Using air compressor at home to fill cylinder for PCP air rifles. Can it be done?

[Sampo]

Wondering if it is worth using an air compressor at home to refill a cylinder used for PCP air rifle. How is it different to getting it filled at one of the shops? I believe the air inside the cylinder has to be clear of moisture, which is possibly difficult to do with a normal air compressor. Is a different equipment used when getting a cylinder filled professionally?

Also can one fill a PCP rifle direcly from the air compressor? Not planning to do anything but the thought has been bugging me and I believe the answer is probably the air compressor unable to reach the air pressure required by PCP but wanted to check on the facts with the more experienced folks.

Was looking at - Air Venturi Nomad II 4500 PSI Portable PCP Compressor

 

[Alantoo]

Those little compressors are designed to charge PCP rifles so yes they do get up to pressure. There are various forms of oil and water filters to produce clean air though prolly not to SCUBA standard of course...


Have look at this thread...

Pcp air rifle. How are you filling?

Getting my son a pcp for his 14th birthday. Partly for me to play with too. I've always had springers as a boy so these are a little new to me. Seems a real pain to use a hand pump and expensive and hassle to buy a dive bottle and keep driving somewhere for a shop to fill. Is anyone using high...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

This is what I said in it...



I have used an air cylinder for the last 20 odd years...but at the moment I am stymied to get it filled because it needs to be retested before filling and with lockdown it's a pain.

So I have now purchased a £14.00 hand pump via Amazon after the heads up on here. It is absolutely brilliant for the money and works very well. For a 14 year old it would be no problem at all...I am five times his age and found that by keeping my arms straight / elbows locked and bending my legs I can top up the guns with no trouble...it takes just over a couple of pumps per shot on the FAC and just under on the 12ftlbs rifle.

I also bought a £250 compressor which works fine...I bought a huge air filter (moisture and oil) £45 which I use in addition to the one that came with the compressor. But I don't use it [the big filter] with the hand pump because it is twice the volume of the rifle cylinders and you would be pressurising three times the amount of air...a bit of exercise is one thing pointless energy loss is another!

At this stage I would just invest in the hand pump and when things get back to normal...and you know your son will use it....go for the air cylinder. Provided you have a handy dive shop / refill facility close by.

Alan

 

[Tim.243]

Wondering if it is worth using an air compressor at home to refill a cylinder used for PCP air rifle. How is it different to getting it filled at one of the shops? I believe the air inside the cylinder has to be clear of moisture, which is possibly difficult to do with a normal air compressor. Is a different equipment used when getting a cylinder filled professionally?

Also can one fill a PCP rifle direcly from the air compressor? Not planning to do anything but the thought has been bugging me and I believe the answer is probably the air compressor unable to reach the air pressure required by PCP but wanted to check on the facts with the more experienced folks.

Was looking at - Air Venturi Nomad II 4500 PSI Portable PCP Compressor

No...
That unit is 600 quid!! divide a re fill into 600....

 

[Sampo]

No...
That unit is 600 quid!! divide a re fill into 600....

Was only thinking of a home air compressor around £100 which can be used to inflate tyres and thought infirm would work. The one in the link just came up during a search but is too expensive for me.

 

[jb7x57]

Standard compressor will not get the pressure required

 

[Farmer_J]

Was only thinking of a home air compressor around £100 which can be used to inflate tyres and thought infirm would work. The one in the link just came up during a search but is too expensive for me.

No chance of using a home air compressor. They only get up to around 115psi where you’ll need
3000Psi plus to charge a pcp.

 

[Tim.243]

Was only thinking of a home air compressor around £100 which can be used to inflate tyres and thought infirm would work. The one in the link just came up during a search but is too expensive for me.

I tested dive cylinders when working in diving, used to get some odd looks when a air gunner would turn up with a 300 bar tank...is it in test? yea mate...ok let me have a look...it was in test....4 years ago. have it back.

The worst air fills i have had was in Auz on a 3 day dive trip....

nice clean dry fills is what you need.

 

[Alantoo]

Was only thinking of a home air compressor around £100 which can be used to inflate tyres and thought infirm would work. The one in the link just came up during a search but is too expensive for me.

As others have said tyre compressors are a different thing.

The PCP filling compressor I bought from Amazon was £250 inc VAT. They do some without the auto shut off for around the £200. It fully charged my S410 to 200bar. It needs to be cooled with the supplied immersible pump in a bucket of water.

The hand pump is much less hassle to set up if you just want to top up the gun after a few shots.

