please help me out here, just a couple questions

[dragun_30]

I posted this on PBNation also, but they kinda suck on there, so I thought I'd give it a shot here.

We are planning on starting to stock paint and air and some common supplies because our former shop owner moved out of town, and need to know the best bang for the buck on all these items and where to get them. I am sorry if I have the technical names wrong, just go with me here.

Bulk Scuba Tanks
Bulk CO2 Scubas
Compressed air tank fill station (at least 4500psi)
Compressed air tank push button fill station (at least 4500psi-for field use)
CO2 fill station
5000psi Air compressor
Scuba tank fill station (if it comes with compressor, sorry for listing it)
CO2 scale

and a question, what is the best method of cooling the CO2 tanks before filling? is it just a standard freezer or fridge?

Thanks for any help you can give us.

[marpat]

I posted this on PBNation also, but they kinda suck on there, so I thought I'd give it a shot here.

We are planning on starting to stock paint and air and some common supplies because our former shop owner moved out of town, and need to know the best bang for the buck on all these items and where to get them. I am sorry if I have the technical names wrong, just go with me here.

Bulk Scuba Tanks
Bulk CO2 Scubas
Compressed air tank fill station (at least 4500psi)
Compressed air tank push button fill station (at least 4500psi-for field use)
CO2 fill station
5000psi Air compressor
Scuba tank fill station (if it comes with compressor, sorry for listing it)
CO2 scale

and a question, what is the best method of cooling the CO2 tanks before filling? is it just a standard freezer or fridge?

Thanks for any help you can give us.

if you are planning to stock paint and air check with your local commerce authority if you can actually store pressurized gases and tanks in your shop. you may need a special permit for them. if you are looking for tanks and supplies you can either go to or call or visit online, national paintball supply or go to a scuba shop and ask them if they have a direct tank retailer.

most compressors can be found and compared by price online. if you buy from one direct supplier they ususally can set up a better deal for you.

good luck with your shop!

[Mescalito]

and a question, what is the best method of cooling the CO2 tanks before filling? is it just a standard freezer or fridge?

Been a very long time since ive owned a co2 tank, but i do vaguely remeber the guy at the pb field filling it with a little co2 and then venting that to cool the tank.

[luke]

Here is a link to compressors, satarting prices are $2700 for "personal" units (3.5 cfm)

http://northshorecompressor.com/CS1.htm

[dragun_30]

thanks for that link. That looks like a good deal. does anybody know what the size of those bulk compressed air tanks are? like a scuba is usually 80 cu ft, what's the bulk ones?

Thanks for the quick help.

[ThePixelGuru]

Been a very long time since ive owned a co2 tank, but i do vaguely remeber the guy at the pb field filling it with a little co2 and then venting that to cool the tank.

You should never store an empty tank, anyway. If you keep to that rule, there's always CO2 in the tank to vent just before you fill it. When I fill, I vent what's in there and fill it. If they didn't keep enough CO2 in it to cool it, sucks to be them, they're getting a crappy fill. They'll learn.

[dragun_30]

^^ haha, good motto, i'm using it.

[punkncat]

You should never store an empty tank, anyway. If you keep to that rule, there's always CO2 in the tank to vent just before you fill it. When I fill, I vent what's in there and fill it. If they didn't keep enough CO2 in it to cool it, sucks to be them, they're getting a crappy fill. They'll learn.

Considering that CO2 tanks are filled by weight, I can't really see where it would matter. Maybe the store appreciates not having to vent so much of theirs......


You SHOULD NOT put a tank in the freezer and then fill it. The tank can easily and quickly overfill creating a potentially hazardous situation. Please only have your tank filled by properly trained people. CO2 is no joke. Not only can it cause "explosion" hazards, but can also cause serious frontbite, among other things....

[Rick-USA]

Unless you are using a CO2 pump then you pretty much have to transfer from a warmer bulk tank to a cooler cylinder. If you try to just fill a hot tank you won't get a full fill. The CO2 has to remain in a liquid state for you to get a good reading on your sacle. If it changes to gas too quickly it will fill up the space in the tank and not allow you to fill to the proper level of liquid. The easiest way to do this is to simply put 1-2 ounces into the tank and then dump it. Since CO2 is filled by weight then while filling it needs to be on a scale so you know when it is full. Pretty much any scale will work that will handle the weight of full tanks. I've seen everything from digital fishing scales to postage scales. I know we use older postal scales which are nothing more than spring type scales but they work out very well and are pretty tough.

As far as where to get fill stations you can find them at a lot of online sites. I'm not sure why you'd want both scuba tanks and bulk tanks for hpa. If you are going to be filling at a field the scuba tanks won't hold up long.

A standard hpa cylinder will hold about 220 cuft of air if remember correctly. At least those are the numbers I seem to remember for the 2800 psi bottles. You might check with a local gas distributor for a more accurate number. Call up your local welding supply house and ask them how much air a hpa tank holds. Bulk CO2 usually comes in 45-55 pound bottles. You will want to specify that you only want CO2 tanks WITH a siphon tube in them. If you don't have the tube you won't fill with liquid properly.

[Ken Majors]

Breathing Air Systems

These guys have always been easy to work with and have a decent selection.