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.