idea scuba air is filtered 5 times and is the cleanest air in the world things like oil in your tank can be very bad for you to breath as well as any other stuff. the air should be taken from a clean ( car fumes ) area when used to fill scuba tanks. Howie  PS using scuba air for spray painting works really good no moisture so no cat eyes in your job and they work fine for air tools too.
Howie1a
CURRENT HERD ,, Baikal pistol M53 in 177 ,,crossman pistol 357 -177cal. ,,Bam 30 -22 cal,,  RWS 320 cal 177 custom walnut  stock,,QB2078 custom stock walnut cal177,,   QB2078 custom walnut stock  22 cal,,B7 custom stock cal 177 ,, B12 custom stock cal 177,,B16 from shadow 177 cal,,<< ALL THE REST OF MY  RIFLES FROM \"\"MIKE M. Flying Dragon Air Rifles \"\" Super nice.


Offline RedFeather

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RE: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #7 on: April 08, 2010, 01:25:43 PM »
Eventually. If you don't overheat the pump and burn it out. Or overheat yourself and burn you out. That's a LOT of volume to be filled with the LITTLE from the pump. Kind of like filling a swimming pool with a bucket.

Offline crowpopper

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Re: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #8 on: April 08, 2010, 03:04:12 PM »
i get a 4500 fill on my 88cf tank at paintball shop for 1 dollar per 1000 psi
they have a 3 tank cascade setup the 3 tanks are 5 feet high and 12 inches in diameter and hooked to that is a 6000 psi compressor
thats when i actually have to pay
normally i send it to the fire dept my buddy works for or the one my aunt works at and get a free fill

Offline rkr

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RE: Can you fill a dive tank with a gun pump?
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2010, 01:25:13 AM »
I have 48 cu tank and it takes about 40 strokes to up 150psi. Do the math, it can be done but it's going to take lots of pumping - not to mention time since you need to let the pump cool down. It's good exercise though and for a good reason.
If some is good and more is better - then too much is just right.
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