Tests for TK’s new Minni Compressor? How to "break"
In case you have not been following a paintballer has introduced a new mini compressor for 390$. You can get all the details here:
Look under info and what not. There are also several threads on it on:
automags.org
Anyway I have one on the way (as I think one or two other forum members do) in the next week or two and I wondered what you all would like to see done to the thing? What tests beyond the obvious “how long to fill my tank?” can you blow it up etc. would you like me to try? I am thinking it will be worth attempting some upgrading, filling scubas etc.
Anyway if anyone is in the Tacoma WA area and would like to get together some weekend I am dieing to get out and shoot and testing the compressor would be a good excuse.
Thoughts?
All Replies
Bump,
Hi Guys,
Thanks for posting the information about this new compressor, I found another video
So how is it working out so far? Is there a lot of water in the tanks?
Could you test for this by filling a small scba tank, then let it sit upside down over night, then slowly crack the valve over a piece of paper taped to a table. Checking for water by cracking the valve over the paper?
I’m thinking if there is water in the tank as a result of the compressor.
I could let the filled tank rest upside down over night, then slowly bleed off a few hundred psi with the tank inverted. Then flip the tank back to the upright position and let it rest again (still above 4000 psi) . Then fill the guns, to minimize the remaining water (like picking the low hanging fruit).
On another forum I saw people talking about putting these filters in line between the compressor and the shoebox to help dry the air.
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/items/6ZC63?Pid=search
I am no expert but I think there would still be moisture after the filters once the air was compressed to 4500psi.
Thanks again for you guys who have the shoebox, and are sharing your testing results.
Roger
I asked AF this morning by email what their policy / procedures are. When I find out I’ll pass it on to the forum. I hope they do handle the hydro side of things.
Yeah I kind of read into it 😆
have to say I place alot of the hand wringing over tank safety as a product of our litigous society where even wood cutting boards are now considered somehow hazardous to public health
It says “contact AF for instructions” it doesn’t explicitly say to send it to them.
I asked AF this morning by email what their policy / procedures are. When I find out I’ll pass it on to the forum. I hope they do handle the hydro side of things.
Page 11 on the AF owners manual says to send the tanks back to AirForce.
http://www.airforceairguns.com/images_new/manual_page11_lg.jpg
The biggest problem for a tank is the repeated expansion and contraction from use. Paintball and Airgun have less of this so the tanks have a longer life expectancy than SCUBA. Over time the metal becomes more brittle and is more likely to fail from metal fatigue. The hydro test checks for the elasticity of the metal.
As for moisture… I think its a lost cause… fill your tank with 1/4 cup of H2O and then pressurize. You’ll be fine.
Bingo
Its my understanding that Carbon Fiber tanks do not have limited lifespans in many places overseas including europe
as far as AF tanks I think Voltar is spot on
I mean has anyone heard of a failure of an AF tank under normal use?
there are some old tanks out there
Lets see if this makes sense?
Airforce sells hand pumps…..
Airforce is okay with using ….. handpumps…
Does Airforce rec’d tank replacement every five years due to moisture from hand pumping?
Scuba tanks are used in the water…..
fishing boats are used in the …. water
Aluminum water bottles are the rage……
mmmmmm
don’t buy it.
Your reasoning is flawless.
Oh, except: SCUBA tanks are not stored under water, they are placed in it temporarily and then allowed to dry off. Moisture inside a tank just sits there indefinitely. I am open water SCUBA certified and the information I’m passing on is based upon my training. Please check the interweb for further information.
The only reason to filter moisture out of your airforce tank is to keep it from getting to the corrosive parts in your valve and gun. That and blowing water through your gun may alter consistency and reduce velocity.
So you dont want moisture inside an aluminum tank but its ok if its surrounded by it on the outside while diving?
Lets see if this makes sense?
Airforce sells hand pumps…..
Airforce is okay with using ….. handpumps…
Does Airforce rec’d tank replacement every five years due to moisture from hand pumping?
Scuba tanks are used in the water…..
fishing boats are used in the …. water
Aluminum water bottles are the rage……
mmmmmm
don’t buy it.
Neat idea.
I was going to try these but my local hd is out.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xqd/R-100646751/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
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made an adjuster for the kickout spring. Can easily tweak it for 4500psi or 3000psi or whatever I wish. Amazingly repeatable. Worked out the 4500psi setting set then back adjuster out 10 turns and check…. 3,000psi. pretty cool
Wish I could get a second spring and have one set for each presure. gonna do that 🙂
Finally got a blow of moisture as the humidity was indeed higher here of late. Raining all the bloody time. Running for about 3 hours netted about 4 droplets of water at the blowdown.
Gonna check into it more and the clearing of the water upside down is a pretty good idear! thanks!!!!
Walter….