A Hills hand pump is just under £200. An air cylinder and refill is also around the same investment. The Chinese hand pump at £30 is unbeatable money wise.

If you have easy access to a local dive shop who can refill a cylinder, that is the least hassle of actual topping up the gun, though not the least expensive. £200 outlay and up to £75 every 5 years for the test. Plus a trip and a few pounds every refill.

My problem was that the nearest dive shop that does the cylinder testing 40 miles away has been closed due to COVID and that is what prompted my having to find other options.

Alan

 

[wytonpjs]

As others have said tyre compressors are a different thing.

The PCP filling compressor I bought from Amazon was £250 inc VAT. They do some without the auto shut off for around the £200. It fully charged my S410 to 200bar. It needs to be cooled with the supplied immersible pump in a bucket of water.

The hand pump is much less hassle to set up if you just want to top up the gun after a few shots.

A Hills hand pump is just under £200. An air cylinder and refill is also around the same investment. The Chinese hand pump at £30 is unbeatable money wise.

If you have easy access to a local dive shop who can refill a cylinder, that is the least hassle of actual topping up the gun, though not the least expensive. £200 outlay and up to £75 every 5 years for the test. Plus a trip and a few pounds every refill.

My problem was that the nearest dive shop that does the cylinder testing 40 miles away has been closed due to COVID and that is what prompted my having to find other options.

Alan

Hi Alan - I’m in a similar position and now have an out-of-date cylinder to contend with. Have you got a link or any more details on the compressor you bought please?

 

[Mr. Gain]

The economics of home 300bar airgun compressors don't make sense compared to other methods, but their convenience is unparalleled.
I bought mine because I needed more regular air fills just when we were locking down last year and shop access was looking unlikely for a while. A pump was an option but I'd only just come out of a year of tennis elbow and I didn't want to risk a flare-up.
Having used the compressor for a year -a compact, self-contained, air-cooled model-, I wouldn't be without it. What I really appreciate is the ability to top a rifle up to full pressure for every session, whether tuning/testing, plinking or hunting.
With 300-bar pressures becoming the norm, dive cylinders are going to fall short there. Of course, cylinder + a pump to top up is a cheaper route.
OTOH, if you have a lad/lass handy you could pay him/her to do the pumping for you. TBH, that's rather how I think of the compressor!

 

[Overlay]

With all the faffing about, I would get the tank re tested and use that at a fiver a refill mate not worth the hassle to be honest
There is a dive shop in dartford that does re tests and is open if you call him

 

[jb7x57]

Would never have a untested bottle filled if it split you are looking at some large dangerous explosion

 

[Tim.243]

The economics of home 300bar airgun compressors don't make sense compared to other methods, but their convenience is unparalleled.
I bought mine because I needed more regular air fills just when we were locking down last year and shop access was looking unlikely for a while. A pump was an option but I'd only just come out of a year of tennis elbow and I didn't want to risk a flare-up.
Having used the compressor for a year -a compact, self-contained, air-cooled model-, I wouldn't be without it. What I really appreciate is the ability to top a rifle up to full pressure for every session, whether tuning/testing, plinking or hunting.
With 300-bar pressures becoming the norm, dive cylinders are going to fall short there. Of course, cylinder + a pump to top up is a cheaper route.
OTOH, if you have a lad/lass handy you could pay him/her to do the pumping for you. TBH, that's rather how I think of the compressor!

This was going for scrap from a well known radar company so I made a charitable donation also my nan worked for them and the chap remembered her.

1/8" bore but I found the 1/4" feed also took out 1 filter stack as it was not needed.
300bar

 

[Alantoo]

Hi Alan - I’m in a similar position and now have an out-of-date cylinder to contend with. Have you got a link or any more details on the compressor you bought please?

The dive shop that do the testing is over the bridge from us in Chepstow....I understand all the dive shops around Gloucester send cylinders to them for testing and certification....they may be starting it up again soon.

NDAC TRF - Training and Research Facilities

The compressor I bought was this one...

HOOMYA 300BAR 30MPA 4500PSI High-Pressure Electric Air Compressor Pump, PCP Compressor Inflator for Rifle Pneumatic Airgun Scuba Paintball Tyre : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

HOOMYA 300BAR 30MPA 4500PSI High-Pressure Electric Air Compressor Pump, PCP Compressor Inflator for Rifle Pneumatic Airgun Scuba Paintball Tyre : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

smile.amazon.co.uk

and the filter was...

TUXING 300Bar 4500 psi PCP Compressor Oil Water Separator L350mmOD49mmID36mm : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

Shop TUXING 300Bar 4500 psi PCP Compressor Oil Water Separator L350mmOD49mmID36mm. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.

smile.amazon.co.uk

The hand pump at £15-ish was...

