I've called around to some scuba shops and paintball shops, but only one scuba shop has been willing to fill an 88 cu ft 4500psi tank. He said he'd have to do it in the middle of the night when other customers weren't there, as he'd have to go in the back and hook up the booster to transition his system to 4500psi. Of course all that effort would make it cost at least $15 to $20 per fill. I haven't found any paintball shops at all that will fill such a large tank, as they are accustomed to only filling small tanks. The one fire department where I know someone didn't know who they got their tanks filled from but didn't think they could fill them themselves. So... am I out of luck on the 4500 psi front? Any ideas? Thanks!

Look to see if you have any Safety and Fire Apparatus businesses around you. We have a lot of industrial plants down here and many of them use these types of businesses to maintain their airtanks and fire extinguishers etc. You might also check with the local Welding Supply houses. I've never used one before to get my 4500psi tank filled but when I was a kid I used to rent a tall steel 6000psi tank that they would fill with regular compressed air for my airbrush. Someone out there should be able to fill it up. Even if you end up having to pay a little more for a fill it will be worth it since you will have to take a regular scuba tank in for refills about 6-7 times more often than a 4500psi tank. When I counted how many fills I got on my S400 it was around 50+ fills before it needed topping off. With a Scuba tank you will only get a couple of true full fills on the rifle before the working pressure in the tank drops below the fill target pressure and after that each fill will give you fewer and fewer shots.


Dee

Check out this list I noticed 2 when I had a glance. One said they keep it over night which sounds like the one you called.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/me ... ookmark+it

daisy wrote:Check out this list I noticed 2 when I had a glance. One said they keep it over night which sounds like the one you called.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/79537/me ... ookmark+it

That's what the dive shop I go to does. One reason also is the heat, if you let it cool then fill again you can get it to the true 4,500PSI as when hot it and just filled it give a higher pressure reading and loses some pressure as it cools to it's normal temp they told me. Been some time so I don't remember what I paid for my fill.

Years and years ago, an another Fire Department, we had the 4500 PSI tanks and the air-van to fill them.
After a number of travels, combined fire exercises and classes at North Bend, it was apparent that everyone had switched to the 3000 PSI bottles but us.
Can't say I've found a 4500 refill around either down in the south end...

Does a cascade, multi-bottle system solve this problem?

The cascade multi-bottle system doesn't really solve it, as the gun is designed to be filled to 3000psi so having a tank, or a number of them, starting at 3000psi doesn't give many fills before you can't get to max pressure anymore. Using the yellow forum link above, I found that Tacoma Scuba does indeed fill to 4500psi. When I called them yesterday, the girl who answered the phone was just filling in and didn't know much about it other than that they did fill to 4500psi. She said to call back on Monday and ask for Aaron, who knew the system well and could answer all my questions. Evidently they are one of only two, with the other being the reluctant $20 shop that would keep it overnight above, that can fill to 4500psi. For the short term, I have an FX pump with a Foster adapter added heading my way now thanks to a WTB post on the yellow forum. I'm still planning on getting a tank, but if I don't go 4500psi it wouldn't be worth it. I'll eventually get around to tuning the rifle for max shots per fill by lowering the power all the way down, but for now I'll be pumping every 35-40 shots...

I changed to the high pressure SCBA(?) tanks a couple years ago, another thing is low volume hose- the micro stuff wastes less air. I found a couple Dive shops near the Tacoma Rifle and Revolver Range; but I get mine filled in Puyallup- liked the people. They have always been able to max out the tanks or get a free fill! The biggest thing for me and using a dive shop is that is breathable air.

when I first started filling I went to a couple paint ball places- cheap and easy. Then when have my rifle worked on they found some nasty oil in my air cylinder, that may have been a leakage problem, maybe not; but I'd rather lube my equipment with lube then the 30 weight motor oil- or what ever they use.

I think most shops like to have your tank overnight, fill, cool then top off. With the higher pressure I go a few weeks between fills and fill when it gets about 3000 psi. I just walk in and fill them- I have a 80 and 44(?) unit tanks- both former Firefighters type tanks- carbon/kevlar. I think someone had referenced Broncato at Hamradio- he supplies most people that have the high pressure stuff- the prices are hard to beat. From time to time someone is selling used filling gear- look at the FT Forum classified.

You will also need a way to fill the tanks, Dive shops usually have Din fittings- like the 300 Din the rifles use- some have adapter for Foster fittings. Most shooters are setup for Foster (Paintball) if they have quick fill rifles. so if you have an emergency you should be able to bum some air.

I think most good Dive shops are changing to the higher pressure, since more customers are looking for longer dives. some have Nitrogen too- not sure how that would work for us. Not sure how nitrogen would work with temps, saw a link on a FT forum once; but didn't really get any answers.

If you come to TRRC this weekend you can look at what we have.

Yep.. One of the biggest reasons that I moved enough stuff on my schedule around so that I can come down Sunday is to see it all in action. Other than at the Southern Nationals, I haven't had exposure to PCPs guns at all. It's one thing to see it in pictures on the web. It's another to actually be able to touch the things and see them in action while someone is explaining what's going on.