Compressor Recommendations and alternatives
Over the past 10 years I have gradually improved my filling capability as I’ve gotten more PCP’s and learned more about high pressure fill options. I had a Freedom 8 and had no complaints about it but it seems the Chinese imports are taking away market share from them. I sold mine after a year of excellent service and recouped nearly all of my investment in it. I have been leery of the Raptor/Omega’s and their cheaper counterparts although owners have been giving them good short term performance grades.
Recently, AofA posted a rebuild video for their Omega that looked quite involved and intimidating for an owner to perform on his own. The technician looked like he was taking a car’s automatic transmission apart. There was a lot of dis-assembly required. I’m pretty good at self servicing equipment and this looked like a nightmare compared to replacing parts on a Shoebox which was relatively simple. When I was shopping for an upgrade from my Shoebox I compared the $1800 cost of an Omega to the cost of a fully serviced low hours used Bauer 5000 psi commercial duty compressor at $2500 and opted for the Bauer. Yes, it cost $700 more however I can fill my 71 cf tank from 3K to 4.5K in less than 10 minutes. Bauers are built to last, have superb resale value when purchased used, and have many service locations if needed. In my case it is highly unlikely in my relatively light duty requirements. I should be able to sell mine for what I paid when and if I ever decided to part with it.
Instead of a slow filling, Chinese compressor of questionable long term reliability and resale value I recommend potential buyers to consider two options. First, Jim Shelden of SheldenSportingGoods.Com has been building quality high pressure compressors for years. He now is offering a $1500 setup using a Davey compressor head which is military grade with a 3 hp motor for PCP tank filling. I would buy one of these over an Omega any day of the week. Second, check out the Miami area Craigslist or EBay for Carlos Kuster’s listings for rebuilt Bauer compressors. He is an expert on Bauers and buys lightly used Bauers that were used for filling firefighting equipment aboard ships. These look like new as they were in light duty applications. He installs new U.S. motors on them and replaces all worn parts. He replaces the oil and puts new breathing grade air filters on them. His prices are very reasonable for what he sells. I know of several air gunners who have bought from him and his reputation is excellent. He usually has listings on Ebay as Too_Deep or his listings on Craigslist are in Ft. Lauderdale.
Here are photos of my compressor. It is mounted on a cart for easy mobility. It is rated for continuous duty and could fill a 444cf steel storage tank nonstop, with only intermittent manual water vapor discharges.
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I have been researching compressors for awhile and finally settled on Shelden. I am 4th on the list. I spoke with Joe B about the chinese stuff that he and others sell. My only worry was long term parts availability and it still needs a good quality filter. My budget was $2000 so the bigger compressors were out. That left shoebox, omega, alpha, and shelden. If Joe B’s new alpha 275 came with a good filter for the same sale price, I would have probably went that direction. I like the idea of 110volt as I could move it anywhere. Since I have a welder/compressor 30 amp 220volt outlet in my garage, I wasn’t too worried about the shelden being 220. But, I will only have one location to use the compressor.
At the end of the day, we all have different needs, wants, and budgets. As long as the unit we purchase serves its purpose without much trouble, then we win!
I purchased a no-name 4500psi China compressor, not the Omega/GX/Raptor but another one that came out on the market about 6 months ago, that looked OK on the pictures.
Well…
After fixing the electrics on it, as the way it was delivered it WOULD have killed me, for certain, if I had touched the case and the motor at once it would have been good-night.
then I had to fix a couple of other things to get it going, it finally ran.
It has no auto-shutoff, nor any water filter.
Then I sat back and thinking, what the hell am I doing, playing with this, it will be my death, 4500PSI is dangerous.
So I called it a day and purchased an Omega and have been happy since.
Sounds great to me , I had a compressor guy that has nothing to do with High PSI compressors look at one of the china compressors for me ,
Like I say he just builds compressors for the oil field , Some bigger then a pickup truck,,, Beats me what they use them for….
Any way he flipped out on the O rings on the china compressors, I know nothing about them , He just said you better have a supply of O rings….
But like I say he has never been around High PSI compressors, but has worked on the oil field Compressors for 40 years,,,,
ME! I know nothing about them, Thats the reason I ask and read all I could get my hands on,
I got the best one for me, I hope everyone got the best ones for themselves,,,,
Just because I have the best dog, does not mean I have the better gun or compressor….or maybe it does, :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Mike
I just spoke to Jim yesterday from PAG looking for the best place to get Omega coolant and lubricants and he said the Omegas have been doing great. (AOA actually carries the fluids in stock but you can buy elsewhere too since Royal Purple and Renewable lubricants are popular brands) There were a few minor issues I already knew about (related to shipping, freezing (had water but no anti-freeze :suprisedn: ), or assembly) but overall very reliable and so far the pumps themselves seem very good.
