Rural Filling HPA Options

[iamthelazerviking]

Once we're moved east, we'll be hunting for a spot with a nice piece of property. I would definitely try to build myself a private field. Aside from trying to get scuba tanks and driving to a scuba shop to fill them, how else can I invest in refilling HPA tanks on my own?

If all else fails, stock class only 😎

[Grendel]

Find a Welding Supplier and just rent a 6000psi N2 tank and get a regulator for filling. Warning they are heavy as hell and really need to be secured. I was planning on setting up for 4500 psi compressor but it is just too expensive when compared to renting a N2 bottle. I can do the scuba but the ones in the area that will do paintball cylinders can not fill to 4500.

[iamthelazerviking]

Yeah seems like all the scubas max at 3k sadly.

[ATBen]

I've heard mixed results from some electric PCP compressors, but they seem to fill to 4500psi albeit slowly.

Air Venturi and Umarex make some for under $1000

[iamthelazerviking]

Seems like getting a couple scubas is the way to go, even if 3k max fills.

[p8ntninja]

Depending on your budget you can always get a field grade filling station.

https://nuvair.com/industries/paintball

[JeepDVLZ45]

I have a 4 stage manual pump. It sure the size of the tanks you’re trying to fill, but it only takes me about 5 minutes to fill a 9ci 3000psi tank. 15 mins for a 15/3000 (have to take a break). Don’t ask about my 77/4500 attempt.

I picked it up during COVID, made trouble shooting a lot easier. The closest field to me is 45 minutes

[MrBarraclough]

If only someone would come up with a way to rig a couple of manual pumps up to a rowing machine.

[OpusX]

I have a 4 stage manual pump. It sure the size of the tanks you’re trying to fill, but it only takes me about 5 minutes to fill a 9ci 3000psi tank. 15 mins for a 15/3000 (have to take a break). Don’t ask about my 77/4500 attempt.

I picked it up during COVID, made trouble shooting a lot easier. The closest field to me is 45 minutes

I have looked at these a bit. Seems attractive for 13ci pump outlaw. How has your held up to use?

[JeepDVLZ45]

I bought a CHEAP Chinese made one. I think I paid $100 on eBay. It came with 3 or 4 rebuild kits, I’ve only had to use 1 so far (let a friend borrow it and he was careless).

Just check it once and a while for excessive heat at the bottom of the cylinder due to the compression. If it gets too hot it’ll melt o-rings.

It’s not fun to do, but it’s more then doable to fill some small tanks.

[joshs]

Unless you are cascading several tanks, 80CF scuba tanks don't do too many 2000+ psi fills. It's a good setup for playing hopper ball, but if you're trying to fill 10 players shooting multiple pods per game, you need quite a few tanks for it to work. If you try to get everyone who shows up to come with a full fill (I haven't played at a field here that won't let you fill multiple tanks when leaving and they can usually fill to at least 4k), you could probably play pump all day with only a few scuba tanks (especially with stock class back ups).

[Toestr]

Unless you are cascading several tanks, 80CF scuba tanks don't do too many 2000+ psi fills. It's a good setup for playing hopper ball, but if you're trying to fill 10 players shooting multiple pods per game, you need quite a few tanks for it to work. If you try to get everyone who shows up to come with a full fill (I haven't played at a field here that won't let you fill multiple tanks when leaving and they can usually fill to at least 4k), you could probably play pump all day with only a few scuba tanks (especially with stock class back ups).

This would be my recommendation as well.

If you have blowbacks or other CO2 appropriate guns it might be a better idea to run them on CO2 since you'll get more shots per fill.

There are SCUBA tanks that are rated to 3400 or 3500 psi so if you can get those you'll get more fills. Or an SCBA tank if you really want to be a high roller.

If you're going to get an at home compressor I'd recommend a Shoebox. The Yong Hengs and other Chinese compressors seem to get maybe a year's worth of use out of them before they have major parts failure. If you're going to be filling regularly I'd recommend getting desiccant or moisture traps to keep water and oil out of the tank. Don't get the Chinese ones either because I wouldn't trust the pressure ratings to be based on more than filling to that pressure and seeing if they rupture.

I also have a hand pump for at home testing. It takes roughly 300 strokes to fill a 13/3k and 1000 strokes to fill a 48/3k. The 13s could be done between games but anything bigger I would probably fill over the course of the prior week. Again I don't really trust the pressure rating for the pump so I only fill to 2k.

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