3 Stage Stirrup Charger PCP Hand Pump Gas Filter Gauge Valve Hose 4500PSI Air Gun Rifle Airrifle Boat Tire Ball : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

Shop 3 Stage Stirrup Charger PCP Hand Pump Gas Filter Gauge Valve Hose 4500PSI Air Gun Rifle Airrifle Boat Tire Ball. Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders.

smile.amazon.co.uk

But Amazon have loads of permutations...the blue cased compressors that look like they have come from the same factory are either auto or manual shut off with around £50 difference.

I don't know which one @Mr. Gain bought but if it doesn't have the faff of the water cooling it could be a real advantage.

I bought the compressor a couple of months before the heads up on here about the £15 hand pump....I am so impressed with that little pump that I would not have bought the compressor...

Alan

 

[wytonpjs]

The dive shop that do the testing is over the bridge from us in Chepstow....I understand all the dive shops around Gloucester send cylinders to them for testing and certification....they may be starting it up again soon.

NDAC TRF - Training and Research Facilities

The compressor I bought was this one...

HOOMYA 300BAR 30MPA 4500PSI High-Pressure Electric Air Compressor Pump, PCP Compressor Inflator for Rifle Pneumatic Airgun Scuba Paintball Tyre : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

HOOMYA 300BAR 30MPA 4500PSI High-Pressure Electric Air Compressor Pump, PCP Compressor Inflator for Rifle Pneumatic Airgun Scuba Paintball Tyre : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

smile.amazon.co.uk

and the filter was...

TUXING 300Bar 4500 psi PCP Compressor Oil Water Separator L350mmOD49mmID36mm : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

Shop TUXING 300Bar 4500 psi PCP Compressor Oil Water Separator L350mmOD49mmID36mm. Free delivery on eligible orders of £20 or more.

smile.amazon.co.uk

The hand pump at £15-ish was...

3 Stage Stirrup Charger PCP Hand Pump Gas Filter Gauge Valve Hose 4500PSI Air Gun Rifle Airrifle Boat Tire Ball : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

Shop 3 Stage Stirrup Charger PCP Hand Pump Gas Filter Gauge Valve Hose 4500PSI Air Gun Rifle Airrifle Boat Tire Ball. Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders.

smile.amazon.co.uk

But Amazon have loads of permutations...the blue cased compressors that look like they have come from the same factory are either auto or manual shut off with around £50 difference.

I don't know which one @Mr. Gain bought but if it doesn't have the faff of the water cooling it could be a real advantage.

I bought the compressor a couple of months before the heads up on here about the £15 hand pump....I am so impressed with that little pump that I would not have bought the compressor...

Alan

Thanks Alan! Will probably get the tank re-tested soon if I can. Sadly, the cheapest I can find that hand-pump is mnow £38.99. Oddly, enough, your compressor is the one currently sat in my basket Many thanks again

 

[Alantoo]

Thanks Alan! Will probably get the tank re-tested soon if I can. Sadly, the cheapest I can find that hand-pump is mnow £38.99. Oddly, enough, your compressor is the one currently sat in my basket Many thanks again

Well done!

The hand pump is still worth it at £38.99 I think...it is a solid well made thing...and what is more it works!...I would have expected to pay almost that sort of money for the hose and inline filter and snap connector...but it really was a steal at £15

Alan

 

[mealiejimmy]

Was only thinking of a home air compressor around £100 which can be used to inflate tyres and thought infirm would work. The one in the link just came up during a search but is too expensive for me.

You tyre inflation compressor might just be able to reach 20 bar.
Your pcp air cylinder needs 200 Bar
So just forget that idea.

Cheers

Bruce

 

[Mr. Gain]

I don't know which one @Mr. Gain bought but if it doesn't have the faff of the water cooling it could be a real advantage.

Air Venturi Nomad. The same unit is available on Amazon in OEM guise for half the money if you're willing to fly without the back-up from Highland Outdoors you get with the Air Venturi-badged product.

 

[DavyG]

Wondering if it is worth using an air compressor at home to refill a cylinder used for PCP air rifle. How is it different to getting it filled at one of the shops? I believe the air inside the cylinder has to be clear of moisture, which is possibly difficult to do with a normal air compressor. Is a different equipment used when getting a cylinder filled professionally?

In a word...no.
DG

 

[sunndog]

Those cheap pcp compressors look mighty tempting. EBay is full of them for around 200 quid