I do wonder a bit on the newer versions of units being sold by others that running the same or similar pumps faster and hotter than the Omegas. The Omega super charger is more than fast enough for the home user (or several users) and it is really running in a derated state so that it stays very cool. The Omega doesn’t really need to run 50% or 75% faster than stock like the original Shoebox could. I know it’s bizarre but I like the old washing machine noise the Omega makes. 😆
WAGG would be the enemy to Omegas – AOA and PAG so I would take that report with a big grain of salt. 😉 😉 😉 They are at war. There have been some horror stories on Shoeboxes but as long as support and parts are available it becomes just an inconvenience for a short time. The stories I personally know on two Bauer’s means they all break but repairs can be very expensive on some of the more expensive units. 😯 I prefer these units that are designed for personal use and maintenance rather than commercial.
Yep waiting myself to see how you like it Mike. I have around 80 to 90 hours on my Freedom 8 and no problems yet. I write down hours and date each time I use it to keep track.
I am sure glad the Omega compressors are working out. Its a lot of money on any of the compressors…
I read a report from WWAG (I think it was ) on the Omega that got me second guessing the china stuff.
I guess in the long run we will see, But for anyone that has spent that kind of money on your sport , I hope for the best.
Be like buying a high dollar PCP that will not hit the side of a barn. :smilen: :smilen:
Mike
This entire hobby is like that. Wait and wait some more. From what I heard Jim sometimes customizes the compressors to fit ones budget as possible.
Its going to be about three weeks before I can do my review on my compressor,
Got two other guys in front of me waiting , So its going to be awhile.
So I got to do one of those hurry up and wait things,,,,
But from what I read and the people I talked to its going to be well worth the wait,,,,
Mike
I kind of did the same and fill another guys tank for trading his machining work on my projects but bought it myself. It has a lot of extra capacity for both of us using it and I shoot a lot. From what I hear there are now over several hundred Omega compressors out there (between AOA and PAG) and some with over 100 hours (dealers using them). They seem to be doing very well. It will take me 4-5 years to get 100 hours at my rate of use.
Buddy and I split on a Omega 4500 Super Charger compressor and it has been working flawlessly for over 15+ hours!
Ok Mike you can tell us, did you tell the wife or is this a secret?? :suprisedn:
I do not know if its a kidde?
Talking with him I just need one that will last a long time with little maintenance,
I read Everything, I studied compressors until my brain hurt,
I flipped my coin and I think it came up good,,,,,
” The compressor is 24 X 18 X 16 and weighs about 90 pounds
This is not something you can put inside the house because the water/oil mixture must be drained from the moisture trap every 30 minutes and it is messy and smelly. While you can talk over the compressor running noise it would certainly be a big distraction inside a house. Also I don’t know of any house outlet that can handle 23 amps on 115 volts. This will require a dedicated circuit for 115 volts like a large window air conditioner , clothes dryer, or cooking range. This is a piece of commercial equipment, Not a house toy. It should go in a garage and you will still need a new electrical line unless you have a heavy duty electrical line in the garage.
The compressor comes with everything needed to fill the gun or the white tank.
The shipping cost will be no more than $200.00″
Total cost to my door with nothing else to buy to fill my Great white or air gun is 1,700
Mike
Cool. Is it a Kiddie?
Just ordered my Jim Shelden Be2-4v1 compressor,
I will give everyone my two cents when it gets in,,
I will be happy to have my own air, Like I said before it will save two hours and 35 dollars a month, So it will pay for itself in a few years…
Christmas in February, I can not wait,,,
Man I am deep in the sport now, :smilen:
Mike
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Ajshoots
Your just behind me, I am number three, I am 58 and from what I read and heard I will be dead and buried , The compressor will still be running and the kids will be asking, What the hell is this thing, Wife will be saying its junk he only paid 100,00 for it, Like them cheap 75.00 Dollar BB guns he likes to shoot, After about the third turn I am sure someone will hear the noise coming from the coffin, :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Mike
Zonk did that answer your question, Top secret stuff going on around here. :rofl: