Scuba tank vs. Hill pump
I just received a brand new Hill pump and after assemlby, couldn’t believe the effort it took to top off my tank from 2500 to 3000. I am now considering selling the pump and going the scuba route but know nothing about it.
Does anyone have a quick rundown of:
steel tanks vs. aluminum
size and pressure of tanks and how many pcp fills (top offs) per scuba fill
different types of valves (k-valve,…)
anything else I would need to know…
I already contacted a scuba shop about cost of fills and cost of hydro ($50, sound right?).
Thanks
All Replies
CF tanks have a 15 year DOT lifespan. No business will fill them after that. There are some new ones on the market that have a 30 year life span. These are 7-800 new. 66cf. CF tanks have a 5 year hydro. The Fiber Glass tanks have a 3 year hydro. Steel can be filled as long as it passes hydro. CF tanks are light weight if portability is an issue. If not you could get a 4350 100 or cf steel tank. If you can get 4500psi fills go CF. I have a 44cf tank from Joe. And his fill/gauge assembly. Very nice! I don’t have a hand pump but that’s deff on my to get list.
What is meant by carbon fibers going “out of date”? They actually have an expiration date when I couldn’t get it filled anymore? If so, how long?
I read an article in an Airgun magazine where Van, from Airhog went to a CF tank manufacturing facility. They pressure tested one and it went to like 19,000 +psi before it popped. They said it was anticlimatic, no huge explosion, just a pop. The carbon fiber does a fantastic job of supporting the aluminium bladder and keeping everything together.
4500 psi is usually treated with kid gloves. carbon fibre tanks usually go out of date before they will fail a hydro. people with their own compressors can use tanks way beyond their shelf life its only when you have someone else fill or you have beat it up pretty good that it becomes a concern.
Possible or no?
Before I drop another nickel ($500) at least, does anyone know the stability of the carbon fiber. I think someone mentioned the hydro is every three years but, has anyone heard of a tank failing a hydro, are the tanks senstive to outside pressures or temperatures, can they rupture easier if droppes (not that I intend to), or anything else, ….
Roachcreek
you are right roachcreek I spent that before I ever shot my first pellet,and its been all $$$$$$$$$$ ever since,
If you are going to scuba you should cascade 2 tanks ,I got a hill pump for back up also,
check out joe’s are tanks for cascading. He helped me out alot and does custom work at a fare price ,here is his web site http://www.hamcontact.com/airgun/HoseAssembly/
Welcome to the club….its only money, 😀
Oooooh you have just begun with the cash outlay.
Roachcreek
This was EXTREMELY helpful. I am going to have to go the carbon fiber route. I only wish I had known before the pump was this labor intensive and had gone the scba way to begin with. I only bought my gun a few months ago so between accessories and upgrades, I am over $1,000 already. Just can justify expense right after the Hill purchase.
As always, great help!
I have two scuba tanks, paid 225 for the pair and the dive shop I got them from has filled them three times for free.
I shoot and hunt just on the property, so I am always close by for a fill, but you only get one 3000 fill with the scuba.
I sent my peice of shit Air Force pump back for a refund, but you have a Hill so I would keep it.
If you go to the carbon tank, make sure you have a place to get it filled.
The lower fill levels are not much of a problem, ie 2800 or so you still get lots of shots.
A free tank is a no brainer
Roachcreek
i agree with what everyone has said about going scuba or scba but i own both, i would keep the pump and get a tank, i use both of mine. first i only fill to 2500 psi witch helps with the pump and secound do not forget it takes a little while to get the technique of a pump, i think it is funny, i will be pumping comfortably and my buddy will take the pump (who weighs more than me) and struggle with it. it took me 20 to 30 top offs to get it. i straiten my arms and bend my knees and then use my body weight. but i am also a construction worker and weigh 200lbs
Go to that site, read about SCBA….NOT SCUBA geta 4500psi SCBA tank and you can thank me later!! I tried the pump, then tried a 3300 psi scuba tank,,,waste of time and money GET a 4500 psi rig and BE HAPPY…in the US, you can get the COMPLETE rig, shipped for $350.00,,,Might as welll do it NOW, while Joe has them on sale…you WILL do it sooner or later 😯 😯 😯 😯 Like I said, I tried every other way to try and be “save money”..ended up costing me more in the end ..Should go straight for the 4500psi now…..
Totally x2 what pack’ says.
And keep the Hills pump. Good for emergency top up when scba runs low.
http://www.hamcontact.com/airgun/HoseAssembly/
Go to that site, read about SCBA….NOT SCUBA geta 4500psi SCBA tank and you can thank me later!! I tried the pump, then tried a 3300 psi scuba tank,,,waste of time and money GET a 4500 psi rig and BE HAPPY…in the US, you can get the COMPLETE rig, shipped for $350.00,,,Might as welll do it NOW, while Joe has them on sale…you WILL do it sooner or later 😯 😯 😯 😯 Like I said, I tried every other way to try and be “save money”..ended up costing me more in the end ..Should go straight for the 4500psi now…..
I’m not sure about the manufacturers date. I know it passed 1990. The dive shop said it would only be a problem if it was before that.
If the scuba tank is 3000psi and I am filling to 3000psi, wouldn’t it figure that the pressure would equalize very quickly only allowing a few fills and leaving the scuba tank pretty full?
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Personal experience:
I have a 100 cuft steel tank. Its 20 years old and passed hydro in January. Steel has a 40 year service live and Aluminum 15 years.
Steel can run higher pressure than aluminum, so I have a 3500psi fill from my dive shop compared to Aluminum’s 3000psi.
I have two tanks for my Talon SS 177. I keep one at 2600 psi for hunting (40 rounds) and the other at 1600 psi for plinking and target practice (100 rounds).
You can use the airhog calculator to see what 2600psi fill from a 3500psi 100 cuft tank yields with an ending pressure of 1800psi: http://www.airhog.com/tank.htm